NORFOLK, Va. — The arrival of Secretary of Navy Carlos Del Toro aboard USS Gerald R. Ford signals the coming end of a months-long departure for the Navy's most technologically advanced and expensive warship.
Six months into the first-ever overseas deployment of the carrier, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was extended 76 days after it was directed to the Mediterranean Sea to respond to the fallout of the Israel-Hamas war.
"We had a number on the calendar and then that number disappears because of the extensions," MA3 Aaron Ludwick said.
For the sailors on board, it marks the end of the carrier's maiden voyage and the first time they'll be back home in roughly nine months.
"Your families, your spouses, loved ones, your children are as great American heroes as you are," Secretary Del Toro told the packed hangar bay of the Ford.
"Being first deployment, first carrier in its class and my first deployment in support of other operations, it's surreal to see it hands-on," Ludwick said.
USS Gerald R. Ford days away from returning from its first deployment
All weekend, Strike Group squadrons have been departing the Ford and flying home ahead of the carrier's return to the mainland. The Ford itself is due to return on Wednesday.
Carrier Strike Group 12 also includes Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron 2, USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner and USS McFaul.
For the Ford, it was the first time the roughly two dozen technological advancements of the carrier were put to the test in real-time.
"The power that's produced by this Nuclear power plant far exceeds anything we've built before. And many other examples where technology makes a difference, manning the ship with less people so a greater return to the American taxpayer," Secretary Del Toro said.
Six years had passed between when the USS Gerald R. Ford was commissioned and its first deployment in May 2023.
When asked whether the investment — both time and financial — should be considered worth it for the American taxpayer, Del Toro responded that the "free flow" of trade, and peace, is something that benefits all nations.
"American people should think about deterrent factor this has on nefarious behaviors of bad actors throughout the globe. Maybe that's not apparent, because we're deterring, but we're keeping the peace," Secretary Del Toro said.
USS Thomas Hudner and McFaul have previously returned to their homeports in Mayport and Norfolk in early January.