NORFOLK, Va. - Capt. Rick Burgess, a native of Bellevue, Washington, serves as the commanding officer aboard USS Gerald R. Ford, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adriones Johnson, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Burgess graduated from Interlake High School in 1992.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bellevue.
“I grew up in an eclectic town,” said Burgess. "We had a mix of blue-collar and white-collar families interacting together. This kind of diversity helped when I joined the Navy because we have people from all walks of life."
Burgess joined the Navy 28 years ago.
“I knew I needed discipline,” said Burgess. "My fear was that if I went to a regular college, I may not finish, so I pursued an appointment to the Naval Academy. Even though every man in my family served in the military, it wasn't really talked about much and there was no pressure to join. However, I’m sure that serving in the military was in the back of my mind when I made this decision.”
The crew recently completed an eight-month deployment, which was the first deployment for the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.
The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was extended 76 days following the outbreak of conflict in Israel and operated in the Mediterranean Sea to deter further escalation and support Israel in its right to self-defense.
While in the Mediterranean, the carrier strike group participated in and supported numerous multinational exercises and vigilance activities to increase NATO capability and deter aggression in the region. The carrier visited ports in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Norway and Türkiye. Other ships in the strike group visited Belgium, Cyprus, Montenegro, Spain, and Sweden.
“The Gerald R. Ford is everything our nation hoped it would be, and more. I am so proud of the crew, who breathed life into the world’s most technologically advanced warship and stood the watch in defense of our national interests,” said Capt. Rick Burgess, Gerald R. Ford’s commanding officer. “Though extended, we were the right ship at the right time to answer the call, and our sailors performed admirably. Ford sailors honored our namesake’s legacies of hard work, integrity, and courage.”
In 239 days underway, the ship’s crew conducted 43 underway replenishments, logged more than 17,826 flight hours and 10,396 sorties, sailed more than 83,476 nautical miles, and safely transferred 20.7 million gallons of fuel with zero mishaps. The Ford crew conducted 33,444 flight deck moves, 3,124 hangar bay aircraft moves, 2,883 aircraft elevator moves, 16,351 aircraft fueling evolutions, and transferred 8,850 pallets of cargo and mail. The Gerald R. Ford culinary team prepared and served 3.1 million meals, which included approximately 48,000 dozen eggs, 24,000 gallons of milk, 131,000 hamburgers, 367,000 pounds of chicken, and Gerald R. Ford’s favorite, 79,000 chocolate chip cookies.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Burgess serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
"We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day," said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. "Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs."
Burgess has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I'm proud of the deployment we just finished,” said Burgess. "We wrote the first chapter of the Ford-class carrier. This was the first deployment, and I'm proud of our crew who made this happen."
Burgess can take pride in serving America through military service.
“I have a lot of pride and patriotism,” said Burgess. "To quote Queen Elizabeth: 'A life lived in service is not a sacrifice, but an honor.’ I see my role in the Navy as an honor. I believe our families make the true sacrifice because of what they’re asked to do based on this path that we've chosen."
Burgess is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to give a shoutout to my high school,” added Burgess. "Even though I haven't been able to make it back home as often as I would have liked because of my military duties, I know that the extraordinary teachers, coaches, counselors and classmates helped set me up for success."
“The Gerald R. Ford is everything our nation hoped it would be, and more. I am so proud of the crew, who breathed life into the world’s most technologically advanced warship and stood the watch in defense of our national interests,” said Capt. Rick Burgess, Gerald R. Ford’s commanding officer. “Though extended, we were the right ship at the right time to answer the call, and our sailors performed admirably. Ford sailors honored our namesake’s legacies of hard work, integrity, and courage.”
In 239 days underway, the ship’s crew conducted 43 underway replenishments, logged more than 17,826 flight hours and 10,396 sorties, sailed more than 83,476 nautical miles, and safely transferred 20.7 million gallons of fuel with zero mishaps. The Ford crew conducted 33,444 flight deck moves, 3,124 hangar bay aircraft moves, 2,883 aircraft elevator moves, 16,351 aircraft fueling evolutions, and transferred 8,850 pallets of cargo and mail. The Gerald R. Ford culinary team prepared and served 3.1 million meals, which included approximately 48,000 dozen eggs, 24,000 gallons of milk, 131,000 hamburgers, 367,000 pounds of chicken, and Gerald R. Ford’s favorite, 79,000 chocolate chip cookies.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Burgess serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
"We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day," said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. "Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs."
Burgess has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I'm proud of the deployment we just finished,” said Burgess. "We wrote the first chapter of the Ford-class carrier. This was the first deployment, and I'm proud of our crew who made this happen."
Burgess can take pride in serving America through military service.
“I have a lot of pride and patriotism,” said Burgess. "To quote Queen Elizabeth: 'A life lived in service is not a sacrifice, but an honor.’ I see my role in the Navy as an honor. I believe our families make the true sacrifice because of what they’re asked to do based on this path that we've chosen."
Burgess is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to give a shoutout to my high school,” added Burgess. "Even though I haven't been able to make it back home as often as I would have liked because of my military duties, I know that the extraordinary teachers, coaches, counselors and classmates helped set me up for success."