Our Founder
Chief Jason Lewis
Retired United States Navy Chief · Africatown Native
Owner of Africatown Souvenirs LLC and President of VETS (Visualize Everyone That Serves), a 501(c)(3) non-profit. A son of Joseph and Betty Lewis and a graduate of C.F. Vigor High School, Jason J. Lewis entered the United States Navy in 1998 and rose to become a Navy Counselor Chief Petty Officer over a distinguished career of service, leadership, and sacrifice.
Across every command, Chief Lewis evaluated as the number one or two sailor out of more than 175 — a Gold Standard of performance. His ability to lead and direct critical projects produced results that saved the Navy thousands of dollars while earning thousands more in personnel production and resource preservation.
An American Hero
Chief Lewis is an American hero.
He was a key member of the Command Casualty Officer Team during the Naval Air Station terror attack in Pensacola, Florida, as shown in this national media coverage. Chief coordinated assistance to eight victims' families and advised the Command Response Team on the emergent needs of each sailor and their family throughout the years of recovery that followed that tragic day in American history.
He finally broke his silence and wrote about his heroism in his memoir, The Making of a Chief.
A Career of Service
More than two decades in the United States Navy.
Entered the United States Navy
Reported to recruit training at RTC Great Lakes, Illinois, then Aviation Apprentice Training, before joining the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in the V-4 Division as Quality Assurance Petty Officer and Flight Deck Crew Leader.
NAS Rota, Spain
Advanced to Petty Officer Second Class and served as a Fuel Dispatcher, supervising Spanish Nationals and Air Force Airmen refueling Naval and Air Force aircraft across the 6th Fleet.
USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
Advanced to Petty Officer First Class, earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Pin, and led the Aviation Fuels Division through deployment — including the safe completion of a key mission off Israel and Lebanon.
Navy Recruiting, New Orleans
Named Recruiter of the Year for the District of New Orleans, converted to Navy Counselor, and earned the Anthony Bakarian Distinguished Graduate Award and Diversity Recruiter of the Year.
Advanced to Chief Petty Officer
Completed CRF Academy, was selected as Navy Counselor Chief, and reported to NRD Minneapolis as a Divisional Leading Chief Petty Officer, later leading the Officer Mission.
Recognized for Heroism
Honored for his service as Casualty Assistance Officer following the terror attack on Naval Air Station Pensacola, coordinating support for eight victims’ families through years of recovery.
Personal Awards
- Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2)
- Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (6)
- Good Conduct Medal (6)
- National Defense Medal (2)
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
Coming Home
Returning home to tell Africatown's story.
After his final duty station at the Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit in Pensacola — where he served as an Instructor, Curriculum Administrator, Test Supervisor, and Master Training Specialist — Chief Lewis and his family decided to return home to continue the development of Africatown and share his family's story with the world.
In 2018 he founded VETS (Visualize Everyone That Serves), a 501(c)(3) working with youth and community in Pensacola, FL and Mobile, AL — Africatown, Happy Hill, and Prichard — to build strong families and successful community organizations. Entrusted by the Clotilda Descendants Association, the State of Alabama Tourism, and the City of Mobile, he leads a Return Pilgrimage for Africatown, giving visitors an experience to carry with them long after leaving the Port City.
Chief Lewis, his wife Karen, and daughter Kennedi were the first family to perform in the Spirit of Our Ancestors stage play “Ocean in My Bones,” directed by Terrance Spivey. He is the proud father of Kennedi, Kyndall, Kensley, and Jabari.
