Last night I had the opportunity to attend a presentation at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (President Ford was from Grand Rapids), here in Grand Rapids Michigan, given by Captain John Meier USN, the new Captain of the Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford CVN - 78. She is scheduled to be commissioned February, 2016. The crew is about 1/3 filled and on - board training for them on the new systems is in progress. In August, the crew, that is presently living in shore accommodations, will be moving aboard, with all berthing and messing facilities fully operational. After the presentation, I was able to meet face to face and talk a bit with him. Man - o - man, It is hard for me to wrap my head around the advances made since I was aboard USS ESSEX CVS - 9 in 1960's. The capabilities simply boggle the mind.



EJ