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Stennis Returns to San Diego

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060204-01
Release Date: 2/4/2006 8:51:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Christopher Gethings, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

USS JOHN C. STENNIS (NNS) -- The crew of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is scheduled to briefly return to San Diego Feb. 4 for the first time since Stennis underwent a homeport change to Bremerton, Wash., in January 2005.

Stennis will pull into Naval Base Coronado, Calif., for a two-day port visit and pick up the crew and equipment of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, Stennis’ newly assigned airwing. Shortly after leaving port, Carrier Air Wing 9 will begin flying aircraft aboard for a one-week underway testing and qualification period, where Stennis’ flight-deck operability is top priority.

“We still have shipmates with family and friends in San Diego,” said Stennis’ Commanding Officer, Capt. David Buss, whose wife and son live in San Diego. “In essence, our visits in the coming months will be like homecomings for some of us. For the shipmates who haven’t been on the ship that long, it will give them a change to experience pulling into another port and visiting a new place.”

Stennis’ crew is just half the force behind the nuclear aircraft carrier. They also embark a carrier air wing, containing numerous aircraft squadrons during operations. Naval Base Coronado serves as the meeting point for Stennis and non-embarked air wing crew members.

For a lot of crew members who were aboard Stennis before the homeport change to Bremerton, the return to San Diego is going to be a pleasant return.

“I loved being stationed in San Diego,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Chris Powell, Operations Department. “Even though I really like our new homeport in Washington, I still miss San Diego.”

“I can’t wait to pull in so I can see all of my old friends,” said Powell, who is originally from Southern California and has been aboard Stennis since 2001. “I’ll probably visit my family and friends and hit a couple downtown clubs if the weather is nice.”

Stennis spent nearly five years homeported in San Diego after moving from Norfolk, Va., in 2000.

“I personally miss the weather in San Diego,” said Seaman Lisa Hernandez, Stennis’ Deck Department. “I also really miss the countless beaches Southern California has to offer.”

Hernandez, a Houston native, said she’s going to spend a lot of time taking advantage of the many shopping opportunities San Diego has to offer.

“We’re a lot closer to a big downtown area in Coronado, so shopping is much more convenient,” added Hernandez, who has been aboard Stennis since 2004.

Since Stennis has completed a successful nine-month docked planned incremental availability (DPIA) period, she has been underway three times. This will be the first time Stennis has performed at-sea operations with its new air wing.

“Coming out of this DPIA period, we are arguably the most capable carrier in the Navy because of the many upgrades we received,” said Buss. “We’ll be visiting San Diego a lot in the coming months to onload both people and equipment so we can train together at sea.”