CVN-77 is named after George Herbert Walker Bush (born 1924), 41st President of the United States of America (1989-1993).

As President and Commander-In-Chief Mr. Bush led the United States and a coalition of 30 nations during the Gulf War (1991) that ended Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and liberated the people of the small Persian Gulf nation.

US Navy pilot George Bush in the cockpit of an Avenger, 1942–1945.

(Read about LT(JG) George H.W. Bush, USNR, WW2 service at the Naval Historical Center website.)

An artist’s conceptual drawing of the U.S. Navy’s next aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) named in honor of the 41st President of the United States. U.S. Navy graphic (000314-N-0000X-001).

Arlington, Va., The Pentagon, Dec. 9, 2002— Former President George H.W. Bush (center), the 41st President of the United States examines a model of CVN-77, the U.S. Navy’s 10th Nimitz-class aircraft carrier officially named USS George H.W. Bush by The Honorable Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, at a ceremony held in the Pentagon. Photographed from left to right are Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, former President George H.W. Bush, Senator John Warner, R-Va., and General James L. Jones, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer’s Mate Johnny Bivera. (photo # 021209-N-2383B-001).

Newport News, Va., Sep. 6, 2003— Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), makes remarks during the keel laying ceremony of the George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) aircraft carrier. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera (photo # 030906-N-2383B-050).

Newport News, Va., Mar. 3, 2003— The first construction unit of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) settles into the drydock, where the ship would be constructed. The ship would feature numerous engineering and technology improvements, and was slated to be the 10th and final Nimitz-class nuclear powered carrier. Photo by Mr. John Whalen Northrop Grumman Newport News (# 030328-0-4780W-034).

Newport News, Va., Sep. 6, 2003— Former President George H.W. Bush accompanied by his daughter and ship's sponsor Doro Bush Koch, wrote his initials with chalk to a plaque which was then traced by a welder’s torch and permanently affixed to the keel of the ship. During the ceremony, President George H.W. Bush authenticated the keel by announcing, “the keel has been truly and fairly laid." U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera (photo # 030906-N-2383B-132).

Keel Laying & Authentication Ceremony for the Aircraft Carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). (Video # m031049_384k).

The rudders for the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) are in place during construction, June 17, 2004. Photo by Chris Oxley, Northrop Grumman Newport News (# DCS04-120-2.)

Newport News, VA, Dec. 8, 2004 — Construction work on the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) at Northrop Grumman Newport News (photo # 041208-O-0000X-022).

Newport News, VA, Mar. 8, 2005 — The 700-ton bow unit, the final keel section of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), is lowered into place in the dry dock at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. George H. W. Bush was built using modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship below the waterline are lowered into place in dry dock. CVN-77 was the second carrier to have the new bulbous bow design that provides more buoyancy to the forward end of he ship and improves hull efficiency (photo # 050308-N-0000X-001).

Northrop Grumman Corporation reached a construction milestone March 8, 2005 by lowering the final keel section of PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) into place. The 700-ton lower bow unit was joined to the other keel sections in the dry dock (Dry Dock 12, the largest dry dock in the Western Hemisphere) and completed the length of the aircraft carrier, which is as long as the Empire State Building is tall.

PCU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) under construction, August 3, 2005. Photo by Chris Oxley, Northrop Grumman Newport News (# DCS05-400-8.)

The bow of the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) under constuction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, August 22, 2005. Photo by Chris Oxley (# DCS05_438_93).

The aircraft carrier PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, August 29, 2005. Photo by Chris Oxley (# DCS05-450-20).

The island of the aircraft carrier PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, November 2005. Photo by John Whalen (# DCS05-637-23).

The aircraft carrier PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News, November 28, 2005. Photo by John Whalen (# DCS05-637-8).

The Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush's (CVN-77) island upper levels are placed upon the lower levels to complete the island structure, March 9, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen (Navy # 060309-N-4780W-001).

PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) Upper Bow Lift, Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, VA, March 15, 2006 (# m061018_384k).

The upper bow unit of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, VA, March 15, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen (Navy # 060315-N-4780W-315).

The upper bow unit of Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is lifted into place at Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, VA, March 15, 2006. Photo by Mr. Rick Thompson (Navy # 060315-N-3363T-001).

The propellers of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) are installed, April 26, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen (Navy # 060426-O-4780W-009).

CVN-77 island, painted and sitting on platen at dry dock 12, June 23, 2006. Photo by Mr. Chris Oxley (# DCS06-389-3).

Northrop Grumman Corporation reached a major milestone July 8, 2006 as it lifted the 700-ton island onto the flight deck of PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). The ship’s namesake and 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, participated in the event. He was accompanied by his wife and former First Lady Barbara Bush. (Video # m061066_384k).

The completion of the last of 162 super lift evolutions scheduled during the construction of the tenth and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). The lift placed the ship's 700-ton island superstructure in position on the flight deck, July 8, 2006. Photo by Mr. John Whalen (Navy # 060708-O-XXXXX-002).

As above. Photo by Rick Thompson (Navy # 060708-O-XXXXX-001).

The 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush, left, and the prospective commanding officer for the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), Captain Kevin E. O'Flaherty, both place a personal set of Naval Aviator wings under the 700-ton island superstructure, July 8, 2006. The aviator wings were used to symbolize a naval custom, called "stepping the mast," which dates from antiquity and consists of placing coins under the step or bottom of a ship's mast during construction. One belief from Greek mythology is that should the ship be wrecked during passage, the coins would ensure payment of the crew's wages for their return home. Since at least the construction of USS Constitution in the 1790s, this tradition of placing coins or other items of significance has been passed on as a symbol of good luck for U.S. Navy ships. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert J. Stratchko (# 060708-N-8933S-003).

Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) shown in dry dock, September 12, 2006. Photo by Mr. Chris Oxley (Navy # 060912-O-0000X-017).

Christening program.

This is a picture of CVN-77's (PCU George H. W. Bush) island the day of her Christening at Newport News, VA, October 7, 2006.

Pictured left to right, President of the United States George W. Bush, former President and ship's namesake George H. W. Bush, and President of Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard Mr. Mike Petters, look on as ship's Sponsor Doro Bush Koch christens CVN-77, the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, October 7, 2006. "I would like to join my father, my brother, my family in saluting not only the men and women who built this remarkable ship, but also the courageous men and women who will soon man it," Koch said before christening the ship. Photo by Mr. Chris Oxley (Navy # 061007-O-0000X-001).

Christening ceremony, October 7, 2006 (# m061093_384k.wmv).

PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) afloat, October 9, 2006. Northrop Grumman Newport News photo by Chris Oxley.

PCU George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) move from Dry Dock 12 to OB1, October 9, 2006. Northrop Grumman Newport News photo by Ricky Thompson.

Fitting out.

Newport News, Va., January 25, 2008 — Former President George H.W. Bush prepares to signal the launch of two "dead loads" off the flight deck of the Precommissioning Unit (PCU) George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). "Dead Load" launches test the ship's catapult systems ability to launch aircraft. U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Susan Caraballo (080125-N-8544C-087).

Motion Models-built model of USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) presented to Captain Kevin E. O'Flaherty at the christening ceremony. This model will be a permanent part of the ship.

Model on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. Photos taken on 13 June 2008.

USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). Freedom at Work.