USS George H . W . Bush ( CVN - 77 ) USS " George H . W . Bush " ( CVN - 77 ) is the tenth and final " Nimitz " - class supercarrier of the United States Navy . She is named for the 41st President of the United States and former Director of Central Intelligence George H . W . Bush , who was a naval aviator during World War II . " Bush " callsign is " Avenger " , after the TBM Avenger aircraft flown by then - Lieutenant George Bush in World War II . Construction began in 2003 at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard ' s Dry Dock 12 ( the largest in the western hemisphere ) and was completed in 2009 at a cost of $ 6 . 2 billion . She is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk , Virginia . Ship ' s seal . Each element of the seal is significant for its relevance to the ship ’ s namesake , naval aviation , naval service , and the nation . There are six prominent features of the seal , beginning with the 41 white stars , symbolizing the ship ’ s namesake ( the 41st President ) . The rays of light that appear on the seal ’ s horizon represent Bush ’ s concept of a " thousand points of light " , wherein he urged Americans to find meaning and reward by serving a purpose higher than themselves . The graphic depiction of the aircraft carrier reflects the carrier as both a symbol and instrument of American strength as “ a force for good . ” Above the carrier are the overhead profiles of a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber ( representing Bush ’ s days as a Navy pilot ) , an F / A - 18 Hornet strike fighter , and an F - 35C Lightning II , superimposed one upon the other in order of the individual aircraft ' s outline size . Fouled anchors and shields , centered on naval aviators wings , honor the ship ’ s namesake ’ s aviation history . Finally , the motto “ Freedom at Work ” is adapted from Bush ’ s inaugural speech , during which he said , “ We know what works : Freedom works . We know what ’ s right : Freedom is right . ” Description . " Bush " stretches 1 , 092 feet and displaces over 100 , 000 tons , making her one of the world ’ s largest warships ( though she is slightly shorter than USS " Enterprise " ) . Her top speed exceeds 30 knots ; powered with two nuclear reactors , she can operate for more than 20 years without refueling . Several features differentiate CVN - 77 from other ships in the " Nimitz " class . Hull . New hull design features include a new propeller design , a new bulbous bow design that provides more buoyancy to the forward end of the ship and improves hull efficiency , curved flight deck edges to reduce radar signature , a new underwater hull - coating system , deck covering modernized to reduce ship weight by 100 tons , low Solar Absorptive and Anti - Stain Paint , and a redesigned hangar bay that has less clutter . Island . " Bush " is the second carrier to have a modernized island , which includes a new radar tower ( enclosed to reduce radar signature ) , navigation system upgrades , communication systems enhancements , and transparent armor windows . The island is smaller and has been repositioned farther aft to improve flight deck access and reduce signature and electronic self - interference . Air operations . New air operations design features include an updated aviation - fuel storage and distribution system , semi - automated refueling and servicing with new deck locations to provide faster , more efficient aircraft pit stops , requiring fewer people , modernized aircraft launch and recovery equipment , and redesigned jet blast deflector s . Environmental . Environmental upgrades have also been designed into the ship , including a vacuum collection / marine sanitation device ( VC / MSD ) , a new marine sewage system that uses fresh water in lieu of sea water for lower maintenance costs . Many older ships in the U . S . Navy utilize a gravity - driven collection holding and transfer ( CHT ) system to handle sewage waste . Newer US Navy ships , including now CVN - 77 , collect sewage waste by vacuum , allowing for greater flexibility in piping installation , smaller pipe sizes overall and reducing water consumption . The collection tanks of " Bush " were modified to accommodate both the VCHT ( Vacuum CHT ) equipment and the elements of a marine sanitization device to treat the waste prior to discharge . " Bush " is the first and only aircraft carrier in the U . S . Navy to combine the two technologies . This new VC / MSD driven waste management system has , however , not been without problems . Reports began surfacing immediately after delivery in May 2009 of issues with the ship ' s toilet system . As of November , 2011 , the entire system has gone down at least twice , rendering all 423 commodes in the ship ' s 130 heads inoperable , with many more incidents that have rendered either half of the ship , or sections of the ship , without operating sanitary facilities . In one ship - wide incident , a repair crew spent 35 non - stop hours attempting to return the system to working order . The system is said to suffer breakdowns when inappropriate materials such as feminine hygiene products are flushed down the toilets . During a four - month maintenance period in dock in 2012 , anti - clog measures were installed in the ship ' s toilet disposal systems . Electronics and communications . New electronics and communications technology , space rearrangement , operational procedure changes , advanced sensor technologies