Where Are The Carriers As Of May 17, 2026: Ford Is Finally Home

Summary

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) has returned to Naval Station Norfolk after completing an extraordinary 326-day deployment, marking the longest carrier deployment in over fifty years. What began as a routine European deployment evolved into a complex multi-theater mission, with the Ford being redirected to the Caribbean to support Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in the successful extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, before crossing back to the Mediterranean and Red Sea to participate in Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Over the course of its deployment, the supercarrier covered more than 57,000 nautical miles, accumulated over 5,700 flight hours, and executed more than 12,000 aircraft launches, with Carrier Strike Group 12 being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation upon return. Simultaneously, three other carriers — USS George Washington, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and USS Theodore Roosevelt — returned to their respective home ports after routine training operations. In the Middle East, the U.S. Navy continues to maintain a substantial presence enforcing an ongoing blockade of Iran, with two Carrier Strike Groups, one Amphibious Ready Group, and over 20 warships operating in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.