The USS Gerald R. Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on May 2 for its first worldwide deployment. Setting out with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, USS Normandy CG 60, USS Ramage DDG 61, USS McFaul DDG 74 and USS Thomas Hudner DDG 116. It is the vessel’s maiden combat mission and second deployment after a two-month deployment in the fall of 2022 to the US 2nd and 6th Fleet regions.