Veteran Advocate and VETx Organizer Chris Fahey of Houston, Texas.
When Houston’s inaugural Fleet Week was abruptly postponed in the fall of 2025 due to a federal government shutdown, it left a significant void. The city-wide celebration, years in the making and set to honor the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, was pushed to 2026, leaving veterans and community members disappointed.
But one part of the celebration refused to be canceled.
A team of veteran advocates, led by Chris Fahey, an organizer for the planned “Creator Space and Self-Care Pavilion,” saw the postponement not as a defeat, but as a call to action. Rather than packing up, they pivoted.
In a move that effectively “saved” the weekend for many in the veteran community, Fahey and his fellow organizers decoupled their event from the postponed Fleet Week. They rebranded their pavilion as a standalone, two-day summit: VETxHouston.
This newly independent event, held on its original dates of November 8-9, 2025, kept the core mission alive. VETx was designed as a unique program to merge digital innovation with veteran wellness.
“We fully support the decision to postpone Fleet Week, but I knew there needed to be a path forward and that’s what I do. I see difficult situations and I find the paths to success ” Fahey, a veteran himself, stated in a release about the change. He emphasized, however, that the VETx team remained dedicated to serving the veteran community.
Instead of the ship tours and air shows that Fleet Week would have provided, VETx focused on tangible, forward-looking skills and support for veterans. The event was split into two main tracks. First, A Self Care Sanctuary dedicated to mental health and wellness and second, a Creator Space focused on artistic outlets for veterans.
The weekend also features a Military & Veteran Comedy Show, Live Music by the likes of stars Drew Ryn, and learning panels.
While the fanfare of Fleet Week was missed, the pivot to VETx ensured that the weekend’s original purpose—to honor and support the military community—was not lost. By adapting to the situation, Chris Fahey and the VETx team demonstrated a core military principle and delivered a meaningful, impactful event when the community needed it most.
Check out more details about the event at:
Or follow Chris on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/chris_fahey33/
