09523 - USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)August 2014
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)
Key Facts
- Lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers
- Commissioned July 22, 2017
- Homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, VA
- First carrier with EMALS launch system
- Named after 38th President Gerald R. Ford
About ZIP Code 09523
FPO AE 09523 serves USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and the most technologically advanced warship ever built. Homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, the carrier was commissioned on July 22, 2017. Named after the 38th President of the United States, who served as a naval officer aboard USS Monterey during World War II, CVN 78 represents a generational leap in carrier technology from the Nimitz class.
USS Gerald R. Ford introduces multiple revolutionary systems including the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) replacing traditional steam catapults, Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and a redesigned island structure with dual-band radar. The carrier can generate three times more electrical power than Nimitz-class ships and requires approximately 600 fewer crew members due to automation improvements. The ship completed its first operational deployment in 2023, operating in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic.
Mail for personnel aboard CVN 78 routes through the Newark International Service Center. Contact information includes the Ford Quarterdeck at (757) 445-6331 and the Command Sponsor Coordinator at sponsorship@cvn78.navy.mil. Delivery times vary from 7-10 days when in port at Norfolk to 2-4 weeks during deployment, depending on operational tempo and resupply schedules.
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Helpful Veteran and First Responder Resources
Gary Sinese Foundation
At the Gary Sinise Foundation, our mission is to serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. Among its programs is the construction of specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans that are provided mortgage-free.
Veterans & First Responders in Crisis
1-800-273-8255
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The Marine Corps DSTRESS Line
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Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS)
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Whether you are in emotional crisis, need to connect with TAPS resources and programs, or just want to remind yourself that you are a part of a loving, supportive family.
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Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Since 9/11, we have been helping America's heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and specially-adapted smart homes for injured veterans and first responders.
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