The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, returned to its homeport in Virginia on Saturday (May 16th), breaking the record for the longest deployment time since the Vietnam War. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth personally welcomed the return of the carrier.
The returning fleet included the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the USS Bainbridge destroyer, and the USS Mahan destroyer.
This deployment lasted for almost 11 months. In November 2025, the Gerald R. Ford was deployed to the Caribbean to support US military operations and in January of this year, it participated in the capture operation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Shortly after, the aircraft carrier was sent to the Middle East for airstrikes against Iran.
On Saturday, the advanced US aircraft carrier and its escort destroyers docked at Naval Station Norfolk. Approximately 4,500 sailors reunited with their families for the first time since the Ford’s deployment began in June of last year.
Family members of the sailors gathered at Naval Station Norfolk to welcome the carrier’s return. Sailors on board waved to the crowd holding homemade banners, one of which read: “I miss you! So glad you’re back!”
US Secretary of War Hegseth also attended the arrival ceremony of the USS Ford aircraft carrier and its escort fleet.
“The actions and accomplishments of the Ford aircraft carrier strike group and these destroyers are remarkable,” Hegseth said. “You haven’t just completed a mission, you’ve made history, you’ve made the whole nation proud, and shown the world what American strength truly is.”
He also praised the crew of the USS Bainbridge destroyer for their excellent work.
This voyage will go down in history. According to the US Naval Institute News, the Ford aircraft carrier spent 326 days at sea, making it the longest carrier deployment in nearly 50 years and breaking the record for the longest deployment since the Vietnam War.
A statement from the US Navy said, “The Ford aircraft carrier strike group departed from Naval Station Norfolk on June 24, 2025, and carried out missions in the Arctic Circle, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Red Sea. The carrier strike group’s support for multiple joint operations worldwide has solidified its position as the world’s most powerful, adaptable, and lethal military force.”