USS George Washington aircraft carrier leaves Norfolk to begin a new chapter in Japan

However, not every sailor’s family will relocate. Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Sanders, 32, said his wife and three children, ages 13, 9 and 7, will stay in Hampton Roads for the three years he is stationed in Japan. The decision was difficult, Sanders said, but he wanted to see it through with the Washington.

“I am excited to see us out there performing and earning the trust of the American people,” Sanders said.

Sanders, an aviation boatswain’s mate, has been with the Washington since it entered Newport News Shipbuilding.

“To see it transform — from shipyard workers working alongside us with hoses and pipes running through the ship — to see what we have become now is amazing,” Sanders said.

From San Diego, the Reagan will head to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state for maintenance. The ship will make the journey to Newport News Shipbuilding in the coming years for its midlife refueling and maintenance overhaul.

For now, Naval Station Norfolk is home to four carriers, down from five. The Hampton Roads installation serves as the hub for all East Coast-based aircraft carriers. Until Thursday, that included the Washington, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Harry S. Truman, USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Gerald R. Ford.

But the Eisenhower is deployed to the Middle East, the Bush is undergoing maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth and the Truman is in and out of port as it prepares for deployment later this year. That leaves the Ford alone at the piers and the naval station’s Carrier Row along the Elizabeth River looking sparse.

As the Washington prepared to leave Thursday, Capt. Brent Gaut released the last rope securing the warship to the pier. He served as commanding officer of the Washington from June 2021 to February 2024. Gaut, who is retiring after a 31-year career, said he wanted to see the ship off to close a personal chapter as well as to see the start of the ship’s new chapter.

“The journey to get here was very challenging,” Gaut said. “But to be here today gives me hope and gives sailors hope that you can believe in something, have that faith and keep working to achieve your goals. And today is a celebration of all the people who have been involved in this tremendous project.”

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