MILLINGTON, Tenn. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are headed to Kentucky for Lexington Navy Week, April 7 to 12, to volunteer in the community and discuss why the Navy matters to the Bluegrass State.
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 Zachary Scarbro, a native of Paintsville.
Scarbro graduated from Johnson Central High School in 2010. Upon joining the Navy, Scarbro quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in Paintsville were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
“Growing up in my hometown, I realized that if I wanted anything in life, I had to go and take it,” Scarbro said. “I wanted a better future for me and my wife. Living in my hometown, there weren’t a lot of job opportunities that would give me the satisfaction I needed in life, so I knew I needed to branch out and find what I really wanted to do with my life. The Navy gave me that purpose.”
Scarbro, who joined the Navy seven years ago, is assigned to Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted a better purpose in life,” Scarbro said. “I felt like the work I was doing before wasn’t what I was meant to be doing.”
Scarbro is part of the first Navy Week to be hosted in Lexington. 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.
“It’s a great way to give back to the community and share the experiences the Navy has given me over the years,” Scarbro said. “Participating in the Navy Week in Lexington means a lot to me because Lexington is where my wife got the care she needed when she was diagnosed with cancer. The Navy really did everything for us during our time of need, and I could never repay them for that.”
Today, Scarbro serves as a cyber warfare technician.
“I do cybersecurity and help to defend Navy infrastructure for cyber defensive operations,” Scarbro said.
Scarbro 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.
“I have been nominated for Sailor of the Quarter multiple times and nominated for DoDIN Defender of the Year,” Scarbro said.
Scarbro is grateful for the Paintsville community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, Hollie, for her unwavering support of my career,” added Scarbro. “I would also like to thank my parents, John and Marsha Scarbro, and my in-laws, Joey and Kim Shelton. They have supported me in every effort and are always there to give me guidance and encourage me along the way.”
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 Lexington.
“Lexington Navy Week is about building lasting connections,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, director of NAVCO. “We’re not just here to showcase what the Navy does, but to engage directly with the community, inspire future generations, and demonstrate the values of service, teamwork, and leadership.”
Throughout the week, sailors will participate in a wide range of events across Lexington, including Keeneland Spring Meet, community service projects, athletic engagements and live performances. Navy Week also provides a platform for Lexington residents to learn more about career opportunities in the Navy, including paths in STEM, law, cybersecurity, music and special operations.