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aircraft carrier under construction
The future John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) under construction in 2019.
U.S. Navy/HII (Matthew Hildreth)

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Lessons from the Aircraft-Carrier Industrial Base’s 2020 Experience

By Rick Giannini
March 2021
Proceedings
Commentary
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The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), a challengingly complex, first-in-class U.S. Navy warship, had a busy 2020, which culminated with its first-ever large-scale integrated air wing operations.

During those operations, in November 2020, Rear Admiral Craig Clapperton, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 12, spoke to news media embarked on the ship. He talked about the ship’s enhanced capability for the crew to build weapons packages below deck and transport them rapidly to the flight deck. According to Clapperton: “We can move more weapons in a safer way, a faster way to a flight deck that is larger and more flexible. And that all contributes to the kind of agility, lethality, and flexibility the Ford brings to the fight.”

The Navy and the aircraft-carrier industrial base should be proud of these accomplishments, when the entire team’s mettle was tested by the global pandemic. The team proved resilient and strong as it adapted and delivered during these challenging times.

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Rick Giannini

Rick Giannini is president and CEO of Milwaukee Valve Company. He serves as chairman of the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC), which represents the more than 2,000 businesses from 46 states that supply parts, equipment and services for the construction and maintenance of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

More Stories From This Author View Biography

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