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 2nd Class Connor Scanlon, a native of Mooresville.
Scanlon completed homeschooling in 2020 and attended Durham Technical Community College. Upon joining the Navy, Scanlon quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in Mooresville were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
“Growing up in North Carolina taught me the value of hard work, humility and looking out for the people around you,” Scanlon said. “Small‑town life showed me that your reputation is built on consistency, and that mindset has shaped how I show up for my team in the Navy. Those lessons still guide me every day, especially in a mission set where quiet professionalism matters.”
Scanlon, who joined the Navy two years ago, is assigned to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Texas in San Antonio, Texas.
“I initially joined the Navy to pursue a more challenging and meaningful path than the one I was on in college,” Scanlon said. “Over the years, my view of service has evolved from the direct, visible impact I expected as an EOD candidate to the behind‑the‑scenes but equally critical mission I now support as a cyber warfare technician. Today, service means growing every day and contributing to missions with real impact.”
Scanlon 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 this Navy Week is a chance to represent the Navy in a community that helped shape who I am,” Scanlon said. “It lets me share the Navy’s mission with people who rarely see it up close and show all North Carolinians that service can take many forms. It’s also an opportunity to give back by telling a story that feels real, local and rooted in the values I grew up with.”
Today, Scanlon serves as a cyber warfare technician.
“My day is a mix of deep technical analysis, target research and developing or supporting cyber operations that protect national‑level interests,” Scanlon said. “As an exploitation analyst, I work behind the scenes to map adversary networks, identify vulnerabilities and help create access that enables real‑world mission effects. It’s quiet, detailed work, but every task contributes directly to the larger fight.”
Scanlon 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 isn’t an award, it’s the role I’ve taken on mentoring junior sailors in my shop and helping them grow into the best versions of themselves,” Scanlon said. “Even without a formal title, guiding others and watching them gain confidence and competence reminds me that every sailor is a leader. That impact means more to me than any medal because it lasts far beyond a single mission.”
Scanlon is grateful for the Mooresville community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
“I’d like to thank all the teachers, coaches and mentors back home who supported me throughout my adolescence and pushed me to become the best version of myself,” Scanlon said. “A special shout out to my brother, Trevor Scanlon, Dr. Keith Church, Eric Lurie, Jonathan Meredith and Hank Stroup; their influence and belief in me made a lasting impact, and I’m grateful for every lesson they passed on.”
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/.