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Susan Ford Bales News

11 Oct 2017

Inside the USS Gerald R. Ford

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 flies over USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The aircraft carrier is underway conducting test and evaluation operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt)

President Donald Trump addressed the more than 10,000 people attending the ceremony where the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), was commissioned on Saturday, July 22 in Norfolk, Va. “Wherever this vessel cuts through the horizon, our allies will rest easy and our enemies will shake with fear because everyone will know that America is coming and America is coming strong,” said Trump. Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley recalled President Theodore Roosevelt, who used to say, “Walk softly, and carry a big stick.” Stackley then turned to Trump and said, “Mr.

20 Jul 2017

US Navy to Commission Gerald R. Ford

The Navy will commission its newest aircraft carrier, the future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, July 22, at Naval Station Norfolk. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carrier, the first new class in more than 40 years and will begin the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers when the ship is commissioned. 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). Released from active duty in February 1946, Ford remained in the Naval Reserve until 1963.

28 Jun 2016

Fundraiser Held for USS Gerald R. Ford Crew

Photo: Blackmer

Blackmer, a company in positive displacement and centrifugal pump and reciprocating compressor technologies, has a relationship with the U.S. Military that dates back to 1914 when it became an official equipment supplier to the Armed Forces. One of the more significant contracts Blackmer has earned was awarded in 2007 when the U.S. Navy selected the company to supply sliding vane pumps for use on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), which would be the lead ship in a new class of supercarriers used for crisis response and early decisive striking power in major combat operations. The USS Gerald R.

01 Jul 2014

'Ford' Anchor Aweigh at Newport News Shipbuilding

Huntington Ingalls Industries'  reports that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully completed anchor testing on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), bringing the ship closer to its 2016 delivery to the U.S. Navy. Ford's new anchor system features a lighter anchor and chain, weighing in at half the weight of the previous Nimitz-class carriers' anchor systems. Newport News shipbuilders recently gathered to test Ford's anchor windlass system that is used to deploy and retrieve the anchor and chain. Load tests are performed by attaching additional weight to the anchor to simulate both a 180-foot drop and a 360-foot drop. The anchor handling system must be ready to deploy at a moment's notice in the event of an emergency.

19 Nov 2013

Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford Takes First Voyage

The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) was moved Sunday to Newport News Shipbuilding's Pier 3, where it will undergo additional outfitting and testing for the next 28 months. Photo by Chris Oxley

Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division launched Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) into the James River for the first time on Sunday. The first-of-class aircraft carrier was moved to the shipyard's Pier 3, where it will undergo additional outfitting and testing for the next 28 months. Gerald R. Ford has been under construction in Dry Dock 12 since November 2009 and was moved about one mile south to the shipyard's Pier 3 with the assistance of six tugboats. The ship will be moored at Pier 3 to complete outfitting and testing.

12 Nov 2013

Ford Christening Connects President to Navy Roots

Ship's Sponsor Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, christens the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua J. Wahl)

With the strike of a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow by the ship's sponsor, the Navy christened its newest aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the lead ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class, Nov. 9, in a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. Susan Ford Bales, Ford's daughter and the ship's sponsor, had the honor of christening the ship in front of more than 20,000 Sailors, shipbuilders and civilians, bringing to life the Navy's newest aircraft carrier design in more than 40 years. "I christen thee United States Ship Gerald R.

11 Nov 2013

Aircraft Carrier 'Gerald R. Ford' Christened at NNS

The Ford Christening: Photo credit HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division inaugurate the christening of Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the first ship of the next-generation class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The first-in-class ship features a new nuclear power plant, a redesigned island, electromagnetic catapults, improved weapons movement, an enhanced flight deck capable of increased aircraft sortie rates, and growth margin for future technologies and reduced manning. Before a standing-room-only crowd of thousands…

14 Oct 2013

New US Aircraft Carrier Floated at NNS Yard

CVN Float Out: Photo courtesy of HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division announce that with the push of a dozen buttons, CVN 78, 'Gerald R. Ford', sponsor Susan Ford Bales initiated the flow of more than 100 million gallons of water into the dry dock. Once the dock was flooded and initial afloat testing complete, water was partially pumped out and the ship returned to her keel blocks in anticipation of Ford's christening on Nov. 9. The ship will float again about a week later when it is moved to a pier for outfitting. Ford is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2016.

