Richard C. McCormack during a change of command ceremony on Friday, Aug. 10, at 10 a.m. onboard Naval Station Norfolk at the Vista Point Catering and Conference Center. The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is making progress, the Navy says. ... the Ford’s commanding officer. NORFOLK (NNS) -- President Donald J. Trump commissioned the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at a commissioning ceremony July 22. ... Cummings becomes the third commanding officer of the Ford… Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the first new design for an aircraft carrier since USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) underway on its own power for the first time while leaving Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia (USA), on April 8, 2017. ... USS Gerald R. Ford enters a new phase in its path to deployment. During a recent at-sea period, test pilots put the ship's new launch and recovery systems through their paces. J.J. Cummings ’89 has commanded the USS Gerald R. Ford for only a few days, he shows no signs of letting the captainness overshadow his J.J.-ness. A few years ago, in a story chronicling life aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier, a New Yorker writer noted that the scope and scale of the captain’s job made it “impossible to get a sense of him outside his captainness.”. USS Gerald R. Ford - CVN 78, Newport News, Virginia. The background is a map of the world representing the global presence of USS Gerald R. Ford and the future Ford Class aircraft carriers. 200131-N-CV877-2006 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 31, 2020) Sideboys render honors to Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly as he arrives aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford … USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) ... Navy coins, and aviator wings from its first commanding officer. The ship's crest was developed jointly by the ship sponsor and the first commanding officer Captain John F. Meier. The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) will welcome its next Commanding Officer during a change of command ceremony on Friday, August 10 at 10 a.m. John J. Cummings will assume the duties as the third Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and relieve Capt. Modly embarked Ford after the ship successfully completed aircraft compatibility testing to discuss Ford’s progress and to see the ship operate at sea. A change of command ceremony was held for the USS Gerald R Ford on Monday to relieve one captain and welcome another. 45K likes. [25] Production delays meant that the launch had to be delayed until 11 October 2013 and the naming ceremony until 9 … Capt. Now at Sea, USS Gerald R. Ford Enters a New Phase in its Path to Deployment. The Honorable Thomas Modly, acting Secretary of the Navy, greets Capt. USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWEs) reached another milestone this week with the commencement of combined testing of its first Lower Stage Weapons Elevator on Feb. 24. Richard C. McCormack during the Aug. 10 change of command ceremony, a time-honored Naval transfer of responsibility, authority, and accountability from one individual to another. J.J. Cummings ’89 (right) assumes command of the USS Gerald R. Ford from Capt. Meier has met with all the Sailors assigned to Ford and has set the climate to impact his Sailors’ lives in a positive way . The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is making progress, the Navy says. The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) will welcome its next Commanding Officer during a change of command ceremony on Friday, August 10 at 10 a.m. While Navy Capt. Capt. Capt. Capt. Ship Sponsor Susan Ford Bales participated in a Change of Command ceremony as Captain John Meier was replaced by Captain Richard McCormack as Commanding Officer of the USS Gerald R. Ford CVN 78.The ceremony took place in conjunction with the Gerald R. Ford statue unveiling event at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, VA. John F. Meier, Commanding Officer of Pre-commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), poses for a group shot with newly arrived Ford Sailors. Capt. Capt.