USS JOHN C STENNIS

• Namesake: USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is named after Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi, who served over 41 years in the U.S. Senate and was a strong supporter of the U.S. Navy. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on December 9, 1995, at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. • Class: She is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. • First Combat Deployment: Stennis embarked on her first combat deployment in 1998, supporting Operation Southern Watch enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. • Record-Breaking Distance: During her 1998 deployment, Stennis sailed more than 70,000 nautical miles, setting a record for the longest distance traveled by a U.S. Navy carrier in a single deployment. • Key Role in War on Terror: After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Stennis participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, launching airstrikes against Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan. • Homeport Moves: She has shifted homeports multiple times, from Norfolk, Virginia to San Diego, California, and then to Bremerton, Washington, reflecting strategic needs. • Supercarrier Size: The ship is over 1,090 feet long, can carry up to 90 aircraft, and has a crew complement (including air wing) of over 5,000 personnel. • Hollywood Appearance: USS John C. Stennis was featured in the movie "Battleship" (2012), representing the might of the U.S. Navy. • Future as USS Harriet Tubman: In March 2023, the U.S. Navy announced its intent to rename USS John C. Stennis as USS Harriet Tubman, in honor of the famed abolitionist and Union spy, as part of a broader review of military assets named after controversial figures.