and maintenance systems have been incorporated to reduce manning costs . A new zonal electrical distribution system will keep problems from affecting other parts of the ship . Automated material movement devices , semi - autonomous , gravity compensated weapons handling devices , damage control automation systems and components have also been installed . Medical and dental equipment have been upgraded , integrated display screens in Damage Control Central have been modernized to improve data integration and display , and equipment in general shops has been modernized to improve productivity . Namesake . George H . W . Bush became the Navy ' s youngest pilot when he received his Naval Aviator wings and naval commission on 9 June 1943 , three days before turning 19 . He flew torpedo bombers off USS " San Jacinto " on active duty from August 1942 to September 1945 during World War II . On 2 September 1944 , during a mission over the Pacific , Japanese anti - aircraft fire hit his plane . The Navy submarine USS " Finback " rescued him . He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medal s for courageous service in the Pacific Theater . USS " George H . W . Bush " is the second United States aircraft carrier to be named after a naval aviator ( was the first ) and the second , following " Ronald Reagan " , to be named after a living former president ( " Reagan " was christened in 2001 while President Reagan was still living ) . Ship ' s history . The contract to build CVN - 77 was awarded to Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News on 26 January 2001 . A naming ceremony was held on 9 December 2002 at Northrop Grumman Newport News , with Former President George H . W . Bush attending . The Honorable Gordon R . England , Secretary of the Navy , presided at a ceremony . Construction . The Keel Laying ceremony was on 6 September 2003 , with Former President George H . W . Bush serving as the keynote speaker . Former First Lady Barbara Bush also attended with their daughter , Dorothy Bush Koch , the ship ' s sponsor . The former President authenticated the keel by chalking his initials onto a metal plate . His initials were then welded onto the plate , which was permanently affixed to the ship . The ship was modularly constructed , where large sections are assembled and then lifted into place using a large crane . Major milestones in the construction include the bow placement in March 2005 , followed by the island placement on 8 July 2006 . The 700 - ton island was lifted onto the flight deck in a ceremony called “ stepping the mast , ” which dates from antiquity and consists of placing coins or other items of significance under the step or bottom of a ship ’ s mast during construction . Since at least the construction of USS " Constitution " in the 1790s , this tradition has been passed on as a symbol of good luck for U . S . Navy ships . George H . W . Bush participated in the event , placing his naval aviator wings underneath the island during the ceremony . " George H . W . Bush " was christened on 7 October 2006 . Former President George H . W . Bush attended the ceremony and became the first president in history to participate in the christening of his namesake ship . President George W . Bush also attended and honored his father during the ceremony as a special guest speaker . Other officials participating in the ceremony included Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld , Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter ; Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen , Virginia Gov . Tim Kaine , and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Mullen . Other construction milestones included catapult system testing on the ship ' s flight deck on 25 January 2008 . Former President George H . W . Bush signaled the launch of two " dead loads " off the deck of the carrier . Dead loads are large , wheeled , steel vessels weighing up to 80 , 000 pounds , simulating the weight of actual aircraft . On 11 August 2008 , the Pre - Commissioning Unit ( PCU ) crew moved aboard the ship , the first meals were served in the galley , the U . S . flag was raised on the fantail for the first time , and the first watches were set . " Bush " left Northrop Grumman Ship Building for the first time on 23 December 2008 , proceeding a few miles down river to Norfolk Naval Station . Part of the ship ' s steel was manufactured from re - forged steel made from the support columns hauled out of the Twin Towers wreckage . Commissioning . USS " George H . W . Bush " was commissioned 10 January 2009 at Norfolk Naval Station prior to her official delivery to the Navy . 