Nimitz-class aircraft carrier From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
USS Ronald Reagan is a nuclear-powered naval ship in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class,[1] she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.[2] Upon her christening in 2001, she was the first ship to be named for a former president still living at the time.[3]
As of May 2012 the ship is operationally part of Carrier Strike Group Nine and administratively under the command of Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific/Commander, Naval Air Forces. The two administrative titles actually refer to one command carrying out two functions.
Unlike most of the other men honored by inclusion in this group, Reagan was not associated with the United States Navy, apart from his term as Commander-in-Chief, though one of his key initiatives in office was the 600-ship Navy program.
Ronald did not attend the christening of the USS Ronald Reagan because of his ill health from Alzheimer's disease. His wife, Nancy Reagan, christened the naval ship along with then-President of the United States George W. Bush.
The naval ship was on a voyage when Reagan died on June 5, 2004.