Scott J. Seymour, corporate vice president and sector president of the company's Integrated Systems sector, represented Northrop Grumman's 125,000 employees at the homeporting ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island. Northrop Grumman, the nation's sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, delivered the Ronald Reagan to the Navy in June 2003.
"No doubt there will be many monuments built to honor President Reagan in the years to come, but I can imagine few more fitting than this proud ship," said Seymour. "In every cable, bulkhead and high-tech piece of machinery, including her 80-plus combat aircraft, she is a living legacy of President Reagan's motto of 'peace through strength.'"
Named after America's 40th president, the Ronald Reagan is the ninth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier built by Northrop Grumman. It towers 20 stories above the waterline. With a length of 1,092 feet, it is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. The ship displaces approximately 95,000 tons of water when afloat.