USS George Washington captain says morale is high for new Mideast mission

The USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has arrived in the Arabian Sea near the Strait of Hormuz, taking over from the USS Abraham Lincoln as the centerpiece of American naval power in the Middle East. The carrier, which recently completed a visit to Vietnam, brings roughly 5,000 sailors and approximately nine operational squadrons to the region as tensions with Iran continue.

The George Washington serves as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5 and is reportedly accompanied by the guided missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and the guided missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86). With its arrival, the strike group now operates under U.S. Central Command.

Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, the ship's commanding officer, said morale aboard the carrier remains strong. "I see this as I walk the deck plates, seeing them take pride in their work — whether conducting flight operations, maintaining our systems or supporting one another on the ship," DeLeo said. "The dedication and teamwork I see across the ship is outstanding, and that spirit keeps us ready and resilient."

Rear Adm. Jeff Heames, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5, echoed that assessment. "The teams aboard USS George Washington and Carrier Strike Group Five are ready, determined, and resourced for sustained operations," Heames said. "Our Sailors understand the importance of the mission and continue to execute with precision and professionalism every day."

Retired Gen. Joseph Votel, a former CENTCOM commander, discussed the carrier's arrival on Fox News' "America Reports," emphasizing the strategic value of maintaining a strong military presence in the region. "Being able to continue to have credible military capability in the Middle East is really important, so the arrival of the George Washington is I think a good example of that," Votel said. He added that the U.S. should expect to keep forces in the area for an extended period and ensure they remain at a high state of readiness.

The carrier's air wing includes F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole strike fighters, F-35C Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control planes. MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters are also aboard for anti-submarine warfare and search-and-rescue missions. Flight operations continue around the clock, with the carrier capable of recovering one aircraft per minute and typically landing about 70 aircraft per day.

This week, the ship marked a milestone when Navy Lt. Steven Frazier, a pilot with Strike Fighter Squadron 147, known as the Argonauts, executed the 200,000th arrested landing, or "trap," aboard the George Washington. Flying an F-35C Lightning II, Frazier's stealth fighter was caught by the ship's thick steel arresting gear cable. "It's a good feeling for me to know that once I leave, I can come back to the aircraft carrier and trap," Frazier said.

The ship's crew remains focused on its mission across every department. Assistant Navigator Elizabeth Wayne described the constant vigilance required on the bridge. "All of the time when we are navigating, we are focused outside of the ship on anything that could pose a hazard or a threat to the ship," Wayne said. "When we are in special evolution, when we are conducting flight operations, the most important thing is to ensure we are lock step with the airboss, the captain, the command duty officer underway, everybody needs to be on the same page to execute that safely."

The carrier's arrival was briefly the subject of an unusual disinformation effort. Russian state media outlet RT posted what are believed to be AI-generated images depicting poor food conditions aboard the ship. However, video and accounts from the carrier tell a different story. Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Victoria Marc, speaking to the ship's communications team, detailed the extensive galley operations supporting the crew. "Throughout the day and into the night, our sailors have all sorts of food and drink options available to them," Marc said. "Sailors have the opportunity to eat three meals a day, plus the night rations. Our 150 cooks work 24 hours to prepare and serve 15,000 meals a day to ensure our sailors are well-fed."

Keeping those sailors fed and equipped requires constant resupply. Earlier this week, CENTCOM published images of the George Washington being replenished at sea. Navy photos show the carrier was resupplied twice in four days, receiving an average of 2,000 pallets of goods, including fresh food and ammunition, transferred from a nearby supply ship via helicopter winch operations. Fuel for the carrier's aircraft is also transferred ship-to-ship, though the nuclear-powered vessel itself does not require refueling at sea.

The arrival also marked a quiet historical milestone for the ship itself. On August 25, 1986 — 40 years ago this week — the keel for the USS George Washington was laid. Today, that keel supports the carrier and its crew as they take position at the forefront of America's military presence in the Middle East.