DVIDS – Information – A Legacy of Service

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK — President George H.W. Bush’s post-presidency chief of employees Jean Becker and Commander, Naval Air Forces Vice Adm. Kenneth Whitesell visited the Nimitz-class plane service USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on March 21, 2022. The go to to the ship adopted a neighborhood gala celebrating the Centennial of U.S. Navy Plane carriers the night prior.

The George H.W. Bush is the one U.S. Navy plane service named for a naval aviator. Bush flew from the deck of USS San Jacinto (CVL 30) within the Pacific marketing campaign in World Conflict II whereas assigned as a pilot and photographic officer in Torpedo Squadron 51 (VT 51).

Becker, who served Bush from 1994-2018, was accompanied on her go to by former Bush administration alumni, post-Presidency employees, Govt Director of the Bush College DC Basic Jay Silveria, and senior management from the George & Barbara Bush Basis together with the Basis’s Chief Govt Officer, Max Angerholzer.

“Each go to to CVN 77 is emotional for me as a result of I understand how a lot this ship and her crew meant to President Bush,” stated Becker. “He cherished the time he spent on board and thought of it the honour of his lifetime to have his title related to this residing image of American freedom.”

The group toured the ship and met crew members the place they had been capable of study in regards to the ship’s Sailors and supply their experiences with President Bush illuminate the namesake in a private manner.

“Everybody I met aboard the united statesS. George H.W. Bush projected confidence and nice delight of their service to our nation,” stated Angerholzer. “I’m grateful for the chance to have seen first-hand the residing legacy of President Bush at work on this magnificent ship.”

Vice Adm. Kenneth Whitesell, commander, Naval Air Forces – and former commander of Provider Strike Group TWO embarked aboard George H.W. Bush – was additionally on board the ship to fulfill with the group.

“It’s a large honor to be right here at the moment with Ms. Becker and to have been a strike group commander aboard this highly effective warship with such an unimaginable legacy,” stated Whitesell. “President Bush embodied the identical grit, professionalism, and resolve that U.S. Naval plane carriers, and the Sailors that run them, have demonstrated over the previous 100 years. No different pressure on earth can function ahead with the velocity, endurance, and fight functionality of an plane service strike group and its Sailors.”

Lots of her tales concerning Bush and the ship are additionally included in Becker’s not too long ago printed memoir, “The Man I Knew.” The e-book highlights the Bush’s deal with service and household after the White Home.

“It’s an honor to function the commanding officer of any U.S. Navy command,” stated Capt. Robert Aguilar, George H.W. Bush commanding officer. “Nonetheless, it’s a particular expertise for me and for the remainder of the crew to serve aboard the George Herbert Walker Bush – an plane service named after a distinguished WWII aviator whose legacy of service continued proper as much as the time of his passing. We work onerous to dwell as much as the usual of service earlier than self he exemplified.”

George H.W. Bush supplies the nationwide command authority versatile, tailorable warfighting functionality because the flagship of a service strike group that maintains maritime stability and safety to make sure entry, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and associate pursuits.