The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to Naval Base San Diego on Thursday, ending a 321-day deployment that kept more than 4,500 sailors and Marines away from home for nearly 11 months.
The carrier strike group's homecoming marks one of the longest continuous at-sea periods for a U.S. aircraft carrier in recent years, according to Navy deployment records. The Lincoln departed San Diego in January 2025 and spent the bulk of its time deployed to U.S. Central Command, where it launched combat aircraft supporting operations against Houthi forces in Yemen and conducted patrols across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Family members gathered at the pier Thursday morning as the ship pulled in, some waiting more than six hours for the first glimpse of the carrier on the horizon. The Navy scheduled a formal welcome ceremony for the crew, with the ship's commanding officer expected to address sailors before they disembarked for leave.
The Lincoln's deployment was extended at least twice, a common practice for carriers assigned to the Middle East as the Pentagon juggled competing demands in the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Extended deployments strain maintenance schedules and crew readiness — the Navy has acknowledged that longer tours contribute to sailor attrition and mental health challenges.
Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, who commanded the Lincoln strike group, said in a Navy statement that the crew "performed flawlessly under sustained pressure," citing more than 8,000 flight hours logged during the deployment.
The Lincoln will now enter a maintenance availability at San Diego, where shipyard workers will conduct repairs and upgrades before the carrier is certified for its next deployment cycle. That process typically takes six to nine months for a Nimitz-class carrier following a deployment of this length.
San Diego is home to three active aircraft carriers and the largest concentration of Navy personnel on the West Coast. The Lincoln's return frees the Pacific Fleet to rotate another carrier forward, though the Navy has not announced which ship will assume its duties.
The deployment comes as the Navy faces recruiting shortfalls and retention pressure across the fleet. More than 4,500 sailors and Marines are now eligible for post-deployment leave, with many expected to remain in San Diego through the summer.
