The Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship of its class of U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and is named after the 38th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford, Jr., (1913-2006), whose World War II naval service included combat duty aboard the light aircraft carrier Monterey (CVL 26) in the Pacific Theater. Construction began on August 11, 2005, when Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding held a ceremonial steel cut for a 15-ton plate, at the shipyards new heavy-plate bay facility, that will form part of a side shell unit of the carrier; The ship is named on January 16, 2007.

Compared with the Nimitz-class, the Gerald R. Ford possess a new nuclear power plant (A1B), Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) instead of steam catapults, a redesigned and relocated island (It is shorter in length but stands 20 feet taller), three (instead of four) faster and more powerful elevators, an Advanced Aircraft Recovery System (AARS), new combat system, increased electrical power generation capacity and allowance for future technologies and reduced manning. Also the sortie rate is increased by 25% thanks to an enhanced flight deck layout, with improved weapons movement and "pit stops" to fuel and arm aircraft.

September 10, 2008 A Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a $5.1 billion, 7-year cost plus incentive fee contract, for detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

November 14, 2009 The keel laying and authentication ceremony for the CVN 78 was held at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia.

May 12, 2010 A Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a $186.6 million cost plus fixed fee contract to continue the engineering and design effort for the Gerald R. Ford; A $189.2 million contract was awarded on November 10.

July 29, 2011 The Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) was awarded a $504 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract extension to continue engineering work associated with construction of the CVN 78.

May 24, 2012 Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding reached a construction milestone by lowering the final keel section, 680-metric-ton lower bow, of the Gerald R. Ford. The aircraft carrier is being built using modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship are welded together to form large structural units, outfitting is installed, and the large unit is lifted into the dry-dock. Of the nearly 500 total structural lifts needed to complete the ship, 390 have been accomplished.

October 4, HII Newport News Shipbuilding reached a construction milestone by placing the 1,026-metric ton gallery deck onto the CVN 78. This is the heaviest unit to be moved during the ship's construction and the largest lift that has ever made at Newport News shipyard.

January 26, 2013 HII Newport News Shipbuilding completed a significant milestone with the installation of the 555-metric ton island.

May 7, The forward end of the Catapult #3 was placed on the flight deck, completing the last of 162 super lift evolutions scheduled during the construction of the Gerald R. Ford at Huntington Iningalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, Va.

July 8, Capt. John F. Meier assumed command of the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford.

November 9, PCU Gerald R. Ford was christened during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony at HII Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. Miss. Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, served as sponsor of the ship.

November 17, The Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford was launched for the first time from Dry Dock #12 and moved "dead-stick" to Pier 3 at Newport News shipyard.

June 5, 2015 The Gerald R. Ford successfully conducted its first "dead-load" test of the new Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) at Newport News shipyard. The 15,500-pound sled was launched into the James River where it was recovered for additional test launches over the next several weeks.

August 3, More than 1,600 Sailors enjoyed their first meal prepared in the galley after moved aboard the PCU Gerald R. Ford.

April 8, 2016 Capt. Richard C. McCormack relieved Capt. John F. Meier as CO of the CVN 78 during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship at Newport News shipyard.

June 11, The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford completed a major milestone by conducting a Turn Ship evolution at Pier 3. The new (port side) position will allow the ship and shipyard team to complete the remaining pierside testing required before upcoming sea trials.

April 8, 2017 CVN 78 departed Newport News shipyard for the first time to conduct Builder's (Alpha) sea trials off the coast of Virginia; Moored at Pier 11N in Naval Station Norfolk on April 14; Underway for acceptance trials with the INSURV from May 24-26.

May 31, Huntington Ingalls Industries delivered the PCU Gerald R. Ford to the U.S. Navy during a short ceremony at Newport News, Va.

July 22, USS Gerald R. Ford was commissioned during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony in the ship's hangar bay at Pier 11, Naval Station Norfolk.

