View source for Carrier Strike Group 3

{{Use American English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Carrier Strike Group 3
| image                         = [[File:Carrier Strike Group Three Crest.png|center|175px]]
| caption                       = Carrier Strike Group Three crest
| dates                         = 1 October 2004 to date.<ref name=NAB-YIR2004>{{cite web |author= Curtis A. Utz and Mark L. Evans |title= The Year in Review 2004 |url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+year+in+review+2004.-a0135373826 |work= Naval Aviation News |publisher= U.S. Navy |location= Washington, DC |date= July–August 2005 |accessdate= 9 November 2010 |quote= Aviation Command Changes, 2004}}</ref>
| country                       = [[United States of America]]
| branch                        = {{nowrap|[[File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|30px|United States Navy Seal]] [[United States Navy]]}}
| type                          = [[Carrier Strike Group]]
| role                          = Naval air/surface warfare
| command_structure             = [[U.S. Third Fleet]]
| garrison                      = [[Naval Station San Diego]], California
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = ''Abraham Lincoln'' Carrier Strike Group
| motto                         = In Mundo Optimum (The Best in the World)
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]<br />[[Iraq War]]<br />[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| disbanded                     = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = [https://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/ccsg3/Pages/default.aspx Official Website]
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1                    = Rear Admiral Adan G. Cruz
| commander1_label              = Commander
| commander2                    = Captain Przemyslaw Kaczynski<ref name=leadership>{{Cite web | title= Leadership | url= https://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/ccsg3/Pages/Leadership.aspx | publisher= ComCarStrkGru Three | website= US Navy | accessdate= 4 June 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title= Captain Todd W. Malloy | url= http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sgbios/bio_sg_cos.html | work= Carrier Strike Group Three | publisher= USS John Stennis (CVN-74) | year= 2012 | accessdate= 28 November 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927015501/http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sgbios/bio_sg_cos.html | archive-date= 27 September 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref>
| commander2_label              = Chief of Staff
| commander3                    = CMDCM Brian Happli<ref name=leadership/><ref>{{Cite web | title= FCCM (SW/AW) Johnathan D. Fessenden | url= http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sgbios/bio_sg_cmc.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718060118/http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sgbios/bio_sg_cmc.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= 18 July 2011 | work= Carrier Strike Group Three | publisher= USS John Stennis (CVN-74) | year= 2012 | accessdate= 2 November 2011 }}</ref>
| commander3_label              = Command Master Chief
| notable_commanders            = [[Bruce W. Clingan]]<ref name= NNS040701-03/>
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol         = 
| identification_symbol_label   = 
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = [[EA-18G Growler]]<ref name=Morison2014>{{cite journal |last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=September 2014 |title= U.S. Battle Force Aviation Changes 2013–14, Part A: CARRIER AIR WINGS & ASSIGNMENTS CVW/DOI: 20 May 2014 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 140 |issue= 9 |pages= 49–50 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2014-09/us-battle-force-aviation-changes|accessdate= 13 September 2012}}</ref>
| aircraft_fighter              = [[F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]<ref name=Morison2014/><br />[[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35C Lightning]]<ref name=Morison2014/>
| aircraft_helicopter           = [[SH-60 Seahawk#MH-60R Seahawk|MH-60R Seahawk]]<ref name=Morison2014/><br />[[SH-60 Seahawk#MH-60S .22Knighthawk.22|MH-60S Knighthawk]]<ref name=Morison2014/>
| aircraft_recon                = [[E-2 Hawkeye|E-2D Hawkeye]]<ref name=Morison2014/>
| aircraft_transport            = [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound]]<ref name=Morison2014/>
}}
'''Carrier Strike Group 3''' ('''CSG-3''' or '''CARSTRKGRU 3''') is a [[U.S. Navy]] [[carrier strike group]]. Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore.<ref>{{cite web | title= The Carrier Strike Group | url= http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/powerhouse/cvbg.asp | work= Navy Data | publisher= U.S. Navy | year= 2011 | accessdate=1 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last= Addison, Jr. |first= Victor G. |date=July 2010 |title= The answer was the Carrier Strike Group ... Now What was the Question? |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 136 |issue= 7 |page= 47 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2010-07/answer-carrier-strike-group-now-what-was-question |accessdate= 17 October 2013}}</ref> The aircraft carrier {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72}} is the group's current flagship. Other units assigned as of 2024 include [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]], the [[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyers]] [[USS O'Kane|USS ''O'Kane'' (DDG-77)]], [[USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.|USS ''Frank E. Petersen Jr.'' (DDG-121)]], and [[USS Spruance (DDG-111)|USS ''Spruance'' (DDG-111)]], which are part of [https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/cds21/ Destroyer Squadron 21].<ref group="Note">Destroyer Squadron 21 consists of the {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|1}}s [[USS O'Kane|USS O’Kane]], [[USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.]], and [[USS Spruance (DDG-111)|USS Spruance]].</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Carrier Strike Group 3 | url= https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Carrier-Strike-Group-3/| publisher= U.S. Navy | year= 2022 | accessdate= 26 April 2022}}</ref>

