Commissioned in 1961, Enterprise operated through the Cold War, Vietnam War and post-9/11 conflicts, including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It traveled more than one million nautical miles under nuclear power during its operational career.
“Enterprise will always be remembered for her proud legacy of service, a legacy made possible by the Sailors and support personnel whose dedication kept her mission-ready,” said Kevin Cormier, deputy portfolio acquisition executive maritime for aircraft carriers. “All who served aboard and sustained this historic ship should take pride in the vital role they played in supporting the fleet.”
The Navy completed defueling the ship’s reactor plants in 2017. Enterprise was formally decommissioned on February 3 that year during a ceremony in its hangar bay, becoming the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be decommissioned.
Newport News Shipbuilding built the carrier, which was christened on September 24, 1960, by Bertha Irene Franke, wife of former Navy Secretary William B. Franke. It was the eighth U.S. naval vessel named Enterprise, a name that will continue with the future Ford-class carrier Enterprise (CVN 80).
