Fewer U.S. Navy Sailors To Be Involved In Next Supercarrier Refueling

BusinessAerospace & DefenseFewer U.S. Navy Sailors To Be Involved In Next Supercarrier RefuelingByPeter Suciu,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Suciu covers trends in the world of aerospace and defense.Follow AuthorJun 14, 2026, 03:51pm EDTThe USS Harry S. Truman is seen during the US Navy's 250th anniversary celebration, "America's Navy 250: Titans of the Sea - A Salute to the Fleet", at Naval Station Norfolk Pier 14 in Norfolk, Virginia on October 5, 2025. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP) (Photo by ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesIn just a year, the United States Navy’s eighth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), will begin its scheduled extended mid-life refueling and complex overhaul, a massive multi-year maintenance process that will take place at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.In the past, the crew would play a significant role in the process, but USNI News reported last week that the sea service will instead turn to commercial contractors to perform more of the duties, allowing sailors to use the time the ship is out of service to instead focus on training and operational readiness.“This shift is about putting our Sailors’ time and talents where they matter most,” Vice Adm. Scott Gray, who heads Navy quality of service CFT, said in a release sent to USNI News. “By contracting out routine tasks like transportation and preservation, we free our crew from traditional shipyard duties, empowering them to focus on their in-rate training and core warfighting capabilities.”Learning From Past MistakesAn investigation conducted by the U.S. Navy revealed the nine suicides aboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73) during the vessel’s RCOH were not directly connected. However, it was believed that their tragic deaths were driven in part by the conditions aboard the warship while it was undergoing the RCOH, which lasted...