Between 2005 and 2013, the group made five deployments to the [[U.S. Fifth Fleet]] supporting U.S. ground forces in [[Iraq War|Iraq]], and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].  On 18 December 2011, strike group aircraft flew the final carrier-based air mission over Iraq, effectively ending U.S. naval support for [[Iraq War#2010: US drawdown and Operation New Dawn|Operation New Dawn]].<ref name=NNS111220-02>{{cite web | title= USS ''John C. Stennis'' Launches Navy's Final Air Mission over Iraq | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=64502 | work= NNS111220-02 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=20 December 2011 | accessdate=20 December 2011}}</ref>

==Historical background==

===Carrier Division Three===
The aircraft carrier {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|2}} was assigned to Carrier Division Three from November 1940. In April 1941, a Central Atlantic Neutrality Patrol was established under Admiral A.B. Cook, based at Bermuda. It comprised Carrier Division Three, the cruisers {{USS|Quincy|CA-39|2}} and {{USS|Vincennes|CA-44|2}}, and [[Destroyer Squadron 11]].<ref>{{cite book |title= History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol. 1: The Battle of the Atlantic, September 1939 – May 1943 |last= Morison |first= Samuel Eliot |author-link= Samuel Eliot Morison |year= 2001 |publisher= University of Illinois Press |location= Champaign, Illinois |isbn= 0-252-06963-3 |page= 83 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nwvs7TDDXyoC&pg=PA83 |accessdate=23 February 2011}}</ref> On 7 December 1941, in the [[Atlantic Fleet (United States)|Atlantic Fleet]], Carrier Division Three comprised ''Wasp'' and {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|2}} under Rear Admiral A.B. Cook.<ref>{{cite web | title= Atlantic Fleet Aircraft, Atlantic Fleet | url= http://niehorster.org/013_usa/_41_usn/lant_aircraft.html | work= United States Navy: Administrative Order of Battle | publisher= World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations | date=7 December 1941 | accessdate=23 February 2011}}</ref> Commander Carrier Division Three served as Commander [[Task Force 77 (U.S. Navy)|Task Force 77]] during the [[Korean War]]. In 1966, Carrier Division Three was built around {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|2}}, flying missions in the [[Gulf of Tonkin]] off Vietnam.

===Carrier Group Three===
On 30 June 1973, Carrier Division 3 was redesignated Carrier Group 3. U.S. Navy carrier battle groups have, since the mid-Cold War period, maintained a pattern of deployments to trouble spots, beginning with an overhaul, individual ship training, battle group training, group preparation exercise, and then the deployment. On returning home, the cycle begins once more. As part of these deployments, the ''Carl Vinson'' carrier battle group participated in Exercise [[RIMPAC]] '84, RIMPAC '86, RIMPAC '98, PACEX '89, Exercise Rugged Nautilus, [[Operation Southern Watch]], [[Operation Desert Strike]], [[Operation Desert Fox]], and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].<ref name=CVHistVinson>{{cite web | title= USS ''Carl Vinson'' CVN-70 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn70history.htm | publisher= U.S. Carriers: United States Ships (USS) history and deployments | date=17 August 2010 | accessdate=23 August 2010}}</ref> From 1989 to 1991, USS ''Carl Vinson'' served as the flagship for Carrier Group 3. During this period, Carrier Group 3 was one of three battle groups that took part in PACEX '89.

In August 1990, Commander, [[U.S. Seventh Fleet]] was deployed to Bahrain in order to serve as Commander, [[U.S. Naval Forces Central Command]] (ComUSNAVCENT) following the [[Iraqi invasion of Kuwait]]. Since ComUSNAVCENT operated from on board ship, he established NAVCENT-Riyadh as a staff organization to provide continuous Navy representation at [[United States Central Command]] headquarters.<ref>Conduct of the Persian Gulf War, Final Report to Congress, pg 553 start</ref> This mission was assigned initially to Commander, Carrier Group Three. During succeeding months, the NAVCENT-Riyadh staff was augmented substantially but remained small, relative to the [[United States Army Central]] and [[CENTAF]] staffs. In November, the NAVCENT-Riyadh command was transferred from COMCARGRU 3 to Commander, [[Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5]]. This change resulted in the Navy flag officer at NAVCENT Riyadh's remaining relatively junior to other Service representatives, particularly the Air Force.

