Key Points and Summary – Commissioned in 2003, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class carrier powered by twin nuclear reactors and crewed by ~5,000 sailors.
After early combat support to OEF/OIF—thousands of sorties over Afghanistan and Iraq—it delivered major humanitarian aid, from Typhoon Fengshen (2008) to Japan’s 2011 earthquake response.
Forward-deployed to Yokosuka in 2015, Reagan became 7th Fleet’s centerpiece for Indo-Pacific deterrence, joint exercises near Guam, and the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation, earning multiple Battle “E” awards.
In 2024 the ship shifted to Bremerton for a 17-month refit. Its record blends combat power, disaster relief, and alliance reassurance—making CVN-76 one of the Navy’s standouts.
USS Ronald Reagan: A History
I have to admit a quirk. I was a U.S. Army infantry officer—but I wear a U.S. Navy ballcap that has the insignia of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier.
I have never been aboard a carrier, but I often meet former sailors from that vessel who want to know if I was also a veteran of the Reagan. I have to tell them, “No, I just like the ship and the president.”
Indeed, the history of the USS Ronald Reagan merits a close look. Its background and combat experience make it one of the most effective carriers in the fleet.
The Reagan has two nuclear reactors that provide the equivalent electrical power of a medium-sized U.S. city for its 5,000 sailors.
It was homeported in Japan until 2024 and served with vigor in the Indo-Pacific region to keep sea lines of communication open and to ensure freedom of navigation in the East and South China Seas. It is now in dry dock for a 17-month refit and maintenance period.
Where Does the Story Begin?
The Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class carrier, was commissioned in 2003. Construction started in 1998, and the ship was christened by Reagan’s wife Nancy in 2001. The Reagan is the ninth Nimitz-class carrier. The ship was also the first carrier of any class to be named after a living person.
The Reagan originally homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, but then was moved to San Diego, California. In 2015, it was forward-deployed to a new homeport in Yokosuka, Japan. There it served with the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet area of operations.
The Reagan participated in humanitarian relief missions after natural disasters in East Asia.
A Significant Beginning to Help the Fight in South Asia and Iraq
After commissioning in 2004, the Reagan circumnavigated South America to move its homeport to San Diego.
In 2006, it made preparations to serve during the war on terror. In 2009, the Reagan supported Operation Enduring Freedom with more than 1,600 sorties to help ground troops fighting in Afghanistan.
Its air wing saved countless soldiers and Marines at war with the Taliban.
During the Second Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Reagan’s air wing carried out 2,940 sorties and 14,200 flight hours.
High Operational Tempo and Several Awards
In 2008, the Reagan was instrumental in assisting the Philippines’ disaster response to Typhoon Fengshen. The ship assisted after a ferry sank with 864 passengers and crew during the storm.
That same year, the Ronald Reagan transitioned back to the Middle East and helped with battles in Afghanistan, launching another 1,150 sorties at targets in the southern part of the country.
Later that year, the Reagan was awarded another Battle “E” award as the top performing carrier in the Pacific. Then in 2009, it was amazingly back in Afghanistan, securing an additional Battle “E” award.
(July 11, 2014) – The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is underway during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from June 26 to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Estes/Released)
In 2010, the ship performed in military exercises such as the 22nd RIMPAC drills, where it drilled with five submarines, 700 aircraft, and 20,000 personnel. Carriers there rehearsed operations with the new Rolling Airframe Missile.
Helping People Who Were Victims of Natural Disasters
In 2011, the massive carrier was again assigned disaster relief duties after a magnitude-9.0 earthquake in Japan left thousands dead.
It was instrumental in helping Japanese forces respond to the tragedy. In 2012, it returned to San Diego for a Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability period for intermediate maintenance and modernizations.
Ability to Show China that the U.S. Navy Means Business
In 2015, the carrier was ready for new combat missions. Navy brass decided the Reagan would be perfect for facing down the Chinese in the Indo-Pacific. It would now be homeported in Japan for full-time duty in the East and South China Seas to make sure that freedom of navigation was available to global shipping and that maritime sea routes remained open.
In 2018, it was instrumental in leading exercises with Japan near Guam in support of notional and rehearsal actions against the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
In 2021, the ship sailed back to the Middle East to help evacuate personnel from Afghanistan. It was awarded another Battle “E” distinction in 2022.
That year, it made a port of call in Vietnam to show that it supported an ally in China’s neighborhood.
The Reagan left Japan in 2024 and homeported in Bremerton, Washington, for maintenance.
Overall, this carrier has been a sparkling success. It has participated in numerous combat and humanitarian missions, saving many lives in the process. It has won multiple awards and is often seen as one of the best carriers in the U.S. Navy – and therefore in the world.
It would have been an honor and a pleasure to serve on the Reagan had I become a naval officer – as I originally planned after receiving the Congressional nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy (but not the final appointment).
Yes, I still wear my USS Ronald Reagan ballcap. It’s still a pleasure to advertise such a successful carrier.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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