USS Gerald R. Ford 2017 Commissioning Ceremony
President Donald Trump commissioned the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) on July 22, 2017.
Ford family members, members of the Foundation, board trustees and University of Michigan regents and more came to honor the hard work of sailors, legislators, shipbuilders, program managers, and the ship's sponsor in delivering the ship to the fleet.
After the ceremony, the ship was opened to the general public for tours, which included the flight deck, the commanding officer's in-port cabin, pilot house, mess decks, and the newly opened tribute room.
Navy Live, the official blog of the U.S. Navy, provided the full USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Commissioning Ceremony video including remarks by Susan Ford Bales (daughter of President Ford), President Donald Trump, ADM John Richardson, Secretary James Mattis, CAPT Richard McCormack, and the Manning the Ship by the CVN 78 crew.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship in the Ford-class of aircraft carrier, the first new class in more than 40 years, and will begin the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers.
CVN-78 honors the 38th president of the United States and pays tribute to his lifetime of service in the Navy, in the U.S. government and to the nation. During World War II Ford attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy, serving on the light carrier USS Monterey (CVL 26). Ford became president in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and served in the country's highest office from 1974-1977.
Michigan Wolverines Coach Jim Harbaugh attends CVN 78 Commissioning Ceremony
Michigan Wolverine Football Coach Jim Harbaugh, University Regents, and Alum attended the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) aircraft carrier Commissioning on July 22, 2017 at Naval Station Norfolk.
The ship is named after Gerald R. Ford, who played college football for the Wolverines and graduated from UM in 1935. While Coach Harbaugh is the current Head Football Coach for the Wolverines, he formerly played on the football team and graduated from Michigan.
Harbaugh posted to his social media account throughout the day. “Experiencing commissioning of USS Gerald R Ford was a great inspiration!” Harbaugh wrote on Twitter. “Celebration, American Tradition & Ceremony. God Bless the Military!”
Following the Commissioning Ceremony, the Michigan group climbed four decks from the cargo hanger to the flight deck. Coach Harbaugh took numerous photos with crew members and family of U.S. Service Men and Women.
Grand Valley State University President attends Commissioning
President Thomas J. Haas and his wife, Marcia, along with President Emeritus Don Lubbers and his wife, Nancy, attended the commissioning of the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 22.
Sarah (Haas) Wrenn, daughter of President and Marcia Haas, served as a nuclear engineer in the Navy. Wrenn designed valves in the nuclear propulsions system on the aircraft carrier.
Foundation Photos of the USS Gerald Ford Commissioning
David Hume Kennerly Photos of the USS Gerald Ford Commissioning
