{"id":45500,"date":"2023-05-02T18:47:20","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T18:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/05\/02\/uss-gerald-r-ford-leaves-norfolk-for-first-full-length-deployment\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:13:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:13:21","slug":"uss-gerald-r-ford-leaves-norfolk-for-first-full-length-deployment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/05\/02\/uss-gerald-r-ford-leaves-norfolk-for-first-full-length-deployment\/","title":{"rendered":"USS Gerald R Ford leaves Norfolk for first full-length deployment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/11\/23\/uss-gerald-r-ford-slated-to-wrap-up-first-deployment\/\" target=\"_blank\">aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford <\/a>is departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Tuesday for its first full-length deployment, according to U.S. 2nd Fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its carrier strike group, comprising the destroyers Ramage, McFaul and Thomas Hudner, is also heading out to sea; the first two warships left Norfolk Tuesday and the Thomas Hudner was expected to depart Naval Station Mayport, Florida, shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ford Carrier Strike Group is heading to U.S. 6th Fleet, where it will project power for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa. It replaces the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/04\/03\/deployment-extended-for-aircraft-carrier-george-hw-bush\/\">George H.W. Bush<\/a> CSG, which returned to Norfolk, Virginia, Sunday, concluding a nearly eight-month <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/01\/27\/carrier-george-hw-bush-concludes-largest-joint-exercise-with-israel\/\">deployment to U.S. 6th Fleet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/04\/24\/uss-george-hw-bush-returns-to-norfolk-after-deployment\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BushDeployment.webp_.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">USS George HW Bush returns to Norfolk after deployment<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Bush, which replaced the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in August, supported allies and partners to reinforce commitment to NATO, while underway.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ford, which was originally scheduled to deploy in 2018, previously completed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/09\/29\/uss-gerald-r-ford-expected-to-deploy-for-first-time-in-october\/\" target=\"_blank\">brief, inaugural deployment last year<\/a>. The carrier on April 2 wrapped up its required Composite Training Unit Exercise, in which it worked to integrate carrier strike group elements as a cohesive force, according to the Navy. The exercise also marked the first time the carrier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/03\/09\/aircraft-carrier-ford-embarks-with-full-air-wing-for-first-time\/\" target=\"_blank\">embarked a full carrier air wing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCOMPTUEX served as a doctorate-level test of the strike group\u2019s ability to operate collectively across the spectrum of warfare areas while incorporating the first in class Gerald R. Ford into the strike group,\u201d said Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander of Carrier Strike Group 12, said in a Navy news release last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe robust scenarios challenged every facet of our warfighting capability, enabling growth and learning at every level, allowing us to further refine our warfare tactics and processes,\u201d Huffman said. \u201cThe exercise solidified our already-cohesive strike group, and I\u2019m extremely proud of the team\u2019s determination and eagerness to constantly learn and improve in the most demanding situations. Our readiness is the highest it has ever been, and I feel fortunate for the opportunity to deploy with this amazing team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/11\/03\/uss-gerald-r-ford-hones-air-operations-during-initial-deployment\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford1.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">USS Gerald R Ford hones air operations during initial deployment<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">With new technology and much more space on the Ford&#039;s flight deck, Carrier Air Wing 8 is able to generate sorties at a much higher clip.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk in October for a service-retained deployment that lasted just under two months and included approximately 80 percent of a full carrier air wing. That deployment placed the carrier under the authority of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday instead of a geographic combatant commander, as is the standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-CSG-3_23.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-79059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-CSG-3_23.jpg.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-CSG-3_23.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-CSG-3_23.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-CSG-3_23.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-CSG-3_23.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and destroyers Thomas Hudner, Ramage and McFaul in 2023. (MC2 Malachi Lakey\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operations in the fall were designed to familiarize the crew with the vessel\u2019s new technologies, as the strike group focused on air defense, anti-subsurface warfare and distributed maritime operations. The operations also provided an opportunity to work with six other NATO allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The carrier encountered multiple technical problems, equipment malfunctions and delays as at least 23 new technologies were incorporated into the design after construction of the ship kicked off in 2005. Systems like the advanced weapons elevators and the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System also experienced challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">COMPTUEX provided the carrier\u2019s crew an opportunity to test new ways to utilize some of the new technology on the Ford, like the dual band radar system that was specifically designed for the ship. The system combines two radars that previously managed air traffic control, air search, navigation, and fire-control \u2013 all while significantly reducing manning needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Testing these systems is paving the way for future Ford-class carriers, like the future aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, according to Huffman.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/03\/09\/aircraft-carrier-ford-embarks-with-full-air-wing-for-first-time\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford6.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Aircraft carrier Ford embarks with full air wing for first time<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The ship will now operate with the full air wing during the Composite Unit Training Exercise ahead of a deployment later this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re kind of setting up the playbook for how the rest of the class will then be able to start operating so that when the JFK and subsequent ships come out, they will already have kind of a deep understanding of our foundational basis of this is how we can operate this weapons platform different from the Nimitz-class and then be able to build upon that,\u201d Huffman told reporters in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4500\" height=\"3001\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-in-October.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-in-October.jpg.jpg 4500w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-in-October.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-in-October.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-in-October.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-in-October.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford-in-October.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4500px) 100vw, 4500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hook runners wait for aircraft to land on the flight deck of the carrier Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean off the U.S. coast Oct. 6, 2022. (Samuel Corum\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During its deployment, the Bush CSG supported allies and partners to reinforce commitment to NATO and hosted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg while under NATO command as part of exercise Neptune Strike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ford, which was originally supposed to deploy in 2018, completed a brief, inaugural deployment last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":81472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":65,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-military"}}},"categories":[101,23,88,12,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3305],"class_list":["post-45500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-navy"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"Q2FMDGAOIBEMRAG2OC3HPBNSFM","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/05\/02\/uss-gerald-r-ford-leaves-norfolk-for-first-full-length-deployment\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>USS Gerald R Ford leaves Norfolk for first full-length deployment - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Ford, which was originally supposed to deploy in 2018, completed a brief, inaugural deployment last year.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"USS Gerald R Ford leaves Norfolk for first full-length deployment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Ford, which was originally supposed to deploy in 2018, completed a brief, inaugural deployment last year.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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