USS Gerald R. Ford Returns to Norfolk After Nearly 11 Months at Sea

The USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday after nearly 11 months at sea, the longest deployment for a U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. The Ford Carrier Strike Group, escorted by the destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan, docked alongside the base as roughly 5,000 sailors awaited reunions with families who had not seen them since June.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Norfolk for the homecoming ceremonies, during which Navy leaders announced that the carrier strike group would receive a Presidential Unit Citation. Hegseth presented the award on behalf of President Donald Trump. In remarks during the event, he said the crews had “made history” and “made a nation proud.”

The Ford began its deployment in June 2025, initially heading to the Mediterranean as part of what officials described as a routine cruise. In October, the ship was rerouted to the Caribbean, where it supported U.S. operations connected to Venezuela, including activities tied to the January capture of Nicolas Maduro while he was president. As U.S. tensions with Iran escalated, the carrier shifted operations toward the Middle East, operating from the...