USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Saturday, Nov. 26, following its inaugural deployment.

Throughout the deployment, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group sailed more than 9,200 miles, completed more than 1,250 sorties, expended 78.3 tons of ordnance, completed 13 underway replenishments and hosted more than 400 distinguished visitors.

Ford operated with allies and partners – Canada, Denmark, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden – to strengthen interoperability, while conducting a range of maritime operations and exercises.

“This deployment brought together an incredible group of allies and partners with one single focus – to contribute to a peaceful, stable, and conflict-free Atlantic region through our combined naval power,” said Vice Adm. Dan Dwyer, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet and Joint Force Command Norfolk. “Opportunities to interoperate and integrate make our nations, our navies, and the NATO Alliance stronger.”

Built at Newport News Shipbuilding, Ford is the first new U.S. aircraft carrier designed in more than 40 years, introducing 23 new technologies that offer impressive advances to its aircraft launch system, propulsion, power generation, ordnance handling and more. Ford’s advanced technologies reduce the amount of personnel required to maintain and operate the ship’s systems compared to Nimitz-class carriers.