About the Program

Every day, America’s defense communities are working to create welcoming and supportive spaces for service members and their families to live and thrive. As the home to our military, these communities recognize the unique challenges and hard work needed to ensure military families are made to feel valued.

The Great American Defense Communities (GADC) program was developed to recognize and celebrate communities demonstrating an exceptional commitment to improving the lives of service members, veterans and their families. The program is made possible through ADC’s partnership with USAA.

To learn more about the programs and stories that pique ADC’s interest—watch our Great American Defense Communities series on our YouTube channel.

ADC and USAA visit Fort Smith, Arkansas in August 2024 to celebrate the community’s recognition as a Great American Defense Community.

2025 Timeline

January 6

Program nomination period opens.

January 15th

GADC informational webinar held on Zoom.

February 7

Program nomination period closes.

Late-February

Communities are selected and notified.

Mid-March

Press releases are distributed to communities, outreach to local and national media in anticipation of 2025 Defense Communities National Summit.

March 31 - April 2

2025 Class of Great American Defense Communities announced at the Defense Communities National Summit.

April – September

  • Coordinate delegation visits and GADC ceremonies in each community.
  • Coordinate GADC video shoots with each community.

October 27 – 29

Great American Defense Communities are honored throughout the 2025 Installation Innovation Forum in Monterey, CA.

What makes a Great American Defense Community is a spirit of enthusiastic welcome and it is there in a hundred ways every day.”

– Craig Quigley, Hampton Roads (VA) Great American Defense Community Class of 2017

The same reason that Pensacola is a Great American Defense Community is the same reason I chose to make it my forever home.”

– Rear Admiral Kyle Cozad, USN (Ret), NAS Pensacola & NAS Whiting Field (FL), Great American Defense Community Class of 2021

One of the things I value most about Fairbanks is that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’ve come from. If you’re here, you’re family, and if you need help, that’s what we’re all about.”

– Former Mayor Bryce Ward, Fairbanks North Star Borough (AK), Great American Defense Community Class of 2023

Fort Bliss and our active-duty service members, as well as our veterans, are our community members. We have an obligation to provide them with exceptional services.”

– Cary Westin, City of El Paso (TX), Great American Defense Community Class of 2023

Learn more about the 2024 communities here.