Construction of the third nuclear-powered and second Nimitz class aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was authorized by Congress in fiscal year 1970.

The carrier, named after the nation's 34th president, was christened at 11:11 a.m., Oct. 11, 1975, by Mrs. Mamie Doud-Eisenhower, the ship's sponsor and widow of the late president. The Ike was commissioned on Oct. 18, 1977, under the command of Capt. William E. Ramsey, USN, and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. After 14 months of fleet training, the Eisenhower set sail for her first Mediterranean deployment. Since that time, CVN 69 has completed eight Mediterranean deployments. In 1980, Ike's second extended deployment tallied 254 days at sea with only a five-day stopover in Singapore.

After its fourth deployment the aircraft carrier sailed into Newport News and Drydock in October 1985 for a complex overhaul. The 18-month yard period included the addition of the Close-in Weapons System, NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System, Navy Tactical Data System, Anti-Submarine Warfare module, communications upgrades and rehabilitation of 1,831 berths in 25 compartments. The aircraft carrier re-entered the fleet in April 1987.

In 1990 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower completed its sixth Mediterranean Sea deployment. The deployment became a commemorative event in the worldwide "Dwight D. Eisenhower Centennial," celebrating the 100th anniversary of the late president's birth. During D-Day anniversary ceremonies off the coast of Normandy, Ike's son, John Eisenhower, and D-Day veterans embarked in the ship while Carrier Air Wing Seven conducted a memorial flyover of the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, CVN 69 became the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the Red Sea. It was the second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the Suez canal. The Eisenhower served as a ready striking force in the event Iraq invaded Saudi Arabia, and participated in maritime interception operations in support of a United National embargo against Iraq.

After completion of an extensive shipyard period and work ups, Ike deployed September 26, 1991, to the Arabian Gulf to continue multi-national operations with coalition forces in support of Operation Desert Storm. It returned to Norfolk April 2, 1992.

On Jan. 6, 1993, the aircraft carrier entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul and conversion, and returned to the fleet November 12.

In September 1994, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division again made history with the concept of "adaptive force packaging." The division's soldiers and equipment were loaded on board, and the Ike Army and Navy team headed for Port-au-Prince to spearhead Operation Uphold Democracy, the U.S. - led effort to restore the democratically elected government of Haiti.

One month later, in October 1994, CVN 69 departed for a six-month deployment which included flying missions in support of Operations Southern Watch and Deny Flight. This deployment marked the first time that women had deployed as crewmembers of a U.S. Navy combatant. The Ike, Carrier Wing Three, and COMCRUDESGRU Eight team included more than 400 women.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Newport News Shipbuilding on July 17, 1995, for an 18-month complex overhaul which was completed on Jan. 27, 1997.

February 8, 1998 An F-18C Hornet from VFA-81 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, near Puerto Rico, following a cold cat shot. Lt. Cmdr. Tom Halley ejected safely.

The carrier departed on its 10th deployment on June 10, 1998, and returned in December.

September 16, 1998 An F-18C Hornet from VFA-83 crashed in the western Mediterranean, during practice strafing run. The pilot ejected safely.

In February 1999, Ike returned to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a six-month refitting and returned to the fleet in June. Upon completion in June 1999, it returned to full duty in the fleet.

After roughly eight months of an intensive work-up schedule, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Battlegroup headed to sea February 19, 2000, for the first Mediterranean deployment of the year 2000. After a four-month stint at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va., the carrier crew began preparation for the deployment with four days of sea trials in June. Ike and CVW-7 participated in several strenuous at-sea operations such as the Tailored Ship's Training and Availability (TSTA) I, II and III, Competitive Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in August, the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) in December, and various exercises to qualify its naval aviators (CQ). After roughly three days of CQ, CVN 69 and CAG Seven began its transit to the Mediterranean Sea, where she made its first planned port call to Trieste, Italy.

August 18, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Norfolk after a six-month underway period.

May 22, 2001 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower entered the Newport News Shipbuilding for her first and only refueling in her 50-year life-span. The scope of work is valued at approximately $1.5 billion and includes the refueling of both the ship’s reactors, as well as significant modernization work. Work includes a major upgrade of the island house that will involve the shipyard removing the top two levels of the island house and replacing them. This action is driven by the installation of a new antenna mast that runs down along the island and will provide for better radar capabilities. The shipyard is also integrating a new radar tower aboard the Eisenhower. Maintenance and repair work will be performed below the ship’s waterline to include the application of a new paint system. In addition, the shipyard will be replacing nearly 3,000 valves and overhauling another 600 in various ship systems. More than 3,500 Newport News Shipbuilding employees will be working aboard the carrier during peak periods of the overhaul and refueling project. The work is scheduled to last approximately three years.