15 , 000 people were in attendance including veterans of the USS " San Jacinto " , the ship George Bush served on during World War II . President George W . Bush delivered the principal address , George H . W . Bush set the first watch , and ship ' s sponsor Dorothy " Doro " Bush Koch gave the order to " man our ship and bring her to life ! " A GM - built Grumman TBM Avenger like the one then - Lieutenant junior grade George Bush flew in World War II performed a fly - over . Northrop Grumman Corporation Builder ' s sea trials were completed on 16 February 2009 , providing an opportunity to test systems , components and compartments at sea for the first time . The trials included high - speed runs and a demonstration of the carrier ' s other capabilities . Following builder ' s trials , the ship underwent acceptance trials on 10 April 2009 , conducted by representatives of the U . S . Navy Board of Inspection and Survey , to test and evaluate the ship ' s systems and performance . Delivery and shakedown . " Bush " was officially delivered to the Navy on 11 May 2009 . The first fixed - wing flights were conducted on 19 May 2009 when F / A - 18 Super Hornet s from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron at Naval Air Station Patuxent River , Maryland began flight deck certification , which tests a carrier ' s ability to conduct air operations . On 26 May 2009 , Former President George H . W . Bush and his daughter , Dorothy Bush Koch , flew aboard the carrier to observe flight operations during the ship ' s underway period in the Atlantic Ocean . USS " George H . W . Bush " successfully completed her first flight deck certification on that day . " Bush " returned to Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard on 18 June 2009 for post - delivery maintenance work , also known as the ship ' s post shakedown availability ( PSA ) . A PSA is a typical availability in the early life of a carrier that allows the Navy and builder to resolve any items that came up during trials and delivery and make any last - minute changes and upgrades . Work includes the installation of a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat ( RHIB ) handling system and a new fresh water purification system . Other changes include compartment reconfigurations , combat system and radar equipment upgrades , and minor repairs . The work was scheduled to last through early 2010 . First deployment . The ship was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Two for her first deployment . Under the command of Rear Admiral Nora Tyson , " George H . W . Bush " , Carrier Air Wing Eight and the four ships of her group departed on her first deployment on 15 May 2011 . They sailed across the Atlantic to Britain to participate in Exercise Saxon Warrior , held in the Western Approaches and culminating in a so - called ' Thursday War ' . She then moved towards Portsmouth , England on 27 May , anchoring adjacent to Stokes Bay through 31 May , because she was too large to enter the harbor , and the naval base did not have sufficient nuclear berths for the carrier to moor alongside . The carrier arrived at Naples , Italy on 10 June 2011 . On 23 August 2011 , she made her 20 , 000th arrested fixed wing aircraft recovery ( landing ) while operating in the Arabian Sea during Operation Enduring Freedom flight operations . This milestone was accomplished by LCDR Chris R . Swanson who was flying an E - 2C Hawkeye Airborne early warning and control aircraft assigned to VAW - 124 ( Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 124 ) . The carrier returned to Norfolk on 10 December 2011 , following a seven - month deployment supporting operations with the U . S . Navy ' s 5th and 6th fleets . 2012 – 2013 operations . On 25 July 2012 , " George H . W . Bush " began its four - month overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth , Virginia , included scheduled short - term technical upgrades . On 1 December 2012 , the " George H . W . Bush " completed its PIA maintenance cycle and began sea trials on 3 December 2012 . After completing sea trials on 4 December 2012 , the " George H . W . Bush " started its training and qualification cycle in preparation for the group ' s 2013 deployment . During a two - week underway period beginning 14 Janauary 2012 , the " Bush " tested the MV - 22 tilt - rotor aircraft from squadron VMX - 22 as a potential carrier on - board delivery aircraft as well as operating mine - sweeping MH - 53E helicopters from squadron HM - 14 . During another underway period , the " George H . W . Bush " conducted at - sea tests for X - 47B unmanned drone in the Atlantic Ocean , including the first time that an unmanned drone has been catapulted off an aircraft carrier on the morning of 14 May 2013 ( " pictured " ) . On 17 May 2013 , another first was achieved when the X - 47B performed touch - and - go landing s and take - offs on the flight deck of the " Bush " while underway in the Atlantic Ocean . Also during this two - week underway period , the " Bush " tested a new torpedo self defense system , as well as completed more than 115 launches and landings in assessing a new precision landing system , before returning to Norfolk on 24 May 2013 . On 10 July 2013 , an unmanned X - 47B drone completed an arrested landing on the flight deck of the " George H . W . Bush " . The landing marks the first time any unmanned aircraft had completed an arrested landing onboard an aircraft carrier operating at sea . The drone subsequently completed a second successful arrested landing on the " Bush " , but it was diverted to the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia after an issue was detected , requiring that a planned third landing to be aborted . One of the drone ' s three navigational sub - systems failed , which was identified by the other two sub - systems . The anomaly was indicated to the mission operator , who followed test plan procedures to abort the landing . The Navy stated that the aircraft ' s detection of a problem demonstrated its reliability and ability to operate autonomously . On 15 July 2013 , in a fourth attempt , a X - 47B drone failed to make a successful flight deck landing on board the " George H . W . Bush " due to " technical issues . "