Fleet Week San Diego was created by community and business leaders who understood the great depth of public support for our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. This group sought to provide a means for San Diego to express its support in a way that would establish San Diego as a patriotic, pro-military city. They shared a vision to recognize the contributions made by the naval services to the many communities of the greater San Diego region.

In 1997, after extensive planning and team building, Fleet Week San Diego was born. Nurtured by the Chamber of Commerce, the annual series of events grew quickly into a recognized feature of the region’s annual calendar. By 2001, Fleet Week San Diego had outgrown its home in the Chamber and was incorporated as The San Diego Fleet Week Foundation, a California Public Benefit Corporation and non-profit under the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.