USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)

• Last of the Nimitz-class: USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is the tenth and final aircraft carrier of the Nimitz-class, commissioned on January 10, 2009. • Named After a President: The ship is named in honor of George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, who also served as a Navy pilot during World War II. • Presidential Attendance: George H.W. Bush himself attended the ship’s commissioning ceremony, making it the first time a namesake president was present at the commissioning of his namesake carrier. • Technological Upgrades: CVN-77 features numerous technological improvements over previous Nimitz-class carriers, including a redesigned island, advanced radar systems, and improved flight deck layouts. • First Combat Deployment: In 2014, the USS George H.W. Bush led airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria, marking its first combat deployment. • Symbolic Call Sign: The ship’s radio call sign is "Avenger," a tribute to the TBM Avenger torpedo bomber flown by George H.W. Bush in World War II. • Large Crew: The carrier operates with a crew of approximately 3,200 sailors, and when embarked with Carrier Air Wing Eight, the complement rises to over 5,000 personnel. • Homeport: The USS George H.W. Bush is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, the largest naval base in the world. • International Exercises: The ship has participated in numerous multinational exercises, including Operation Trident Juncture 2018, one of NATO’s largest exercises since the Cold War. • Presidential Legacy: The ship’s motto, "Freedom at Work," reflects both the legacy of President Bush and the carrier’s mission to project American power and support global security.