USS Dwight D . Eisenhower ( CVN - 69 ) USS " Dwight D . Eisenhower " ( CVN - 69 ) ( " " Ike " " ) is an aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy . Commissioned in 1977 , the ship is the second of the ten s currently in service , and is the first ship named after the 34th President of the United States , Dwight D . Eisenhower . The vessel was initially named simply as USS " Eisenhower " , much like the lead ship of the class , but the name was changed to its present form on 25 May 1970 . The carrier , like all others of her class , was constructed at Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Virginia , with the same design as the lead ship , although the ship has been overhauled twice to bring her up to the standards of those constructed more recently . Since commissioning , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " has participated in deployments including Operation Eagle Claw during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980 , as well as the Gulf War in the 1990s , and more recently in support of US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan . Design and construction . On 29 June 1970 , Newport News Shipbuilding of Newport News , Virginia was awarded the contract for construction . On 30 June 1975 , her designation was changed from CVAN - 69 to CVN - 69 . She was laid down as hull number 599 on 15 August 1970 at Newport News shipyard at a cost of $ 679 million ( $ 4 . 5 billion in 2007 dollars ) , launched 11 October 1975 after christening by Mamie Doud - Eisenhower , and commissioned 18 October 1977 , Captain William E . Ramsey in command . Since her commissioning , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " has had 13 Commanding Officers . On commissioning , she replaced the aging World War II – era carrier in the fleet . Service history . 1970s . " Dwight D . Eisenhower " was initially assigned to the U . S . Atlantic Fleet , and , after receiving over a year of training during the spring of 1978 , the ship was visited by President Jimmy Carter , who hit a golf ball off the flight deck into the Atlantic Ocean . In January 1979 , she sailed for her first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea . During this deployment , while off the coast of Israel , Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin visited " Dwight D . Eisenhower , " The carrier returned to Norfolk Naval Station in July of the same year . 1980s . Under the command of her second Commanding Officer , Captain James H . Mauldin , her second deployment occurred in 1980 , when she was dispatched by President Carter to the Indian Ocean , in response to the Iran hostage crisis . She relieved " Nimitz " three days after the Iranian hostage rescue attempt . " Dwight D . Eisenhower " returned to the Mediterranean Sea for her third deployment from January 5 to July 13 , 1982 . During this deployment , 11 passengers and crew were lost when " Mamie , " her onboard logistics aircraft , crashed near Souda Bay , Crete on April 2 . She also participated in the June 24 evacuation of the U . S . Embassy staff from Beirut , Lebanon as that country descended into civil war . " Ike " embarked on her fourth deployment from April 27 to December 2 , 1983 . In addition to several major exercises with NATO , Egyptian and U . S . Air Force personnel and assets , she came under direct threat of destruction as Libyan strongman Muammar al - Qadhafi vowed to turn the Gulf of Sidra into a " red gulf of blood " should the ship enter the zone claimed by Libya . Further tensions between Libya , Chad , Sudan and Egypt forced " Ike " to be ordered to the disputed area . Between August 2 and 5 , the ship ' s Combat Air Patrol intercepted two MiG - 23 " Flogger " and two Dassault - Breguet " Mirage V " aircraft headed toward the carrier in separate engagements . The Libyan aircraft immediately turned back toward their bases , ending both incidents . Diplomatic measures deflated the crisis days later . On August 26 , " Ike " sailed within sight of the embattled city of Beirut , Lebanon . The ship launched reconnaissance sorties in support of the U . S . Marines and other international peacekeepers coming under attack ashore . After 93 days at sea since her previous port visit , " Ike " visited Italy on October 21 . She once again had to make speed toward Beirut on the 26th due to suicide attacks that killed nearly 300 American and French troops on October 23 . " Ike " would remain on station until relieved by the " Independence " and " John F . Kennedy " in mid November . After her fifth deployment " Dwight D . Eisenhower " went into Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock in October 1985 for a major overhaul . The 18 - month yard