USS Gerald R. Ford returns after record 326‑day deployment, heads to Norfolk for repairs

The nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford completed a 326‑day deployment—the longest for a U.S. carrier since the Vietnam War. The voyage took the ship through the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean (supporting Operation Absolute Resolve against Nicolás Maduro) and the Indian Ocean for Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Extended time at sea led to several technical failures and a decline in crew morale, prompting U.S. senators to question the Secretary of Defense about living conditions aboard.

Now back in Norfolk, the carrier will enter the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for extensive maintenance. Work will address damage from a March fire that spread to crew berthing areas and will upgrade the ship’s vacuum‑based sewage system, which has suffered hose leaks and suction losses. Rear Adm. Kavon Hakimzadeh is overseeing the repairs, while senior Navy officials note the issues are being handled and are not indicative of broader systemic failures.