A woman commands this aircraft carrier

CORONADO, Calif. — An aircraft carrier is steaming toward the western Pacific on a routine deployment, and for the first time in Navy history, it’s doing so with a woman in charge, Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt.

For the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, which left its berth at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego Bay on Monday morning, the deployment marks the culmination of nine months of training and work-ups. It’s also the first carrier deployment for a Marine Corps F-35C fighter squadron.

Bauernschmidt took command of the ship in August.

The carrier’s deployment comes amid increasingly hostile rhetoric between China and Taiwan.

Rear Adm. Jeffrey Anderson, the Abraham Lincoln’s strike group commander, didn’t comment specifically on the issue during a news conference Monday, but he said the strike group is ready to accomplish its mission, whatever that might be.

“We’re trained and certified for global deployment,” Anderson said. “Our mission is to provide combat capability and ready naval forces so that we can work alongside our allies and partners to be able to deter aggression and also counter malign influence.”

Bauernschmidt said that her crew performed exceptionally well during deployment work-ups and that she was humbled to be entrusted with their safety.

“This is an amazing day,” she said. “They are going to do exceptional work out there, and I just can’t wait to watch them succeed.”

Five sailors were killed during the work-ups in September, when their helicopter crashed into the carrier’s flight deck and tumbled into the sea.

Bauernschmidt, who came up through the ranks flying helicopters, had been in command for 12 days when the crash occurred.

Bauernschmidt offered condolences to the families of those killed and talked about the effect the crash had on the crew.

“It is always a tough experience, and no one is prepared for something like that — everyone deals with it in their own way,” she said. “It was a tough day that none of us will ever forget.”

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, according to Anderson. He declined to comment on possible causes.

A preliminary report said the helicopter experienced side-to-side vibrations while on the flight deck before the crash.

The Abraham Lincoln’s departure Monday coincides with soaring coronavirus case numbers across the nation.

However, unlike previous carrier deployments, the crews of the Lincoln, its air wing and other ships in the battle group are 100% vaccinated, Anderson said. The crew did not have to quarantine ahead of the ship’s departure.

All active-duty sailors and Marines were required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of November.

Marines who refused the vaccine are being booted from the Corps, and the Navy is preparing to do the same with noncompliant sailors.