NORFOLK, Va. – In a time-honored naval tradition, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), held a change of command aboard the ship at Naval Station Norfolk, May 12.
Capt. David Skarosi relieved Capt. Rick Burgess and assumed duties as the commanding officer of Gerald R. Ford in a ceremony attended by Navy leadership, family, friends, and crew.
“Serving as the Captain of Gerald R. Ford and leading the world’s finest Sailors has been the privilege of my lifetime,” said Burgess. “This ship’s extraordinary performance over the last two years is a testament to this talented crew and their ability to effectively employ the most capable, adaptable, and lethal combat platform in the...
05.12.2025 | NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
Courtesy Story
CSSN Nicholas Murphy reflects on the adversity he overcame growing up in a rough Miami neighborhood and his appreciation for the opportunities he's been afforded by the U.S. Navy.
A feature story focusing on Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Gabrielle Jensen and her passion for art that lead for her to illustrate a mural on the USS Gerald R. Ford's hangar bay.
The U.S. Navy is a melting pot of beliefs and practices that reflect the experiences of Sailors across generations. Superstitions, which have been adopted and passed down throughout the Navy’s history, have served as an important means of understanding the dangers and uncertainties of life at sea.
The official party salutes the colors aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during a change of command ceremony in the ship’s hangar bay, May 12, 2025. Gerald R. Ford, a first-in-class nuclear aircraft carrier and flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, incorporates modern technology, innovative shipbuilding designs, and best practices from legacy aircraft carriers to underpin American security and economic prosperity through sustained operations at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky)
Carrier Strike Group 12, Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group delivers combat capability from seabed to space, while providing global maneuver capability to the national command authority. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gladjimi Balisage)
CAPT Rick Burgess, a native of Bellevue, WA, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1998.
Operational assignments include tours with Fighter Squadron (VF) 31, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72); Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63); and two tours with VFA-103, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS George Washington (CVN 73).
Shore assignments include service as Action Officer in the House Liaison Office, Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA); TOPGUN Instructor with Navy Fighter Weapons School; Strike Fighter Placement Officer (PERS-433B) with Navy Personnel Command (NPC); Branch Chief, Global Missile Defense...
Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States, was born July 14, 1913, in Omaha, NE. The future President grew up in a close-knit family, excelled scholastically and athletically at South High School in Grand Rapids, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in November 1927.
Ford attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he majored in economics and political science. An extremely gifted athlete, FORD was voted the Wolverine’s most valuable player in 1934, with opportunities to play professional football.
Ford chose the legal profession over a professional football career, graduating with a law degree from Yale in 1941. After the United States entered the war during World War II, Ford received a commission...