period included the addition of the Close - in Weapons System , NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System , Naval Tactical Data System , anti - submarine warfare module , communications upgrades and rehabilitation of 1 , 831 berths in 25 compartments . She re - entered the fleet in April 1987 . On 29 February 1988 , the ship started her sixth deployment to the Mediterranean . While returning to Norfolk , on 29 August 1988 , she collided with an anchored Spanish coal ship while entering the harbor to dock at Norfolk Naval Station when wind and currents pushed the carrier off course , although damage was minor to both ships . " Dwight D . Eisenhower " entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard ( Portsmouth , Virginia ) in September 1988 ; she returned to the fleet in April 1989 . 1990s . In 1990 , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " completed her seventh Mediterranean deployment . The deployment became a commemorative event in the worldwide ' Dwight D . Eisenhower Centennial , ' celebrating the 100th anniversary of the late president ' s birth . During D - Day anniversary ceremonies off the coast of Normandy , President Eisenhower ' s son John Eisenhower and D - Day veterans embarked in the ship , while Carrier Air Wing Seven conducted a memorial flyover of the American cemetery at Omaha Beach . Gulf War . In response to Iraq ' s invasion of Kuwait , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " became the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the Red Sea , and only the second nuclear - powered aircraft carrier ever to transit the Suez Canal . " Ike " served as a ready striking force in the event Iraq invaded Saudi Arabia , and participated in maritime interception operations in support of a United Nations embargo against Iraq . After completion of an extensive shipyard period and work ups , the carrier deployed 26 September 1991 to the Persian Gulf to continue multi - national operations with coalition forces in support of Operation Desert Storm . " Ike " returned to Norfolk 2 April 1992 , and on 12 January 1993 , entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul and conversion , returning to the fleet 12 November 1993 . Post – Gulf War . In September 1994 , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " and elements of the U . S . 10th Mountain Division first tested the concept of adaptive force packaging . The division ' s soldiers and equipment were loaded on board , and the ship ' s Army / Navy team headed for Port - au - Prince to lead Operation Uphold Democracy , the U . S . - led effort to restore the elected government of Haiti . One month later , in October 1994 , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " departed for a six - month deployment which included flying missions in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Deny Flight . This deployment marked the first time that women had deployed as crew members of a U . S . Navy combatant . " Dwight D . Eisenhower " , Carrier Air Wing 3 , and the Commander , Cruiser - Destroyer Group 8 staff team included more than 400 women . The integration of women caused some negative headlines for the Navy . During the deployment , 15 women serving aboard had to be reassigned ashore due to pregnancy , earning the ship the nickname " The Love Boat " . There was also a case of a sailor who filmed himself having sex with a female . In April 1995 , the game show " Wheel of Fortune " taped two weeks of episodes on the ship ' s hangar deck . " Dwight D . Eisenhower " returned to Newport News Shipbuilding on 17 July 1995 for an 18 - month complex overhaul which was completed on 27 January 1997 . Among other things they installed new Advanced combat direction system . The ship departed on her 10th deployment on 10 June 1998 and returned in December . In February 1999 , she returned to the Norfolk Navy Shipyard for a six - month refitting and returned to the fleet in June . Upon completion in June 1999 , she returned to full duty in the fleet . 