Mr. Samuel J. Cox, a retired rear admiral and the director of the Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC), will lead a two-day Executive Engagement Visit (EEV) to Jamestown-Williamsburg, Virginia, on March 3-4. EEVs raise awareness about the importance of the Navy’s indispensable role in guaranteeing our nation’s freedom, prove our unmatched strength at sea and inspire the next generation of builders and warriors our future fleet requires.
Cox previously served in the Navy for 37 years.
His visit will serve as a cornerstone of the Navy’s “Freedom 250” outreach efforts, celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026 by providing new opportunities to communicate the Navy’s central role in our country’s founding and in our national security today. The “13 Colonies Heritage Series” is part of the Navy Office of Community Outreach’s (NAVCO) EEV programs that will send Navy senior leaders to historically significant locations to celebrate our shared history and connect it to the Navy’s modern global mission.
For Cox, whose NHHC is responsible for preserving and presenting the entirety of U.S. naval history, there is no more fitting place to begin than Jamestown.
“At the heart of America’s story is the sea. To understand why our sailors fight today, you have to understand where it all began. Here in Jamestown, the American story and our reliance on the sea are one and the same. My role as Chief Historian is to preserve the legacy of the American warfighter, and there is no better place to share that story of courage, sacrifice, and victory than at the starting point of our nation.”
In 2026, NAVCO will bring the power and pride of the United States Navy to communities around the country. Each event will honor a fundamental truth: America is a maritime nation, and the United States Navy protects freedom and preserves prosperity. Freedom is earned daily by our sailors at sea, our Marines forward deployed, and the skilled American workers in our shipyards who build the fleet that defends us all.
NAVCO connects Americans with their Navy by overseeing a number of community outreach programs designed to bring America’s Navy to cities throughout the country that do not enjoy a significant Navy presence. The EEV program is NAVCO’s premier strategic outreach tool, designed to move beyond traditional air shows and Fleet Weeks to foster direct, meaningful dialogue between Navy senior leadership and the civilian leaders who shape our nation’s communities.
NHHC traces its lineage to 1794, when the Navy Department Library was established under the Naval Bureau, which was part of the War Department in Philadelphia. In 1800, President John Adams asked Benjamin Stoddert, the first Secretary of the Navy, to prepare a catalog of professional books best suited for a naval library. Today, the NHHC is the central resource for today’s operational Navy and acts as the service's institutional memory.
As the Navy’s chief historian, Cox’s visit is intended to frame the narrative for the entire year-long campaign. From Jamestown, the EEV series will continue to cities like Boston, Charleston and Hartford, with each visit highlighting that region’s unique contribution to our modern Navy.
During his two-day visit, Cox will meet with local historians, state and local government officials, and education leaders. He will hold engagements at Historic Jamestowne and the College of William & Mary, discussing how the lessons of the past continue to shape the Navy’s strategic priorities today.