Unlocking the Future: SECNAV Del Toro Reveals Names for CVN 82 and CVN 83 Aircraft Carriers

The upcoming USS William J. Clinton pays tribute to President William J. Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, who served two terms from 1993 to 2001. The future USS George W. Bush honors President George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, who served two terms from 2001 to 2009. This marks the first instance of a Navy vessel being named after either of these commanders-in-chief.

The designations align with the Navy’s custom of frequently naming aircraft carriers after U.S. presidents.

“President Clinton and President Bush guided the United States through some of the most daunting times in our history,” stated Secretary Del Toro. “The legacies they leave behind will persist through these aircraft carriers, which function as powerful platforms committed to safeguarding our national security and fortifying our determination to defend this Nation against any who would jeopardize our freedoms and lifestyle.”

As Commander-in-Chief, Clinton oversaw various military missions that accomplished their objectives without any combat casualties, including Operation Uphold Democracy in 1994, Operation Deliberate Force in 1995, and Operation Allied Force in 1999. Following a reported Iraqi plot to kill former President H.W. Bush, President Clinton authorized a U.S. Navy cruise missile strike on Iraqi intelligence headquarters in 1993, along with another strike in 1996, known as Operation Desert Strike, aimed at discouraging Iraqi hostility. These operations were succeeded in 1998 by Operation Desert Fox, an air initiative to diminish Iraq’s ability to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. In 1996, he commanded the most significant deployment of U.S. naval forces since the Vietnam War in reaction to the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis to deter Chinese belligerence.

Among his many diplomatic successes, President Clinton was crucial in the Oslo Accords, which laid the foundation for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and played a significant role in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that concluded the conflict in Northern Ireland. He labeled Iran as a “state sponsor of terrorism” and enacted substantial sanctions against the nation. A vital component of the “Agreed Framework” in 1994, his initiatives temporarily halted North Korea’s nuclear weapons development. He established comprehensive diplomatic relations with Vietnam and supervised NATO’s first enlargement since 1982, with Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joining, as well as creating the Partnership for Peace program with former Soviet Union nations.

“I always remember that the invaluable freedoms that Americans cherish are protected by our armed forces, anchored by a robust, modern, and agile Navy. I feel privileged that future servicemembers who continue that cherished tradition will be stationed on a carrier that bears my name,” stated President Bill Clinton.

During a private gathering at the White House on Jan. 3, 2025, alongside the announcement of the ship’s name, Secretary Del Toro revealed that the sponsor for the future USS William J. Clinton (CVN 82) will be Ms. Chelsea Clinton, daughter of President Clinton. She will symbolize a lasting bond with the ship and its crew.

As Commander-in-Chief, President Bush united the nation in the immediate wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He formed an international coalition comprising 25 NATO allies and 17 partner nations to carry out Operation Enduring Freedom, dismantling terrorist networks in Afghanistan. He led the most extensive U.S. government reorganization since 1947, founding the Department of Homeland Security by merging 22 federal entities and establishing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to synchronize operations among 18 intelligence agencies. He also endorsed the USA Patriot Act, revised the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and mandated the implementation of aggressive financial strategies to freeze the assets of terrorists.

In 2003, he directed Operation Iraqi Freedom, which concluded the rule of Saddam Hussein and allowed Iraq’s first direct elections in more than thirty years. On the world stage, President Bush advocated for the further expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe and the Baltic States while collaborating with Russia to decrease nuclear arms stockpiles. Recognizing the shifting landscape of global threats, he initiated the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command and progressed planning for U.S. Cyber Command. He also introduced the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a groundbreaking humanitarian initiative that preserved millions of lives. Throughout his presidency, President Bush augmented defense expenditures by over a third to modernize the military and accelerate technological innovations, ensuring that the United States Armed Forces remained the most capable in the world.

“I am privileged that my name will be linked to the United States Navy and a representation of our Nation’s strength,” expressed former President Bush. “I hold deep respect for the men and women of our Navy – including my father – and pray for God’s protection over this ship and those who navigate aboard her.”

Aircraft carriers stand at the core of America’s Naval forces – the most versatile and enduring airfields globally. On any given day, Sailors aboard an aircraft carrier and its air wing arrive at the engagement trained and equipped to undertake an extensive array of missions. They are set to dominate the seas, conduct strikes, and maneuver throughout the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. No other naval force offers an equivalent spectrum and depth of combat capabilities.

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