July 28, USS Gerald R. Ford reached another milestone when an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 and piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Jamie R. Struck, became the first aircraft to conduct a successful arrested landing at 3.10 p.m. EDT. The same aircraft was catapulted from the ship's flight deck, for the first time, at 4.37 p.m.

July 29, The Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a one-day underway off the coast of Virginia; Underway for testing and evaluation operations from Aug. 2-16 and Sept. 29- Oct. 8.

October 19, Rear Adm. Roy J. Kelley relieved Rear Adm. Bruce H. Lindsey as Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the Ford.

October 21, USS Gerald R. Ford held an "Open House" in conjunction with the Fleet Fest 2017 and Naval Station Norfolk Centennial celebration, while moored at Pier 11.

November 9, The Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a nine-day underway for Independent Steaming Exercise (ISE) #3, with the elements from CVW-3 and CVW-7; Underway again on Dec. 3.

December 4, USS Gerald R. Ford conducted its first ever underway replenishment (UNREP), with the USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12), while underway off the coast of Virginia; Conducted its first-ever structural test fire on the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) on Dec. 15; Returned home on Dec. 17.

January 26, 2018 CVN 78 moored at Pier 11N after a 16-day underway for Independent Steaming Exercise (ISE) #5, off the coast of Virginia, with the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8.

March 30, Huntington Ingalls Inc. was awarded a $55,8 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-2110) for material and labor supporting planning and the preliminary accomplishment of the Post Shakedown Availability/Selected Restricted Availability (PSA/SRA) on USS Gerald R. Ford. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $66,6 million. Work is expected to be completed by June 2019.

April 18, Huntington Ingalls Inc. was awarded a $10,8 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-2110) for the Gerald R. Ford's PSA/SRA; Another $61,3 million modification was awarded on April 30.

May 19, USS Gerald R. Ford departed homeport for Independent Steaming Exercise (ISE) #6, off the coast of Virginia; Moored at Pier 11N for emergent repairs to its propulsion system on May 22; Underway again from May 31- June 7; Moved "dead-stick" to Pier 3, Newport News Shipyard on July 15.

July 27, Huntington Ingalls Inc. was awarded a $9,8 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-2110) for additional material in support of component shock testing for USS Gerald R. Ford.

August 10, Capt. John J. Cummings relieved Capt. Richard C. McCormack, as the 3rd commanding officer of Gerald R. Ford, during a ceremony at Vista Point Club on Naval Station Norfolk.

June 12, 2019 Huntington Ingalls Inc. was awarded a $687,1 million contract for early service life period work on USS Gerald R. Ford. The purpose of this contract is to support ship repair and modernization during continuous incremental availabilities, planned incremental availabilities, full-ship shock trials and continuous maintenance and emergent maintenance during the ship's early service life period. This contract includes five ordering periods and is expected to be completed by June 2024.

October 25, USS Gerald R. Ford departed Newport News Shipyard for sea trials, following a 15-month availability; Moored at Pier 11S in Naval Station Norfolk on Oct. 30.

November 25, The Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a 19-day underway for Independent Steaming Exercise (ISE) #7, in the Virginia Capes, Jacksonville and Charleston Op. Areas; Underway for ISE #8, off the coast of Virginia, from Dec. 4-11.

January 31, 2020 USS Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a 15-day underway for Aircraft Compatibility Testing (ACT), with the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 and 23, in the Virginia Capes and Cherry Point Op. Areas; Underway for ISE #9, in the Virginia Capes and Jacksonville Op. Areas, from Feb. 3-11; Underway for ISE #10 on March 11.

From March 19-24, the Gerald R. Ford conducted flight deck certification and carrier qualifications with the CVW-8, off the coast of Virginia; Moored at Pier 11N on March 25; Underway for Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) CQ, in the Virginia Capes Op. Area, on March 26; Arrived in the Charleston Op. Area on April 2; Arrived in the Jacksonville Op. Area on April 3.

