MILLINGTON, Tenn. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are headed to Missouri for Branson / Springfield Navy Week, Aug. 25 to 31, to volunteer in the community and discuss why the Navy matters to the Ozarks.
While many of the sailors are from all over the country, this Navy Week will carry special meaning for visiting sailors from the state, including Petty Officer 1st Class Lisa McDonald, a native of Joplin, Missouri.
McDonald graduated from McAuley Regional High School in 2002 and earned a bachelor’s degree in commercial art from Missouri Southern State University in 2007. Upon joining the Navy, McDonald quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in Joplin were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
“I left my hometown to seek a more fulfilling, enriched and adventurous life, to follow in the direct lines of my family and to give back through military service,” McDonald said. “My military experience has provided me with unique experiences, adventures, travel and incomparable lifetime memories throughout the years.”
McDonald, who joined the Navy 16 years ago, is assigned to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Texas.
“Military service is a passed-down family tradition for me,” McDonald said. “Both of my great-grandfathers served during World War I, and one was awarded the Purple Heart. Both of my grandfathers served during World War II. My parents both served, and my dad retired after 20 years in the Air Force and Navy. My older brothers both served in the Air Force. I have several in-laws and extended family members who have also served.”
McDonald is part of the first Navy Week to be hosted by the Springfield and Branson communities. Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity.
“Navy Weeks are all about bringing the Navy home to places that don’t possess much of a military presence,” McDonald said. “Visiting and engaging with the community where I grew up and giving back to the area is a great feeling. It brings fulfillment to the work that I do.”
Today, McDonald serves as a yeoman.
“As a leading petty officer, I manage and oversee all administrative matters in support of over 600 sailors,” McDonald said. “As staff NCOIC, I manage and oversee all personnel security matters in support of roughly 1,500 military personnel and 2,000 civilians in a joint military environment.”
McDonald has had many opportunities to excel in the Navy and sees military service as more than just a job – it represents a chance to become a better person and make a difference in the lives of others.
“I’m proud of promoting,” McDonald said. “I’m also proud of training Navy recruits as a recruit division commander, as well as being very well-traveled. I’ve been to all 50 states, 22 countries, three U.S. territories and four continents so far.”
McDonald is grateful for the Joplin community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank and send love to my parents, Gene and Kathy McCain, as well as my siblings and in-laws,” added McDonald.
Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to communities like Springfield and Branson.
“From securing shipping lanes to deterring threats across the globe, the U.S. Navy has safeguarded our freedoms for 250 years,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, Navy Office of Community Outreach director. “Ninety percent of global trade moves by sea, and the Navy ensures goods, energy, and critical resources reach American businesses and families. Navy Weeks bring the fleet to communities that may not see or interact with the Navy every day, giving Americans the chance to meet the sailors who stand watch 24/7—from the depths of the ocean to space, cyberspace and beyond. We’re excited to bring this experience to Springfield and Branson, and connect the community with their Navy’s essential role in defending our way of life.”
Throughout the week, sailors will participate in community service projects with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Springfield, Ozark Food Harvest, Convoy of Hope, Springfield Community Gardens and Dickerson Zoo. They will also engage with local students through STEM-focused sessions and presentations at Truman Elementary, School of the Ozarks and Branson High School. Navy Band Great Lakes will perform live at venues across the city, bringing Navy pride and energy to the Branson/Springfield community.
For a list of public events, visit https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Springfield-Branson-2025/