House Intelligence Committee Staffers tour USS Gerald R. Ford to Witness Naval Intelligence's Strategic Role
10 December 2024
ATLANTIC OCEAN -- The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) hosted House Intelligence Committee staffers during a daylight embark aboard the Ford-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Dec. 9.
Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence visited Ford while operating in the Atlantic Ocean. The distinguished visitors received a comprehensive briefing and toured key operational areas to include the Carrier Intelligence Center (CVIC). The visit aimed to provide committee staffers with firsthand insights into how Naval Intelligence programs directly align with the Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO) 2024 Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy.
“This visit underscores the importance of collaboration between Naval Intelligence and the legislative branch,” said Cmdr. Michael Zimet, senior intelligence officer, USS Gerald R. Ford. “By providing tangible examples of our efforts, we strengthen the committee’s understanding of how we are preparing for future conflicts and ensuring the long-term security of our nation.”
During the visit, staffers observed how Naval Intelligence supports the CNO’s strategic priorities to foster long-term advantages in global security. The briefing and tour highlighted the critical interplay between intelligence-driven operations and fleet readiness, emphasizing the importance of real-time intelligence in anticipating and countering evolving threats.
“We were out today to look at the intelligence operations afloat and the importance of strategic to tactical fusion in one of our nation’s most powerful symbols of freedom,” said Frank William Garcia, Defense Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee Staff Director, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “Most impressive as always are the men and women, our Sailors, that are making this happen every day for the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.”
The key locations visited by the OLA guests showcased advanced intelligence integration into naval operations. These firsthand examples illustrated how Naval Intelligence programs are instrumental in maintaining the operational superiority of U.S. forces in contested maritime environments.
As the U.S. Navy prioritizes readiness and innovation, visits like these foster critical dialogue between policymakers and military leaders, ensuring continued alignment between legislative priorities and operational needs. This collaboration is essential in supporting the U.S. Navy’s mission to deter aggression, sustain maritime dominance, and protect national interests.
The Gerald R. Ford-class represents the first major design investment in aircraft carriers since the 1960s. CVN 78 is engineered to support new technologies and a modern air wing essential to deterring and defeating near-peer adversaries in a complex maritime environment.