Nancy Reagan toured the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan on July 11 in preparation for the commissioning ceremony. This was her first time on the carrier named for her husband. She is the ship’s sponsor, and in the time honored Navy tradition, she will give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" Two years earlier, Mrs. Reagan attended the christening ceremony at Northrop Grumman Newport News and broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull, christening the ship in her husband’s name.

A bust of President Ronald Reagan is displayed in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). 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.

Northrop Grumman executive vice president and president of its Newport News sector Tom Schievelbein will deliver the shipbuilder remarks during the commissioning ceremony. Schievelbein is pictured on the Reagan's flight deck during the media availability July 11.

The Ronald Reagan is the most modern and sophisticated aircraft carrier in the world. It will soon be home to 6,000 sailors, carry more than 80 aircraft and cruise at speeds in excess of 30 knots.

All photos by John Whalen