From April 5-6, USS Gerald R. Ford conducted Combat Systems Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT); Conducted CQ for the Naval Air Training Command (TRACOM) from April 7-10; Returned home on April 12; Underway for FRS-CQ on May 9.

May 15, CVN 78 conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201), while underway approximately 75 n.m. off the coast of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; Conducted TRACOM-CQ, in the Jacksonville Op. Area, from May 17-20; Arrived in the Virginia Capes Op. Area on May 22; Returned home on May 25.

June 4, USS Gerald R. Ford participated in a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), while underway east of Cape Hatteras, N.C., marking the first time a Ford-class and a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier operated together at sea.

June 7, The Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a 10-day underway for integrated operations with the CVW-8, in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Underway for FRS-CQ, in the Virginia Capes Op. Area, from July 25- Aug. 5; Underway again on Sept. 1; Arrived in the Jacksonville Op. Area on Sept. 9.

From September 10-13, the Gerald R. Ford conducted Carrier Qualifications (CQ) with the Training Air Wing (TW) 1 and 2; Arrived off the coast of Virginia on Sept. 17; Transited southbound, approximately 20 n.m. east of Great Abaco Island, Bahamas, just after midnight on Sept. 20.

From September 20-30, the Gerald R. Ford conducted acoustic trials at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) range, off the east coast of Andros Island, Bahamas; Transited northbound, east of Great Abaco Island, just after midnight on Oct. 1; Returned home on Oct. 2.

November 3, USS Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a week-long underway for FRS-CQ, in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Underway for CQ, with the elements from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 and 8, and first-ever integrated Carrier Strike Group (CSG) operations from Nov. 5-20; Underway for FRS-CQ on Dec. 5.

From December 9-12, the Gerald R. Ford conducted TRACOM-CQ in the Jacksonville Op. Area; Conducted training in the Charleston Op. Area from Dec. 12-13; Returned home on Dec. 14.

January 28, 2021 USS Gerald R. Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk for FRS-CQ in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Conducted TRACOM-CQ, in the Key West Op. Area, from Feb. 3-6; Transited northbound, off the southeast coast of Florida, on Saturday evening; Returned home on Feb. 10.

February 12, Capt. Paul J. Lanzilotta relieved Capt. John J. Cummings as CO of the Gerald R. Ford during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

March 7, USS Gerald R. Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk for FRS-CQ in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Arrived in the Jacksonville Op. Area on March 12; Conducted TRACOM-CQ from March 14-17; Participated in a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) with the ITS Cavour (CVH 550), while underway off the coast of Virginia, on March 20; Returned home on March 21.

April 30, The Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a 16-day underway, in the Virginia Capes Op. Area, for Combat Systems Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT) 2C and integrated Carrier Strike Group (CSG) operations with the CVW-8; Underway again June 7.

June 18, USS Gerlad R. Ford successfully completed explosive event #1, as part of full-ship shock trials (FSST), while underway in the Jacksonville Op. Area; Arrived off the coast of Virginia on June 20; Returned home on June 22; Underway again from June 27- July 3 and July 13; Arrived in the Jacksonville Op. Area on July 14; Conducted explosive event #2 on July 16.

July 19, USS Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway again on Aug. 4; Arrived in the Jacksonville Op. Area on Aug. 5; Conducted explosive event #3 on Aug. 8; Conducted operations in the Virginia Capes Op. Area from Aug. 10-13; Returned home on Friday afternoon.

August 20, The Gerald R. Ford moved "dead-stick" from Naval Station Norfolk to Pier 2S on Newport News shipyard for a six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).

February 28, 2022 USS Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a three-day underway for sea trials; Underway for flight deck certification and CQ, with the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, from March 21- April 3; Underway for CQ with the CVW-8 on April 8; Conducted ammo onload with the USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) on April 9.

