Secretary Of Defense Hegseth Welcomed Home U.S. Navy Supercarrier

BusinessAerospace & DefenseSecretary Of Defense Hegseth Welcomed Home U.S. Navy SupercarrierByPeter Suciu,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Suciu covers trends in the world of aerospace and defense.Follow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 02:56pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) arrives to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, May 16, 2026.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino)Nearly a year after departing Naval Station Norfolk, Va., USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) returned home on Saturday, finally concluding the longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam War. The carrier spent 326 days away from home, operating in the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Red Sea.During the nearly year-long deployment, which began on June 24, 2025, the supercarrier’s crew dealt with clogged toilets, responded to a fire that took approximately 30 hours to contain, and participated in two combat operations.CVN-78 arrived at Naval Station Norfolk, joined by the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) and USS Mahan (DDG-72).The warships were welcomed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who spoke to each ship's crew. Hegseth thanked the sailors of DDG-96 for what he said was a “job well done.Speaking on the deck of the destroyer, Hegseth said, “You didn’t just accomplish a mission, you made history. You made a nation proud.”The Secretary of Defense praised the crew of CVN-78 and the sailors Carrier Strike Group 12. “It’s an incredible story,” Hegseth said. “The story that should be told today is of the heroism and the skill and the professionalism of these sailors who went three times around the world to defend that flag right there. Which can only do what this strike group does.”MORE FOR YOUThe arrival of the warships foll...