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Making History On USS Gerald R. Ford
by U.S.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Alexander Timewell
July 22, 2022
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is a
First-in-Class of the Navy’s newest generation of Ford-class
aircraft carriers. It’s been nearly 40 years since the Navy has
commissioned a new generation of aircraft carriers. With change
comes history that has to be made. Ford has done just that.
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Sailors and their family and friends take in the sights as the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits from Naval Station Norfolk into the Atlantic Ocean during a friends and family day cruise June 25, 2022. Friends and family members were invited aboard Ford to experience a day in the life of a Sailor at sea first-hand. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Riley McDowell)
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With new technologies and advancements in multiple different systems
compared to legacy class carriers. Ford is ahead of its time leaving
the history in the past and paving its own future.
The keel
of the Ford was laid on November 14, 2009. Laying the keel is the
formal recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. The
ceremony was attended by Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News
Shipbuilders and members of the United States Navy. In earlier
times, keel laying was when the first placement of the central
timber took place, but as steel ships replaced wooden ones, the
central timber gave way to a steel beam.
Christening is a
ceremonial ship launching where the vessel is transferred to the
water. On November 9, 2013 the Ford was christened by Ms. Susan
Ford-Bales, the daughter of Gerald R. Ford. “For the United States
of America, I christen thee Gerald R. Ford.” Susan Ford-Bales spoke
these words ending the ship’s final moments ashore. A traditional
shattering of a champagne bottle across the ship’s bow christened
the ship.
USS Gerald R. Ford was commissioned on July 22,
2017 by President Donald J. Trump. The commissioning ceremony marks
the entry of a ship into active naval service. This was the day Ford
took her place in the fleet alongside the other ships.
The
first trap or fixed wing aircraft landing was on July 28, 2017 when
an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
(VX) 23, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Jamie “Coach” Struck, performed an
arrested landing aboard Ford.
Ford entered an 18-month
Post-Delivery Test and Trials period in late October 2019. The test
and trials period are designed to stress critical combat systems and
to exercise the flight deck, with the goal of ensuring the ship’s
overall deployment readiness.
During this time the Ford
performed exceptionally well, and conducted a series of 11
Independent Steaming Events that were interlaced with shore-based
Maintenance Windows of Opportunity (MWOs). Over the 18-month testing
time the Ford exercised installed systems, conducted crew training,
and completed construction and activation of select shipboard
systems.
Over the course of four months in 2021, Ford
withstood the impact of three 40,000-pound underwater blasts, also
known as Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST). Shock trials is a testing
period that proves the validation of the ship’s ability to sustain
operations in a simulated combat environment using live ordinance.
The tests demonstrated that the ship will be able to withstand
formidable shocks and continue to operate under extreme conditions.
USS Gerald R. Ford finished its Flight Deck Certification (FDC)
and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center Certification (CATCC) on
March 29, 2022. Once out at sea, F/A – 18E/F Super Hornets, E-2
Hawkeyes, MH-60 R Sea Hawks, E/A-18G Growlers and MH-60S Nighthawks
assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 conducted operations to prove
the ship’s and crew’s capabilities. Ford’s flight deck certification
and carrier qualifications are part of the basic tailored training
phase prior to the ship’s first deployment.
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Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Blake McCarty, from Rock Island, Illinois, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) air department, watches an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 land on Ford’s flight deck
on March 28, 2022, while underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certification and air wing carrier qualification as part of the ship’s tailored basic phase prior to operational deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Seaman Apprentice Sasha Ambrose)
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The Ford is
currently doing work ups which are a series of underway periods
conducting training, running drills, conducting flight operations,
and completing certifications in preparation for its first
deployment and the U.S. Navy’s first Ford-Class full deployment. The
Ford and its crew has gained a huge amount of experience and
training since it was built and are going to be thriving during the
upcoming deployments.
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