PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A civilian employee was found dead on USS George H. W. Bush at Naval Station Norfolk earlier this month, officials have confirmed.
The man, who was a Navy Competent Person working for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Temporary Services Department, was found unresponsive on the aircraft carrier on December 7 around 2 p.m., according to a shipyard spokesperson. He was later declared deceased.
The next day, there was a ship-wide stand down on the aircraft carrier “to address safety, grief and counseling options." Another standdown was held on December 11 when “support options” were made available for civilians working at the shipyard by the Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the employee's family, friends and coworkers,” the shipyard spokesperson said in a statement.
The shipyard spokesperson said that an investigation into the incident is ongoing by the Naval Criminal Investigation Service.
No further information has been released.