April 14, Cmdr. Andrew M. Thom relieved Cmdr. Andrew M. Imperatore as CO of the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, during an aerial change-of-command ceremony, while underway in the Virginia Capes Op. Area.

April 24, USS Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk; Anchored at Explosives Anchorage G3 for a brief stop before underway again on May 18; Returned home on May 19; Underway for FRS-CQ from June 6-11; Underway for a Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) assessment on June 15.

From June 17-19, the Gerald R. Ford conducted TRACOM-CQ in the Jacksonville Op. Area; Returned home on June 21; Brief underway for a Friends and Family Day Cruise on June 25; Underway for Combat Systems Operational Readiness Exercise (CSORE), in the Virginia Capes Op. Area, from July 6-14; Underway for FRS-CQ from Aug. 1-5.

September 16, The Gerald R. Ford departed homeport for Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) CQ and workups, in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Conducted ammo onload with the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) from Sept. 25-27; Moored at Berth 11N on Sept. 28.

October 4, USS Gerald R. Ford departed Norfolk for a "service-retained deployment," one-day later than scheduled due to high winds.

October 9, The Gerald R. Ford conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS John Lenthall (T-AO 189), while underway off the coast of South Carolina for a Task Force Exercise (TFEX); Participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Normandy (CG 60), SPS Alvaro de Bazan (F101) and FGS Hessen (F 221), while underway in the Jacksonville Op. Area, on Oct. 20; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS John Lenthall, while underway off the coast of North Carolina, on Oct. 23.

October 24, USS Gerald R. Ford conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13), while underway in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Normandy, USS Ramage (DDG 61), SPS Alvaro de Bazan, FGS Hessen, HDMS Peter Willemoes (F362), HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (F 802) and HNLMS Van Amstel (F 831) on Oct. 25.

October 28, USS Gerald R. Ford anchored approximately 1 n.m. off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, for a four-day port visit; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on Nov. 2 and 4th.

November 7, USS Gerald R. Ford participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Normandy, USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), HMCS Montreal (FFH 336), FS Chevalier Paul (D621), SPS Alvaro de Bazan, FGS Hessen, HDMS Peter Willemoes, HNLMS De Zeven Provincien and HNLMS Van Amstel, while underway in the eastern Atlantic Ocean as part of exercise Silent Wolverine; Entered the English Channel, just before midnight, on Nov. 13.

November 14, The Gerald R. Ford anchored at Anchorage "C" in Central Solent, approximately 1 n.m. off the coast of Stokes Bay, Gosport, England, for a four-day port visit to Portsmouth.

November 26, USS Gerald R. Ford moored at Pier 11N on Naval Station Norfolk after a 53-day deployment in the U.S. 2nd and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR); Underway for CQ with the elements from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 and 8, in the Virginia Capes Op. Area, from Feb. 8-15.

February 17, 2023 Capt. William M. Harkin relieved Capt. Stefan L. Walch as Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2 during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the CVN 78.

March 2, USS Gerald R. Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), in the Cherry Point, Charleston and Jacksonville Op. Areas; Conducted ammo onload with the USNS Medgar Evers, while underway off the coast of North Carolina, on March 31; Returned home on April 2.

April 24, Capt. Richard G. Burgess relieved Capt. Paul J. Lanzilotta as the 5th CO of CVN 78 during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

May 2, USS Gerald R. Ford departed Norfolk for its first major deployment.

May 3, The Gerald R. Ford conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195); Conducted operations off the coast of Virginia from May 3-7; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea again, while underway southwest of Ireland, on May 17; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) on May 18; Entered the English Channel, just before midnight, on May 18.

May 19, USS Gerald R. Ford, along with the USS Normandy and USS Thomas Hudner, transited the Dover Strait northbound on Friday evening; Participated in a PHOTOEX with the SPS Alvaro De Bazan, HNLMS Van Amstel, FGS Mecklenburg Vorpommern (F 218) and ORP General Tadeusz Kosciuszko (F273), while underway off the northwest coast of Germany, on May 21; Transited the Skagerrak Strait northbound, just after midnight, on May 24.