January 25, 2005 CVN 69 pulled to Naval Station Norfolk after a three-and-a-half year complex overhaul and refueling at Newport News Shipbuilding.

March 20, The aircraft carrier is preparing to get underway to conduct flight deck certification.

March 29, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was redelivered to the fleet March 25, after a four-year, approximately $2.5 billion dollar Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) that brought state-of-the-art equipment and technology to one of America's premier fighting platforms.

April 5, The Eisenhower successfully completed flight deck certification in the Atlantic Ocean.

May 1, CVN 69 and CVW 7 are currently underway, off the East coast, conducting routine operations.

May 4, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower reached a significant milestone in her long and storied history trapping her 215,000th aircraft since the ship's commissioning in 1977.

May 9, The aircraft carrier returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., after completing her shakedown underway period - ten days at sea where the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier took another step toward becoming combat ready. This was the fourth time that Ike has been underway since completing its four-year, mid-life overhaul in March. The primary purpose of this underway was to give Ike's chain of command the opportunity to evaluate the readiness of the ship. It is scheduled to enter the Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) this summer, where any remaining work will be completed. Following that, the warship will begin the process of becoming surge ready.

May 18, CVN 69 is currently underway conducting routine carrier operations with CVW 1.

May 25, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower opened her flight deck to the French Navy during Multi-National Maritime Exercise (MNME) 05-1. MNME 05-1, which incorporates more than 17,000 Sailors from Canada, France, Great Britain, Spain and the United States, is one step in the certification of forces for the NATO Response Force (NRF).

September 1, Capt. James Cloyd relieved Capt. Charles E. Smith as CO of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during the change of command ceremony held aboard the carrier.

October 18, CVN 69 departed Norfolk for her first underway period since completing the repairs. The aircraft carrier successfully completed Sea Trials on Oct. 20th, marking another milestone in the warship’s long and storied career.

November 3, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Enterprise, USS Harry S. Truman and fast combat support ship USNS Arctic are currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting ammunition offloads and underway replenishments.

November 10, Air Force Gen. Lance L. Smith took command of NATO's Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) during an assumption ceremony aboard the Eisenhower at the Norfolk Naval Station.

December 1, The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier departed Norfolk to conduct Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials and Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean.

December 17, CVN 69 took another step toward becoming surge ready, sucessfully completing Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) Dec. 13 and 14 by launching missiles for the first time in more than five years. Ike was previously armed with the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS); but during the overhaul, the carrier was outfitted with the new RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM).

January 25, 2006 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway off the Atlantic Coast conducting carrier qualifications. She hosted four squadrons throughout the CQ period, Jan. 25-28, and qualified 32 aviators.

February 16, The Ike and embarked Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) are currently underway conducting Tailored Ship's Training Availability/Final Evaluation Period in the Atlantic Ocean.

March 10, CVN 69 pulled into Pier 12 at Naval Station Norfolk, after a 25-day underway period and a score of Excellent on her Tailored Ship’s Training Availability and Final Evaluation Period (TSTA/FEP). The Afloat Training Group (ATG), embarked as trainers and evaluators, recommended Ike be considered Emergency Surge Ready.

March 20, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean preparing for an Inspection and Survey (INSURV).

April 3, Ike successefuly completed INSURV March 31. The weeklong inspection included both inport and underway aspects. The inspectors, easily recognizable in their grey coveralls, thoroughly looked at everything from nuts and bolts to habitability.

April 12, CVN 69 departed Naval Station Norfolk for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), a major requirement for the Eisenhower Strike Group’s certification as ready for deployment.

April 24, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived at Port Everglades, Fla., for a port visit as part of the ship's current training schedule. The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will remain at anchor off the coast. The port call is not related to the community's Fleet Week activities scheduled for the following week.

May 8, The Eisenhower CSG successfully completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise off the East Coast. COMPTUEX began with training for warfare commanders and the rest of the strike group in operational tasking and decision-making before a four-day port visit in South Florida. The exercise then moved into a scenario-driven portion, containing “battle problems” of increasing complexity and difficulty, as well as Blue Water Certification, which now allows Eisenhower and CVW-7 to operate without a divert airfield nearby.

May 25, CVN 69 is currently conducting routine operations off the East Coast.

June 22, The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier is currently underway conducting Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination (ORSE).

July 21, More than 16,000 service members from five countries will participate in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 06-2 "Operation Bold Step," July 21-31. Operation Bold Step will present U.S., interagency, and coalition forces with realistic and dynamic exercise threats that closely replicate operational challenges military forces routinely encounter around the world. JTFEX 06-2 serves as the forward-certifying event for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, and sustainment training for units from the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and USS Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group.

September 11, CVN 69 is currently underway off the coast of Virginia conducting carrier qualifications.