22 Jul 2013

100th Birthday of CVN 78 Namesake Recognized

Representatives of Newport News Shipbuilding unveil a model of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich. Pictured with the shipbuilders are Susan Ford Bales, right, the ship’s sponsor and President Ford’s daughter, and representatives of the ship’s crew. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding by Ricky Thompson/Released)

Sunday, July 14 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gerald R. Ford, 38th president of the United States. This was an important historical milestone for the country because of President Ford’s exceptional legacy of service, but also an important historical milestone for the Navy as we fittingly get ready to christen and launch the first of our next generation of aircraft carriers, the Gerald R. Ford class with the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Former President Ford was born in 1913, around the time of Eugene Ely’s pioneering flights aboard USS Birmingham and USS Pennsylvania.

16 Jul 2013

Carrier Shipbuilders Honor Gerald R. Ford BD Centenial

Gerald R. Ford Ceremony: Photo credit HII

Shipbuilders representing Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division participated in a series of events over the weekend commemorating what would have been President Gerald R. Ford's 100th birthday. NNS is building CVN 78, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for the U.S. Navy named in honor of the 38th President. The centennial events were held at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Ford's hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. "We are proud to be building CVN 78—named for a man who embodied integrity…

11 Jul 2013

Capsule Placed on U.S. Aircraft Carrier

Photo: Huntington Ingalls Industries

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division welded a time capsule today inside the flight deck control room of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The time capsule contains items that were placed under the 555-metric ton island during a ceremonial event in January by Susan Ford Bales, the ship's sponsor and daughter of the late president, as well as shipyard and Navy leadership. "This Navy tradition is even more special today because it's happening three days before what would have been President Ford's 100th birthday…

08 May 2013

New US Aircraft Carrier Hull Structure Complete

Last CVN 78 Hull Superlift: Photo credit HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division hoisted the last piece of primary structure onto the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier 'Gerald R. Ford'. The lift was the last of 162 superlifts and brings more than three years of structural erection work to a close. Susan Ford Bales, the ship's sponsor and daughter of the late President Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford, was unable to participate in the construction milestone but wrote a letter of appreciation to shipbuilders.

28 Jan 2013

New-build Aircraft Carrier Island Top Off

Image credit HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) plant the 555 mt island aboard 90% complete US carrier 'Gerald R. Ford'. HII celebrated significant progress as the 555-metric ton island was lowered onto the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. The island will serve as the command center for flight deck operations aboard the first of the next-generation class of aircraft carriers. Susan Ford Bales, daughter of the late President Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford, serves as the ship's sponsor and participated in the event.

11 Oct 2011

NNS Hosts Susan Ford Bales for Aircraft Carrier Update

Susan Ford Bales receives a lesson in connecting instrumentation wiring during her Oct. 11 visit to Newport News Shipbuilding. (Photo: Huntington Ingalls Industries)

Huntington Ingalls Industries said that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division hosted a visit by Susan Ford Bales, daughter of the late President Gerald R. Ford and sponsor of his namesake ship. Bales received a briefing on Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) construction progress since her last visit in August 2010. Following the briefing, Bales toured Ford with shipyard leadership, ascended NNS' 1,050-metric ton crane to get a bird's-eye view of the shipyard, and had lunch with CVN 78 shipbuilders.

11 Nov 2009

Gerald R. Ford Keel Laying Ceremony

Photo courtesy Northrop Grumman Corporation

Shipbuilders at Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va., signed a 15-ft banner in preparation for the upcoming keel laying ceremony for the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The banner will be on display at the ceremony on Nov. 14. Susan Ford Bales, the daughter of the late President Gerald R. Ford, will serve as ship's sponsor and keel authenticator for the ceremony. Bales will authenticate the keel by chalking her initials onto a metal plate. Her initials will then be welded onto the plate.