USS Gerald R. Ford to Exit Mideast After 300-Day Record Deployment

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy's largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is set to depart the Middle East in the coming days after a record-breaking deployment exceeding 300 days, the longest for any American carrier since the Vietnam War. The ship, which left its home port at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on June 24, 2025, participated in operations amid the conflict with Iran and a mission in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro. It is expected to return to Norfolk by mid-May, according to U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Ford's journey began with a scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. In October, it rerouted to the Caribbean for Operation Absolute Resolve, supporting the operation that captured Maduro on January 3. As tensions with Iran escalated, the carrier moved toward the Middle East, entering the Red Sea in early March as part of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign. It enforced a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and provided deterrence against regional escalation.

The deployment faced setbacks, including a fire on March 12 in the ship's laundry area that injured several sailors. The...