Navy's Top Leaders Visit USS Abraham Lincoln
Story Number: NNS030224-09
Release Date: 2/24/2003 2:12:00 PM
By Lt. Suzanna G. Cigna, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) hosted two of the Navy's top leaders recently, as it began its eighth month of deployment.
The Honorable Hansford T. (H.T.) Johnson, Acting Secretary of the Navy, and the Honorable John Young, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Resaarch, Development and Acquisition, both took a few hours to tour and visit with the crew of the carrier homeported in Everett, Wash.
Beginning its eighth month of deployment, and currently deployed to the Arabian Gulf, Lincoln is at its peak of operational performance. On Feb. 20, Young observed firsthand just how capable the carrier's crew and air wing are while the carrier performed nighttime flight operations.
The following day, Johnson picked up where Young left off, observing the carrier's Sailors and materiel condition. Johnson said the purpose of his visit was to collect important information for a report due to Congress next week, where he will discuss the Navy's financial budget, as well as what Sailors are doing on the front lines.
"We are grateful for the sacrifices you are making, and I am confident in what you can do when the President calls you to act," said Johnson, In an address to the crew over the ship's 1-MC.
Johnson's visit began in the war room with a brief on current carrier operations by Rear Adm. John M. Kelly, commander, Abraham Lincoln Battle Group, followed by a tour of the tactical flag command center, where an overall real-time picture of current Gulf operations was on display.
One of the highlights of Johnson's tour occurred in Hanger Bay 2, where he sat in the cockpit of the Navy's newest aircraft, the F/A-18E Super Hornet. Squadron maintenance officer Lt. Cmdr. H. James "Marvin" Haigler, of McLean, Va., pointed out specific cockpit features to the former Air Force four-star General.
"He has flown in many different types of aircraft, and when we compared stories about how fast and how high we've been, we came to find out he has flown both faster and higher than I have," said the F/A-18E pilot. "That really impressed me about the Secretary."
From the Super Hornet's cockpit, Johnson walked aft of Hanger Bay Three to the jet shop. There, Cmdr. Ellen Coyne, of Rochester, N.Y., spoke about the newly installed test equipment used to test the jet engines of the Super Hornet. Coyne, the carrier's aircraft intermediate maintenance department officer, also gave a report on how other types of engines are repaired onboard.
Johnson's tour concluded when Capt. Kendall L. Card, the commanding officer of Abraham Lincoln and a native of Fort Stockton, Texas, presented Johnson with an Abraham Lincoln ball cap and coin.
In the inport cabin, Johnson discussed the difference between operations conducted during the first Gulf War in 1991 and operations of the possible impending war with Iraq.
"There will be a larger opposition of forces, as well as a much broader engagement," Johnson said. "We also are more mindful of getting the right people with the right equipment to the right places, and then sustaining that effort. Our forces have practiced very, very hard, and continue to sustain their efforts," he added.
Before departing Abraham Lincoln, Johnson observed with pride, "This is the first ship I visited as (acting) Secretary of the Navy, and I am very proud!"
After his carrier visit, Johnson flew by helicopter to visit USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) and USS Tarawa (LHA 1) before heading back to shore.
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