On February 20, 2021, the U.S. Navy held a change of command ceremony on the aircraft carrier USS Ford (CVN-78), which had just returned to base in Norfolk after a round of testing: Colonel Paul Lanzilotta succeeded Colonel John Cummings as the fourth captain of the USS Ford.
As we all know, the Ford (CVN-78) was launched in November 2013, completed and delivered in April 2017, and commissioned in July 2017, and has sent three captains away so far. The question is: U.S. aircraft carrier captains usually change every few years? When will the first captain of the new aircraft carrier take office? What is their selection mechanism? By combing through the experiences of the current four captains of the Ford, the above questions may be answered.
Rear Admiral John Meier, commander of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Air Force, presided over the change of command ceremony. Coincidentally, he was the first captain of the Ford. And generally speaking, the first captain is the one who has the longest tenure in the entire life of the aircraft carrier.
Rear Admiral John Mayer spoke highly of Colonel Cummings' work and thanked his family, while announcing that he would be heading to the U.S. 2nd Fleet to serve as chief of staff.
Brigadier General Craig Clapperton, Commander of the 12th Carrier Strike Group (CCSG-12), presented the Distinguished Service Medal to the departing Colonel John Cummings.
The new captain, Colonel Paul Landslotta, said: "When I was 17 years old, I was in high school and was working hard to get a private jet driver's license. I set my career goal from an early age: to become a naval pilot. Luckily, I got the Gold Wing badge thirty years ago. ”
"When I learned of my appointment as the fourth captain of the USS Ford, I found that this was my first choice for my next life goal," he said. It's no easy task, and what the carrier has to do next is extremely challenging. Entering 2021, we will go through a series of milestone plans, the most important of which is the upcoming all-ship impact test, and all sailors will make history. Our goal remains the same: to bring the Ford to sea and make it the deadliest and most effective aircraft carrier. ”
Colonel John Cummings said: "As a former captain, my proudest moment was last March, when we were unable to go home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was very touched by the perseverance, dedication and smile on each sailor's face. ”
"In the past two and a half years, this latest and most advanced aircraft carrier has undergone post-delivery overhaul (PSA), flight deck and air traffic control center certification, advanced electromagnetic aircraft ejection systems (EMALS) and advanced blocking devices (AAG) have completed 7,100 aircraft take-offs and landings; its new technologies have been transformed into verifiable and reliable operational capabilities: plasma waste removal systems, dual-frequency radars, advanced weapons lifts, and other unique systems are already working properly," he added. The Post-Delivery Test and Test (PDT&T) program was also conducted 75 percent; we also provided aircraft carrier qualification certifications to more than 400 pilots and cadets. Thank you to the Executive Captain, the Captain of The Navigator, the Chief of Aviation, the Heads of Departments, and the Sergeant Major for their great contributions. ”
Colonel John Cummings said: "It is time to say goodbye to the beloved sailors. It was great to see Colonel Paul Landslotta continue to lead this carrier to excellence. I will miss every day here and I will leave with a smile on my face. Because I, like every sailor, have given it everything over the past two+ years. ”
The week preceded the 16th round of independent operations and systems testing in the Atlantic Ocean by the USS Ford (CVN-78), while providing Carrier Qualification (CQ) certification for the 106th Combat Attack Squadron (VFA-106) in Precision Landing Mode (PLM). Captain Cummings (center) and Rear Admiral Mel (right) are guiding the carrier-based aircraft to land.
Logo on the white vest: Commander of the Atlantic Naval Aviation Corps, gold "CO" logo is the captain.
Colonel Sean Bailey, Chief of Staff of the Atlantic Naval Aviation Corps, accompanied Colonel John Cummings on his last flight aboard the FORD as captain.
Analysis of the experience of the four captains of the "Ford":
The first captain, Colonel John Mayer, made his first public appearance at the ford's island hoisting ceremony on January 26, 2013.
On November 9, 2013, she participated in the baptismal ceremony of the "Ford" (CVN-78).
On April 8, 2016, Colonel John Mayer handed over command of the USS Ford (CVN-78) to the second captain, Colonel Richard McMark.
Characteristics and requirements of the first captain:
In terms of time, John Mayer's tenure is about 4 years, which is basically the same as that of other newly built aircraft carrier captains. The biggest feature of the first captain was that he did not go to sea, and his work place was all in the shipyard.
The first captain usually takes office about a year before the structural works are completed. He and the core team learn the structure, power, protection and other expertise of the new ship in the shipyard, as well as understand the construction process and project progress. After the new ship is launched, it will follow most of the 3.5-year outfitting project to learn about all the equipment and combat systems installed on the aircraft carrier, and then accompany the first operation of the nuclear reactor.
It can be said that the first captain is the most comprehensive "aircraft carrier expert", not only to have rich experience in navigation, flight, combat, management and operation, but also to have solid professional engineering and technical capabilities, the level is no less than the deputy director of engineering in the shipyard. This is especially true for the Ford, which has adopted a lot of new technologies.
Resume:
John Mayer, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1986, became a naval pilot in 1988. Pilot of 22 fixed-wing aircraft such as the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler; F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Radar Systems Officer; Participated in Operation Desert Storm; and U.S. Navy Pilot of the Year 1995.
He has served as pilot and squadron leader of the 141/128th Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ-141/128) of the 2nd Carrier-Based Aircraft Wing (CVW-2); chief of staff of the Carrier-Based Aircraft Wing; EA-18G Requirements Officer of the Naval Operations Command; deputy captain of the Uss Truman (CVN-75); captain of the amphibious landing ship LSD-44; emergency operations officer of the Office of the President of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and captain of the FORD (CVN-78).
