Photo by Stu Gilman

May 27, 2003 -The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan passes by a statue of Northrop Grumman Newport News founder Collis P. Huntington as it leaves the shipyard for acceptance trials. The acceptance trials are conducted with representatives of the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) for testing and evaluation of the ship's systems and performance. Upon completion of acceptance trials, Reagan will return to Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va., where it will be commissioned July 12, 2003.