USS Gerald R. Ford Breaks Post-Vietnam Deployment Record

The USS Gerald R. Ford broke the record for the longest U.S. aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam War on Wednesday, reaching 295 days at sea. This milestone surpassed the previous 2020 record of 294 days set by the USS Abraham Lincoln. The supercarrier originally deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2025.

During its mission, the vessel operated in the Caribbean Sea for an operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and participated in the early stages of the Iran war across the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The crew also dealt with a laundry space fire that required extensive repairs and temporarily displaced 600 sailors.

Navy officials expect the carrier to remain deployed for approximately 11 months, with a projected return in late May. Senator Tim Kaine criticized the length of the deployment, citing concerns over crew mental health and the president's use of the military. The United States Department of the Navy has not officially confirmed the final duration, though top officers had anticipated a record-breaking mission.