MILLINGTON, Tenn. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are headed to North Carolina for Charlotte Navy Week, May 4 to 10, to volunteer in the community and discuss why the Navy matters to the Queen City.
While many of the sailors are from all over the country, this Navy Week will carry special meaning for visiting sailors from the area, including Petty Officer 1st Class Devon Harrison, a native of Mebane.
Harrison graduated from Eastern Alamance High School in 2016. Upon joining the Navy, Harrison quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in Mebane were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
“The biggest lesson my hometown taught me was resilience,” Harrison said. “I was blessed to have many coaches who guided me along the way, and their leadership has enabled me to thrive in work environments you’d never imagine.”
Harrison, who joined the Navy eight years ago, is assigned to Cryptologic Warfare Activity (CWA) 65 at Fort Meade, Maryland.
“Our family has deep roots in military service that stretch across all branches except the Space Force,” Harrison said. “I personally joined the Navy due to the desire to see the world and the real opportunities I saw my uncle take advantage of during his time in the Navy. Serving in the Navy has allowed me to see eight countries in just my first few years, and I’m excited for many more to come.”
Harrison is part of the second Navy Week to be hosted in Charlotte. 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.
“Participating in Charlotte’s Navy Week is important to me because I owe everything I am today to Charlotte,” Harrison said. “Being able to impact the community that quite literally saved my life is something I will never be able to put into words.”
Today, Harrison serves as a cryptologic technician (collection).
“While I am on shore duty, my normal day consists of a 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. workday and I also play flag football and basketball during seasons and have won two championships for my command by doing so,” Harrison said.
Harrison 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.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy isn’t even Navy-related,” Harrison said. “In the 2025 flag football season, Navy ended the Army’s 10-year reign over flag football by beating them 34-0 in the championship.”
Harrison is grateful for the Mebane community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife for being the absolute rock of support that she has been,” Harrison said. “She makes the hard days easy.”
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 Charlotte.
Throughout the week, sailors will participate in a wide range of events across Charlotte, including community service projects, athletic engagements and live performances, culminating in weekend events at the Truist Championship. Navy Week also provides a platform for Charlotte residents to learn more about career opportunities in the Navy, including paths in STEM, law, cybersecurity, music and special operations.
For a list of public events, visit https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Charlotte-2026/.