May 24, Rear Adm. Erik J. Eslich relieved Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman as Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the CVN 78.

May 24, USS Gerald R. Ford anchored approximately 3 n.m. south of Oslo, Norway, for a five-day port visit, the first ever for U.S. Navy aircraft carrier; Conducted operations south of Stavanger, Norway, from May 30-31; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188), while underway approx. 150 n.m. northeast of Shetland Islands, on June 1.

June 2, The Gerald R. Ford conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers, while underway in the Norwegian Sea; Conducted operations off the coast of Bodo, Norway, from June 3-6; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman on June 7; Arrived off the north coast of Netherlands on June 9; Transited the Dover Strait southbound on late Sunday evening.

June 15, USS Gerald R. Ford, along with the USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and ITS Alpino (F 594), transited the Strait of Gibraltar eastbound; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on June 16 and 17th; Transited the Strait of Sicily on June 18; Transited the Strait of Otranto northbound, just after midnight, on June 20; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman, while underway in the southern Adriatic Sea, on June 24.

June 26, USS Gerald R. Ford anchored approximately 1 n.m. off the coast of Split, Croatia, for a three-day liberty port visit; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman, while underway approx. 50 n.m. south of Dubrovnik, on July 6; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on July 7.

July 11, The Gerald R. Ford participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Normandy, USS Ramage (DDG 61),  ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551), ITS Carabiniere (F 593), FS Languedoc (D653) and two Croatian patrol boats, while underway in the southern Adriatic Sea, as part of NATO-led activity Neptune Strike 23-2; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman on July 15 and 19th; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on July 21; Transited the Strait of Otranto southbound on July 23; Conducted operations off the southwest coast of Peloponnese peninsula from July 24-26.

July 27, USS Gerald R. Ford anchored in Phaleron Bay, approximately 1 n.m. off the coast of Piraeus, Greece, for a four-day liberty port visit; Conducted operations southwest of Crete on Aug. 1; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers, while underway in the Ionian Sea, on Aug. 2; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman, while underway east of Sicily, on Aug. 6 and 9th; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on Aug. 10; Transited the Strait of Otranto northbound on Aug. 12.

August 14, USS Gerald R. Ford participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Normandy, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and HS Elli (F 450), while underway in the southern Adriatic Sea; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on Aug. 17; Transited the Strait of Otranto southbound, just after midnight, on Aug. 18; Transited eastbound, off the south coast of Crete, on Aug. 20; Participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Normandy, TCG Anadolu (L 400), TCG Gediz (F 495) and TCG Goksu (F 497) on Aug. 21.

From August 21-24, the Gerald R. Ford conducted operations south and southeast of Rhodes, Greece; Anchored approx. 1 n.m. off the coast of QTerminals Port in Antalya, Turkey, from Aug. 25-29; Conducted operations south and southeast of Rhodes from Aug. 30- Sept. 2; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Laramie (T-AO 203), while underway off the south coast of Crete, on Sept. 3; Transited the Strait of Otranto northbound on Sept. 4.

September 13, Cmdr. Justin Nixon relieved Cmdr. Christopher Keen as CO of the "fighting Blacklions" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213, during an aerial change-of-command ceremony, while underway in the southern Adriatic Sea.

September 16, The Gerald R. Ford conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Laramie and USNS Medgar Evers, while underway in the central Adriatic Sea.

September 17, USS Gerald R. Ford anchored approximately 3 n.m. off the coast of Trieste, Italy, for a four-day liberty port visit; Transited the Strait of Otranto southbound on Sept. 23; Conducted operations off the southwest coast of Peloponnese peninsula on Sept. 24; Transited the Strait of Otranto northbound on Sept. 25; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on Sept. 25; Transited the Strait of Otranto southbound on Oct. 2.