October 3, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment, after more than six-years, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

October 14, Ike transited the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea.

October 21, The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier departed Naples, Italy, after a four-day port visit.

October 25, The Eisenhower is currently anchored off the coast of Limassol, Cyprus, for a brief port call.

October 31, CVN 69 conducted an on station turn over with USS Enterprise (CVN 65) while transiting the Red Sea. The Ike CSG entered the Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on Oct. 30.

November 7, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently in the Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

November 18, Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 continue to provide close air support and reconnaissance to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops on the ground in Afghanistan as part of Operation Eagle. After nine days of operations, they have flown 190 sorties, coordinating closely with coalition forces to counter anti-coalition militants, their movements and attacks, and to make a difference in providing for the safety and security of the people of Afghanistan.

December 11, The Eisenhower entered the Persian Gulf accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68). During 33 days of operations, in the Arabian Sea, the Air Wing flew more than 4,000 hours and more than 680 sorties, providing close air support and reconnaissance to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops.

December 27, CVN 69 departed Jebel Ali, U.A.E., after a scheduled five-day port visit.

January 8, 2007 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower recently joined USS Bunker Hill, USS Anzio and USS Ashland to support ongoing maritime security operations off the coast of Somalia, in an effort to capture al Qaeda terrorists attempting to flee the country.

February 7, Eisenhower is currently in the Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

April 7, Cmdr. Christopher Rankin relieved Cmdr. Gordon Smith as CO of VAQ-140 "Patriots", during an aerial change of command ceremony. The Ike is currently in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

April 16, The commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Capt. Scott "Sterno" Stearney, relieved the commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, Cmdr. Christopher Rankin, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead his crew and carry out essential missions. Cmdr. Timothy Murphy, the squadron's executive officer, is currently serving as the acting CO. Rankin has been temporarily assigned to Commander, Carrier Strike Group 8 pending further review.

May 4, CVN 69 transited the Suez Canal after concluding operations in the 5th Fleet AoR.

May 16, The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier departed Lisbon, Portugal, after a four-day port visit.

May 23, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Norfolk after a nearly eight-month deployment and more than 69,000 nautical miles traveling. By the end of the cruise, CVW 7 had completed 10,397 arrested landings, flew a total of 31,273 flight hours and expended more than 140 laser-guided bombs and Joint Direct Attack Munitions on numerous targets in support of ground forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

July 7, The Ike is currently underway conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean.

July 23, Capt. Scott Stearney completed his 1,000th arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier. Since his first carrier arrested landing in 1983 aboard the USS Lexington (AVT 16), Stearney has accumulated more than 44,000 flight hours and has landed on more than 10 different carrier decks. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently conducting Joint Tactical Force Exercise with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG.

August 17, CVN 69 is underway conducting carrier qualifications off the East Coast.

November 16, Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne relieved Capt. Dan Cloyd as 14th commanding officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, during the change of command ceremony held inside the hangar bay.

December 8, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting ammunition offloads and underway replenishments with Military Sealift Command (MSC) ammunition ship USNS Mount Baker (T-AE 34).

January 22, 2008 CVN 69 pulled to Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a six-month planned incremental availability (PIA) period.

August 1, The Eisenhower departed for carrier qualifications off the coast of Virginia after recently completing sea trials.

August 8, Vice Adm. Melvin G. Williams, Jr. relieved Vice Adm. Marty Chanik as Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, aboard the Ike at Naval Station Norfolk. The change of command also served as a retirement ceremony for Chanik after 35 years of naval service.

August 30, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed homeport for a Friends and Family Day Cruise off the coast of Virginia.

September 25, The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier is currently conducting tailored ship's training availability/final evaluation phase (TSTA/FEP) in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship departed homeport Sept. 16 for carrier qualifications.

October 4, Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Lemar Robinson was killed when he was hit by a plane, at 8:16PM local time, during a training exercise off the coast of North Carolina.

October 23, The Eisenhower is currently underway conducting CQ in the Atlantic Ocean.

November 20, The Ike is currently conducting carrier qualifications off the East Coast.

January 8, 2009 CVN 69 is conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), in the Atlantic Ocean, in preparation for the upcoming deployment.

February 21, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled underway period in the Central Command Area of Responsibility (AoR).

February 26, A Sailor went overboard at about 4:30 p.m. while the carrier is in transit in the Atlantic. He (she) was in the water less than 30 minutes before being recovered, and was not injured.

March 10, The Dwight D. Eisenhower departed Marseille, France, after a two-day port call.

March 21, Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 started with supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on station in the Arabian Sea.

May 16, CVN 69 pulled into the newly-constructed Mina Khalifa pier facility in Hidd, Bahrain, for a rare port visit. The last carrier to moor pierside in Bahrain was the 11,373-ton Commencement Bay-class escort aircraft carrier USS Rendova (CVE 114) in 1948.

