About Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
served as America's 40th president for two terms from 1981 -
1988. During the eight years of his administration, Reagan was a great advocate
of naval power calling for an effort to rebuild U.S. military capability
to a 15-carrier, 600-ship Navy. He demonstrated his strategic understanding
of the aircraft carrier's importance as both a war fighting and peace-keeping
asset by initiating five Nimitz-class carriers on his watch.
Reagan's presidency is remembered for many accomplishments, including his restoration of the American military and his establishment of unquestioned maritime superiority. By the time he left office, he had indeed achieved a 15-carrier Navy of 594 ships deployed around the world.
When the President's namesake, Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), joins the fleet in 2003, it will be the most modern and sophisticated aircraft carrier in the world. Reagan is 1,092 feet long, and once completed, will be home to 6,000 sailors, carry more than 80 aircraft and cruise at speeds in excess of 30 knots.