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Nimitz Hosts Air Component General

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091207-01
Release Date: 12/7/2009 7:49:00 AM

By USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Public Affairs

USS NIMITZ, At Sea (NNS) -- Deputy, Combined Force Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, arrived aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Dec. 6 for a three-day visit to observe carrier operations and witness the array of capabilities provided by the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

Air Force Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog is responsible for the day-to-day command and control of all combat air operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, overseeing a combined force that includes air power from Nimitz.

"The Nimitz gives us increased combat capability and increased flexibility," said Hoog. "Every time the carrier is on station, it adds 25-30 percent of the number of available assets to meet the needs of the folks on the ground in Afghanistan...so it adds capacity."

Nimitz provides support in three key areas, close air support for troops on the ground, non-kinetic support delivered by electronic warfare aircraft and airborne command and control, Hoog added.

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 has flown 1,649 sorties for Operation Enduring Freedom and 9,666 cumulative combat flight hours since arriving on station in September 2009.

Hoog flew in an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 to experience first-hand the carrier aviator's perspective.

"You hear about the teamwork. It's one thing to hear about it, and it's another thing to see the synchronization pull it all together. You know that's going through the entire carrier. It's going all the way down to the lowest decks, making everything come together," said Hoog.

Hoog's responsibilities also include protection of coalition aircraft flying in the region and air defense of critical infrastructure.

Hoog visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) Dec. 7 to learn more about the Navy's capacity to simultaneously operate in multiple warfare areas.

Nimitz CSG, commanded by Rear Adm. John W. Miller, is comprised of Nimitz, embarked CVW 11, embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65). Ships assigned to DESRON 23 include USS Pinckney (DDG 91), USS Sampson (DDG 102) and USS Rentz (FFG 46).

For more news from USS Nimitz (CVN 68), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn68/.