John C. Stennis Underway as Major Maintenance Nears Completion
The crew of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) got the 90,000-ton nuclear powered aircraft carrier underway March 24, for the first time in almost seven months. Stennis will be underway for approximately five days to conduct a testing phase as the final part of the ship's major maintenance period. Sea Trials is the final assessment of the ship's material readiness and ability to rejoin the fleet as an operational unit. After all of the ship's systems, installations, and repairs have been tested, inspected and validated, Stennis' major maintenance period, officially called docking planned incremental availability (DPIA), will be complete. "The crew of USS John C. Stennis is ready and excited to take the ship out to sea," said Stennis' Commanding Officer, Capt. Brad Johanson.
USS John C. Stennis Returns to OEF Missions Following Port Visit
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 returned to the North Arabian Sea June 14 following its third port visit in the Middle East. Starting June 15, CVW-9 will conduct missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and will provide close air-power support and reconnaissance to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops on the ground in Afghanistan. ISAF is comprised of more than 35,000 troops, with contributions from 37 nations. “We have met every operational commitment assigned to perfection and have maintained a level of operational readiness second to none,” said Stennis’ Commanding Officer, Capt. Brad Johanson.
Stennis AIMD Officer Named Best in Navy
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gethings, USS John C. A USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) division officer won the 2006 Captain Charles J. “Chuck” Nechvatal Award for Aviation Ground Maintenance Officer of the Year on April 3. Commanding Officer Capt. Brad Johanson recognized Lt. Todd Nelson, Intermediate Maintenance (IM) 2 division officer, in a small ceremony held on the bridge April 5, for making the most beneficial impact on command readiness and mission accomplishments during Stennis’ 2006 work-up schedule. “This is definitely the pinnacle of my career,” Nelson said after being awarded a token of appreciation from Johanson. “It’s a huge honor, but I didn’t win it alone.
