The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), hosted a high-level US Navy visit while operating in the Mediterranean Sea on May 5, 2026.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao arrived aboard the carrier via a C-2A Greyhound assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40, conducting an at-sea visit while the ship remained underway. The aircraft taxied on the flight deck before departing with the senior official following the scheduled engagement.
The visit took place as USS Gerald R. Ford continues its deployment to the US 6th Fleet area of operations, where it is supporting maritime security and stability efforts. Operating in the Mediterranean, the carrier serves as a central platform for US naval presence and power projection across a strategically important region.
Last month, USS Gerald R. Ford set a new record for the longest modern deployment of a US Navy carrier since the post–Vietnam War era. The ship surpassed the previous mark held by USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), which completed a 294-day deployment in 2020.
Ford deployed from Norfolk last June with nearly 4,500 sailors aboard, heading to the North Sea for routine operations with NATO partners Norway, Germany, and France. In November 2025, the vessel entered the US Southern Command area of responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR) and conducted missions in Caribbean waters. The aircraft carrier was then redeployed to the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group already operating in the region.
Most recently, Ford visited Split, Croatia, to resupply, refuel, and conduct repairs, following a fire incident in the Red Sea.