9/11 20th Remembrance Exhibit Opening
Saturday, September 11 at 10:00 AM

The Museum will be hosting a special opening of our 9/11 exhibit to commemorate the innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001. The 9/11 20th Remembrance installation will be unveiled on Saturday, September 11 at 10:00 AM to commemorate the 20th year since the terrorist attacks. An opening ceremony will be led by Museum Executive Director Grant Mann.

Navy SEALs were thrust into the spotlight following the killing of Osama bin Laden, the terrorist responsible for the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Operation Neptune Spear proved to be a significant step in the nation’s fight against Al Qaeda, but also created significant interest in the covert warriors.

The Museum’s existing permanent 9/11 exhibit begins the visitor’s journey through the service of Navy SEALs in a reverse chronological timeline from this horrible day in America’s history. With the addition of the 9/11 20th Remembrance, special homage will be paid to the victims who lost their lives to these abhorrent acts of terrorism.

“We encourage guests of all ages to attend this special opening,” said Grant Mann, retired Navy SEAL. “The tragic events of 9/11 put Navy SEALs on the map publicly. While reluctant to be named in any mission, SEALs have been intrinsic in the fight against the Global War on Terror. Our Museum educates the public about the capabilities and humility of SEALs, and this exhibit serves as a powerful reminder of why we are trained to do what we do for the preservation of freedom and safety.”

Special Guest Speaker

Commander Shaun Chittick was most recently assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group THREE (NSWG-3) EAST. He deployed for a year with NATO Special Operations Component Command/Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan as the Future Operations Officer (J-35) and as advisor and mentor to the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command School of Excellence, COB Morehead, Afghanistan.

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Panama and southwest Virginia, he enlisted in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman in October 1984 and graduated Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in November 1985. He was initially assigned to SEAL Team FOUR in February 1986 and was subsequently assigned to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) in June 1992. He attained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer during his 16 years of enlisted service and was deployed to multiple Combatant Command areas of responsibility, including Central Command, Pacific Command, Southern Command and European Command. Commander Chittick was selected for a Naval Officer commission in 1999.

In April 2000, Commander Chittick was assigned to the Navy Bureau of Personnel as a newly commissioned Ensign. He was present during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and utilized his medical training as a First Responder on-site at the Pentagon. He then attended SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) training and was assigned to SDV Team ONE at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as the Assistant Operations, Advanced SEAL Delivery System Squad Officer in Charge, and Special Activities Officer. He continued to operate in the combat submersible community during his follow-on assignment to SDV Team TWO in Little Creek, Virginia as the Training Officer, and then served as Operations and Executive Officer at NSWG-2 Logistics and Support Unit.

Commander Chittick returned to NSWDG in 2008, as a transition officer for tactics, techniques and procedures from Strategic, to Theater Special Operations Forces. He then served as NSWDG Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron Operations Officer, deploying twice to the USCENTCOM area of responsibility during his tour. Upon returning from Afghanistan, he served as the Operations Officer for NSWG-4, NSW’s Surface Mobility Command, and returned to finish his career at SDVT-2 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Commander Chittick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Counterterrorism from Henley-Putnam University. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with V device, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, Meritorious Service Medal, three Joint Service Commendation Medals, as well as numerous campaign and service medals. He and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 25 wonderful years and currently reside in Chesapeake, Virginia.