• VIRGINIA BEACH
For 80 years, the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), has supporting readiness in ways that feel familiar, dependable and steady. Founded in the aftermath of World War II, NEXCOM’s origins were shaped by a simple but essential challenge: how to reliably support the Navy on land and at sea.
From the beginning, the mission was never just about retail. It was about service, providing the everyday essentials that help military life function, especially during times of transition. That mission has endured. “For 80 years, NEXCOM has been focused on one thing: being there for Sailors and their families wherever they are,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, NEXCOM’s chief executive officer. “That consistency is what supports readiness and earns trust across the fleet.”
Read Full Statement by Retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer, NEXCOM
HISTORY
The beginnings of the exchange service started in the 1800s, when merchants would sell goods to Sailors, often at inflated prices and reportedly shoddy quality.
Later, the Naval Appropriations Act of March 3, 1909, established the first official stores and commissaries on ships.
In 1946, a committee, headed by Macy’s Department Store Executive Captain Wheelock H. Bingham, recommended that the shore-side retail operations be rolled into the same bureau as the ship-based
retail locations, and these recommendations led to the creation of the Navy Ship’s Store Office, the precursor to the modern Navy Exchange.
SUPPORTING THE NAVY COMMUNITY
Over the decades, the world has changed. Technology has advanced. Expectations have grown. Military life has evolved. But the need for dependable support has not. Today, NEXCOM supports the Navy community through a broad portfolio including retail, lodging, food service, fuel, uniforms, ship’s stores and connectivity.
These services are woven into daily life and are often most noticeable during key moments, including arriving at a new duty station, preparing for deployment, returning home or managing the steady demands of both emergency and everyday operations. The Navy’s focus on “Sailor First” priorities — food, lodging, uniforms and connectivity — reflects what generations of military families have long understood, that when the basics are handled well, Sailors can remain focused on the mission.
NEXCOM also carries a responsibility that extends beyond daily service.
Earnings generated across the enterprise are reinvested into Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), supporting quality-of-life initiatives for Sailors and their families worldwide.
It is a model built on stewardship and trust among patrons, associates and Navy leadership.
“Our responsibility is to manage resources carefully and reinvest them
where they matter most,” Bianchi said. “That discipline is part of readiness.”
UNDERSTANDING MILITARY LIFE
Behind every cash register, lodging front desk and Recruit Training Command uniform issue is a NEXCOM associate who understands military life, often because they live it themselves.
Many are veterans or military family members. That shared experience shapes how service is delivered: practical, respectful and grounded in understanding.
As NEXCOM marks 80 years, the milestone recognizes the people it serves and the role it plays with the fleet — supporting Navy life quietly, consistently and wherever duty calls.
Source: NEXCOM
Edited by Larry Lapka
