 |
| Harbour tugboats and other civilian vessels approach the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford at an anchor point off the Croatian coastal city of Split on March 28, 2026, for a scheduled port visit and maintenance stop following involvement Middle East war operations. (Photo by ELVIS BARUKCIC / AFP via Getty Images) |
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — Pete Hegseth is expected to attend the homecoming ceremony for the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday after the warship completed one of the longest aircraft carrier deployments in modern U.S. naval history.
The carrier has spent more than 300 days at sea, making it the longest post-Vietnam War deployment for a U.S. aircraft carrier in the last 50 years, according to data compiled by U.S. Naval Institute News.
The USS Gerald R. Ford departed Norfolk in June 2025 and was initially deployed to the Mediterranean before being redirected to multiple global hotspots, including the Caribbean and the Middle East.
During its deployment, the carrier supported operations linked to the Venezuela crisis and later joined growing U.S. military operations amid escalating tensions with Iran.
The Ford Carrier Strike Group also became a central part of American military operations in the Middle East as the Iran conflict intensified earlier this year.
The deployment was not without challenges. Reports revealed the ship experienced a major onboard laundry fire that displaced hundreds of sailors, along with ongoing maintenance and plumbing problems that drew national attention.
Military analysts say the deployment highlighted both the operational power and the growing strain placed on the U.S. Navy amid expanding global tensions involving Iran, Venezuela, and strategic maritime routes.
The carrier’s return is expected to bring relief to thousands of military families in Virginia after nearly 11 months of deployment extensions and combat operations overseas.
Trump administration officials have repeatedly praised the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group for supporting what Washington describes as key missions tied to regional deterrence, maritime security, and operations against Iranian-linked threats.
Following its return, the carrier is expected to undergo extensive maintenance and repairs before future deployments.