June 20, Command Master Chief Jeffrey J. Garber was found dead in a berthing area aboard the Eisenhower at approximately 8:15 a.m. local time. Additional tests will be conducted to verify the indications of a natural death.

July 6, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CSG was relieved by USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Carrier Strike Group in command of Task Force 50. Aircraft from CVW-7 flew more than 2,000 sorties in support of OEF in Afghanistan.

July 14, The Ike arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, for a three-day port call.

July 30, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Norfolk after a five-month deployment. The aircraft carrier made a brief stop at Mayport Naval Station on 28th to drop off members of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 5 and to pick up "Tigers".

September 9, French Air Force Gen. Stéphane Abrial relieved USMC Gen. James N. Mattis as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) in a ceremony aboard the Eisenhower.

September 25, CVN 69 is currently off the East Coast conducting carrier qualifications.

November 5, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently in the Atlantic Ocean conducting a three-week Composite Training Unit Exercise in preparation for an upcoming deployment next year.

November 7, The Eisenhower responded to a distress call from a civilian vessel, approximately 300 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, resulting in the rescue of three Canadian civilian mariners from an overturned sailboat.

November 18, Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne and Cmdr. Joe W. Barnes, the XO of "Pukin' Dogs", completed their 1,000th carrier arrested landings within minutes of each other.

January 2, 2010 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed Norfolk Naval Station for a scheduled Middle East deployment.

January 21, CVN 69 entered the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AoO), after transiting the Suez Canal.

January 28, Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 launched its first sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

February 16, Cmdr. Benjamin L. Hewlett relieved Cmdr. Thomas D. Bush as CO of the "Wildcats" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, during an aerial change-of-command ceremony.

March 17, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed Jebel Ali after a four-day port visit to Dubai, U.A.E.

March 18, Cmdr. Scott T. Farr relieved Cmdr. Timothy F. Murphy as CO of the "Patriots" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, during an aerial change-of-command ceremony.

March 31, An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to "Blutails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121 crashed in the North Arabian Sea about 2 p.m. local time, five miles from the aircraft carrier, after returning from a mission in support of operations in Afganistan. Three of four crew members were rescued and returned to the Ike.

April 3, The Navy has ended the search for a missing Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman and declared him deceased.

June 10, The Eisenhower departed Hidd, Bahrain, after a routine port call.

July 2, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG relieved USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group as Commander, Task Force 50 on station in the North Arabian Sea.

July 4, The IKE CSG entered the Mediterranean Sea after transiting the Suez Canal. Since entering the U.S. 5th Fleet AoR, CVW 7 has flown more than 2900 sorties and totaled 17,700 cumulative flight hours in support of OEF.

July 6, CVN 69 arrived in Antalya, Turkey, for a three-day port visit.

July 13, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower anchored off the coast of Naples, Italy, for a four-day port call.

July 26, The aircraft carrier pulled into Mayport Naval Station to embark friends and family for a Tiger cruise.

July 28, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to homeport after a seven-month deployment.

August 30, The Ike is currently off the coast of Virginia, transferring ammunition to the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

September 8, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, commanded by Capt. Marcus A. Hitchcock, arrived in Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a scheduled Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).

June 6, 2011 Rear Adm. Ted N. Branch, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, relieved the Ike's XO Capt. Robert D. Gamberg following the completion of an investigation into allegations of an improper relationship. During the admiral's mast, it was determined that Gamberg was in violation of Uniform Code of Military Justice articles 133 (conduct unbecoming an officer) and 92 (failure to obey order or regulation).

June 15, CVN 69 returned to Naval Station Norfolk after completing two-day sea trials following a nine-month maintenance period at NNSY.

June 28, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed homeport for CQ, with the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and 7, off the East Coast.

July 2, A team from the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program office (PMA-268) accomplished the first carrier touchdown of an F/A-18D surrogate aircraft, emulating an unmanned air vehicle, using systems developed as part of the Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. The Hornet, assigned to the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, was equipped with X-47B precision navigation control software that will allow the X-47B to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier in 2013.

July 11, The Eisenhower is currently conducting Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications (FRS-CQ) off the coast of Virginia.

July 25, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower pulled into Naval Station Mayport for a two-day port call.

August 3, The IKE returned home after one-week of carrier qualifications for Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM).

August 19, CVN 69 returned to Norfolk after a four-day underway for a maintenance material management (3M) inspection and FRS-CQ.

August 25, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed Naval Station Norfolk for several days at sea to avoid the approaching Hurricane Irene.

September 12, The Eisenhower is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications.

October 12, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower departed Norfolk for a Tailored Ships Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Phase (FEP).