NORFOLK, Va. - USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, January 17, 2024, following an 8-month deployment.
Gerald R. Ford is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 and deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations.
“I am incredibly proud of every member of the strike group, especially the triads who led their teams of exceptionally talented sailors with professionalism and perseverance,” said Rear Adm. Erik Eslich, commander of CSG 12. “Due to our collective efforts, we excelled during a very challenging deployment, demonstrating the capabilities of a U.S. Navy carrier strike group, assuring our partners and allies, and deterring our adversaries with our operations...
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – “Team Factory” of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 returned to their home base Naval Air Station Oceana on January 16, 2024, following an eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operation.
(NORFOLK) – The “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron NINE (HSC 9) returned to their homeport of Norfolk, VA on January 16, 2024, following a more than eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG12) to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.
The 78th U.S. Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro visited the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Jan.15, 2024 to thank and congratulate its crew on the completion of an eight-month scheduled deployment.
One flag that few ships earn the right to fly is the Silver Enlisted Surface Warfare Excellence pennant, which signifies 80 percent of all eligible Sailors with Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists (ESWS) as their primary designator, rank E-5 through E-9, qualify in ESWS.
The pennant will be flown by the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) for the first time in the ship’s history upon its return to homeport at...
The U.S. Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), and embarked staff from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, transited the Strait of Gibraltar and exited the Mediterranean Sea after conducting operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Jan. 5, 2024.
As Sailors aboard the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) serve during the ship’s first deployment, the training department continues its mission, training Sailors for general quarters, introductory damage control qualifications tests, administering exams, coordinating travel to and from the ship, and hosting orientations for the more than 4,000 people aboard the ship.
NORFOLK, Va. (June 3, 2024) Lt. Spencer McDermott, right, assigned to air department aboard the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), speaks with German Air Force Gen. Christopher Badia, left, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation for NATO and Lt. Gen. Bruno Hofbauer, Deputy Chief of Defense of Austria, during a tour of Ford's flight deck as part of a scheduled visit, June 3, 2024. Ford is currently pier side at Naval Station Norfolk conducting routine maintenance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Kolmel)
NORFOLK, Va. (April 25, 2024) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) departs Naval Station Norfolk, April 25, 2024, for a deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations as part of Southern Seas 2024. Following Southern Seas, George Washington is slated to relieve USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Gladjimi Balisage)
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...