2000s . Deploying in February 2000 and returning that August on the " Millennium Cruise " , for the first time " Ike " s embarked aircraft dropped ordnance in combat while supporting Operation Southern Watch ' s No - Fly Zone over Iraq . On 3 October 2006 with Carrier Air Wing 7 ( CVW - 7 ) , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " returned to sea as the flagship of Rear Admiral Allen G . Myers , commanding Carrier Strike Group 8 . CSG - 8 also includes the guided - missile cruiser USS " Anzio " ( CG - 68 ) , guided - missile destroyer s " Ramage " ( DDG - 61 ) and " Mason " ( DDG - 87 ) , and the fast - attack submarine " Newport News " ( SSN - 750 ) . She visited Naples , Italy and then Limassol , Cyprus for three days in October 2006 before departing to the east . She entered the Persian Gulf in December 2006 . On 8 January 2007 , a US AC - 130 gunship based out of Djibouti was dispatched to target Al - Qaeda operatives located in Somalia . " Eisenhower " " was deployed in the Indian Ocean to provide air cover for the operation and , if needed , to evacuate downed airmen and other casualties . " It joined other US and allied vessels from Bahrain - based Combined Task Force 150 The US spokesperson did not say what particular ships comprised the cordon , but the task force includes vessels from Canada , France , Germany , Pakistan , the UK and the US . US ships of Combined Task Force 150 include the " Arleigh Burke " - class destroyer USS " Ramage " ( DDG - 61 ) and the " Ticonderoga " - class cruiser USS " Bunker Hill " ( CG - 52 ) . The aim of the patrols is to " . . . stop SICC leaders or foreign militant supporters escaping " Somalia . In March 2007 , following the Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " began battle group exercises off the Iranian coastline . In April 2007 , the ship was relieved by " Nimitz " . On 4 October 2008 " Dwight D . Eisenhower " sailor Robert Lemar Robinson was killed on the ship during training exercises off the coast of North Carolina . The sailor was killed after being struck by an airplane at 8 : 15 p . m . on the carrier ' s flight deck . On 21 February 2009 , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " deployed for the Arabian Sea and environs rotating into the forward - deployed forces there . She served as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8 commanded by Rear Admiral Kurt W . Tidd . Also embarked were Carrier Air Wing 7 and the staff of Commander , Destroyer Squadron 28 . Other ships of Strike Group 8 were , , , , and . In addition to supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom , the strike group conducted maritime security operations including anti - piracy operations . On 16 May , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " became the first " Nimitz " - class carrier to dock pierside in Manama , Bahrain . The last carrier to moor pierside in Bahrain was in 1948 . On 30 July 2009 , the " Dwight D . Eisenhower " returned to Naval Station Norfolk after almost a six - month deployment . 2010s . On 2 January 2010 , " Dwight D . Eisenhower " again deployed to the Middle East , the U . S . 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations . She served as the flagship of Dwight D . Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group commanded by Rear Admiral Philip S . Davidson . While in theater , the strike group provided security cooperation , forward naval presence , maritime security , and crisis response . In addition to the " Ike " , the strike group was made up of Carrier Air Wing 7 ; Commander , Destroyer Squadron 28 ; the guided - missile cruiser ; and guided - missile destroyers , , and . On 28 July 2010 , the " Ike " returned to her homeport in Norfolk . The ship was placed in a planned incremental availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard through June 2011 . During that time , the ship ' s executive officer , Captain Robert Gamberg , was relieved and removed after an investigation concluded that he had engaged in an " improper relationship " . Gamberg was later cleared in January 2012 by a panel of inquiry . Although the Navy had issued a press release announcing Gamberg ' s relief in 2011 , it did not publicly comment on his exoneration by the panel of admirals in 2012 . On February 22 , 2013 Strike group 8 departed for another deployment just two months after pulling back into its home port of Norfolk Virginia . After pulling into Marseille France in early March the German " Hamburg " became the first to fully integrate into an American Strike group . " Hamburg " is command by Cmdr . Ralf Kuchler and will stay with the strike while it operates in the 5th fleet . On 6 of August the ship began an ammunition offload in preparation for an upcoming docked planned incremental availability ( DPIA ) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard . Eventual Replacement . " Dwight D . Eisenhower " is currently scheduled to be eventually replaced around 2025 by the . The exact date of the ship ' s inactivation and decommissioning will likely depend on Defense Department funding considerations . Awards . " Dwight D . Eisenhower " has earned a number of awards , including the Battle " E " in 1979 , 1980 , 1981 , 1985 , 1990 , 1998 , 1999 , 2006 and 2012 as the most battle efficient carrier in the Atlantic Fleet . In 1999 , she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Atlantic Fleet .