Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and her crew departed HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) and steamed to sea for the first time for Builder’s Sea Trials, Jan. 28, 2026. After eight days of at-sea systems, equipment and operational testing by the Sailors working alongside industry and government partners, the ship returned to NNS, Feb. 4, 2026 – the operation a success. Builder’s Sea Trials provide an opportunity to test ship systems and components at sea for the first time, and make required adjustments prior to additional underway testing.