He then served as Assistant Commander of naval aviation, assistant director of naval operations, commander of the 10th Carrier Strike Group, and since May 2020, he has served as Commander of Atlantic Naval Aviation.
Flight time: 4000 hours; blocking ships: 675 times.
Second Captain:
On April 8, 2016, Colonel Richard McMark (left) succeeded Colonel John Mayer as the second captain of the USS Ford (CVN-78), leaving for 2.3 years until August 2018.
The main duties of the second captain were to track the tail section of the outfitting project, and then lead the entire ship into the pre-commissioning (PCU) phase, on the one hand to participate in the shipyard-led sea trials, on the other hand, to represent the military sea trials, and then to receive the aircraft carrier. Based on the problems identified in the sea trials, a post-delivery overhaul (PSA) plan was developed with the shipyard.
On July 22, 2017, during the service ceremony of the USS Ford (CVN-78), Captain Colonel Richard McMark saluted Trump.
On August 5, 2014, the flagship of the U.S. 7th Fleet, the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), visited Qingdao, and the captain at the time was Richard McMark.
Richard McMark, a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, became a naval pilot in 1994 and pilot of 18 fixed-wing aircraft such as the F/A-18C/D/E/F Hornet/Super Hornet and the F-14D Tomcat.
Pilot of the 131/146th Carrier-Based Attack Squadron (VFA-131/146); participated in Operation Enduring Liberty, Freedom of Iraq, carrying the platforms USS Bush (CVN-77), USS Washington (CVN-73), USS Stannis (CVN-74), ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) and USS Carl Vincent (CVN-70).
He then became a naval test pilot, serving as chief pilot of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet mission system at the China Lake Division of the Naval Air Weapons Center in California; and project manager and chief project officer of the AIM-9X and Joint Helmet Display System (JHMCS).
Squadron Leader, 125/86 Carrier-based Attack Squadron (VFA-125/86); Maritime Operations Officer, Joint Counterterrorism Operations Center, 5th Fleet; F/A-18 Requirements Officer, Naval Joint Staff, Overhaul Requirements Officer, Reactor Division, Bureau of Nuclear Power Propulsion; Deputy Captain of the USS Bush (CVN-77) and Captain of the Amphibious Command Ship LCC-19.
Duration: 2880 hours, blocking landing: 750, combat deployment: 6.
Third Captain:
Colonel John Cummings served as captain for a third term of 2.5 years from 10 August 2018. He went through most of the Post-Delivery Overhaul (PSA) project and then led the ship through post-delivery test and test (PDT&T) procedures, which were 75% complete by the time he left office. In other words, what problems were found after the Ford's sea trials? What improvements have been taken since then? How does it work after the test? He knows best.
John Cummings joined the Navy Reserve in 1986 during high school and graduated from Bates College with a bachelor's degree in physics in 1990. Medical Officer, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Division; second enlisted in the Navy in 1991 and became a naval pilot in 1993. F-14A/B/D Tomcat, F/A-18C/D Hornet pilot.
Pilot of the 24th Carrier-Based Combat Squadron (VF-24) and the 211th Carrier-based Combat Attack Squadron (VFA-211) carrying the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and uss ROOSEVELT (CVN-71).
He participated in Operation Enduring Liberty, carrying the platforms washington (CVN-73) and truman (CVN-75), and later served as the F-14D Tomcat flight instructor and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet replacement squadron leader.
Tactical Instructor at the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), Logistics Requirements Officer at NATO Maritime Command, Director of Global Force Management Rotation at Joint Naval Command, Assistant Chief of Staff of Pacific Command, Director of Training for the Pacific Aircraft Carrier Wing, Director of F-35C Aircraft Integration and Foreign Forces Training; Deputy Captain of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), Captain of the USS Anchorage (LPD-23) Amphibious Dock Transport Ship.
Flight time: 3850 hours; block landing: 704.
4th Captain:
Colonel Paul Ranzilotta, who had just taken over as fourth captain, had his primary responsibility to complete the remaining 25% of the subjects of the Post-Delivery Test and Test (PDT&T) procedure; then to complete the ship-wide impact test to collect damage-resistant data for the successor ships of the Ford class. His tenure has only just begun, and it is likely that he will lead the Ford (CVN-78) to the first combat deployment.
Paul Ranzilotta, a 1994 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Entered the Navy through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), pilots of 22 types of fixed-wing aircraft such as the E-2C/D Hawkeye/Advanced Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound.
Flight/Navigator/Mission Systems Officer, 121/126Th Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW-121/126). Participated in Operations Watch of the South, Enduring Liberty, Iraqi Freedom, and Dawn Odyssey, carrying platforms such as the USS Stanis (CVN-74), the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69), the USS Kennedy (CV-67) and the USS Washington (CVN-73).
Test Pilot at the Naval Test Flight School, Squadron Leader of the 20th Maritime Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX-20), Assistant Chief of Staff of the European Command of the Navy, Assistant Director of Personnel of the Joint Naval Command, Director of Replacement of the E-2C/D and C-2A Fleets, Director of Maritime Patrol and Early Warning Training for the 7th Fleet, Assistant Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Deputy Captain of the USS Reagan (CVN-76), Captain of the AMPHIB Dock Carrier ARLINGTON (LPD-24).
Flight time: 2650 hours; block landing: 610.
In summary, the previous three captains of the FORD (CVN-78) had an average tenure of 2.9 years, which is basically the same as the characteristics of other aircraft carriers. In the case of the ROOSEVELT (CVN-71), which has been in service for 35 years, has produced 17 captains, and the first captain is also 4 years. The difference is that as a technologically advanced aircraft carrier, the first four captains of the Ford must be the elite of the elite, and they are also in the year of fighting, there is still a lot of room for improvement, and may become a more senior leader of the US Navy in the future. Let's keep an eye on it.
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