Former Reactor Department Officer Returns to PCU John F. Kennedy as Civilian Expert for Builder’s Trials

PCU John F. Kennedy Completes Sea Trials

FEBRUARY 13, 2026 – Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers (PEO CVN) announced the successful completion of Builder’s Sea Trials (BST) for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, in Newport News, Virginia, Feb. 4. Completion of Builder’s Trials marks a significant shipbuilding milestone for the future John F. Kennedy, the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford-class of aircraft carriers desi…

PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Completes Builder’s Sea Trials

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers (PEO CVN) announced the successful completion of Builder’s Sea Trials (BST) for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, in Newport News, Virginia, Feb. 4. From Naval Sea Systems Command, Feb. 12, 2026  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers (PEO CVN) announced the successful completion of Builder’s Sea Tri…

Former Reactor Department Officer Returns to PCU John F. Kennedy as Civilian Expert for Builder’s Trials

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Feb. 4, 2026) – Madeline Kanne, a former nuclear-trained surface warfare officer previously assigned to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), returned to the ship as a civilian engineer with Naval Reactors to support the ship's historic Builder's Sea Trials. Having previously served as a propulsion plant watch officer during the ship's initial reactor criticality, Kanne now provides a unique and invaluable ope…