Quartermaster 1st Class Amy Birkholz plots the course of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) as it departs San Diego. America is the first ship of its class and the fourth to bear the name. The ship replaces the Tarawa-class of amphibious assault ship as the next generation “big-deck” amphibious assault ship and is optimized for aviation and capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Lewis Hunsaker/Released)