In the middle of 1992, the U.S. Navy made some organizational changes. Each of the Navy's twelve carrier battle groups was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier; an embarked carrier air wing; cruiser, destroyer, and frigate units; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Naval Institute Guide to The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 15th ed. |last= Polmar |first= Norman |year= 1993 |publisher= [[U.S. Naval Institute]] Press |location= Annapolis, Maryland |isbn= 1-55750-675-2 |pages= 32, 36 (Table 6-5), 376 }}</ref> The chart below shows the ships and aircraft of the group after the reorganization.<ref name=PolmarUSFleet1993>{{cite book |title= The Naval Institute Guide to The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 15th ed. |last= Polmar |first= Norman |year= 1993 |publisher= [[U.S. Naval Institute]] Press |location= Annapolis, Maryland |isbn= 1-55750-675-2 |pages= 36 (Table 6-5), 376, 377–381, 383, 386 }}</ref>

;Carrier Group Three, late 1992<ref name=PolmarUSFleet1993/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! colspan="1" width="20%" align="center" | Guided-Missile Cruisers
! colspan="1" width="0%" align="center" | 
! colspan="1" width="20%" align="center" | [[Destroyer Squadron 21]]
! colspan="1" width="0%" align="center" | 
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[Carrier Air Wing 11]] squadrons embarked aboard {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72}}
|-
| {{USS|Shiloh|CG-67}}
|
| {{USS|Fitzgerald|DDG-62}}
|
| [[VF-213|Fighter Squadron 213]]:  [[F-14A]]
| [[VAW-117|Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117]]:  [[E-2C]]
|-
| {{USS|Princeton|CG-59}}
|
| {{USS|John Paul Jones|DDG-53}}
|
| [[VF-114|Fighter Squadron 114]]:  F-14A
| Sea Control Squadron 29: [[Lockheed S-3 Viking|S-3B]]
|-
| {{USS|Texas|CGN-39}}
|
| {{USS|Ingersoll|DD-990}}
|
| [[VFA-94|Strike Fighter Squadron 94]]:  [[F/A-18C]]
| [[HS-6|Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6]]:  [[SH-60#SH-60F Seahawk|SH-60F]], [[SH-60#HH-60H Seahawk|HH-60H]]
|-
| {{USS|California|CGN-36}}
|
| {{USS|John Young|DD-973}}
|
| [[VFA-22|Strike Fighter Squadron 22]]:  F/A-18C
| ——
|-
| {{USS|Sterett|CG-31}}
|
| {{USS|Ingraham|FFG-61}}
|
| [[Third VA-95 (U.S. Navy)|Attack Squadron 95]]:  [[A-6E]], [[KA-6 Intruder#KA-6D|KA-6D]]
| ——
|-
| ——
|
| {{USS|Gary|FFG-51}}
|
| [[VAQ-135|Electronic Warfare Squadron 135]]:  [[EA-6B]]
| ——
|-
|}

From June 1993, Commander Carrier Group 3 had his flag aboard ''Abraham Lincoln''. In 1993, the battle group provided support to the multinational military forces assigned to [[Operation Restore Hope]] in [[Somali Civil War|Somalia]], and the group subsequently made three Western Pacific/[[Persian Gulf]] deployments for [[Operation Southern Watch]] and [[Operation Vigilant Sentinel]]. On 13 May 1997 [[Carrier Air Wing Eleven]] was reassigned to Commander, Carrier Group 3 and the USS ''Carl Vinson''.<ref>{{cite web | title= Carrier Group Three | url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/cargru3.htm | work= Military | publisher= GlobalSecurity.org | date=7 May 2011 | accessdate=28 February 2011}}</ref>

Carrier Group 3 formed the core of the naval power during the initial phase of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in 2001.  At the time the group comprised {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70}}, [[Destroyer Squadron 9]] and [[Carrier Air Wing Eleven]]. Commander, Carrier Group 3, Rear Admiral Thomas E. Zelibor, arrived in the Arabian Sea on 12 September 2001 and was subsequently designated Commander Task Force 50 (CTF 50), commanding multiple carrier task groups and coalition forces.  The Task Force conducted strikes against [[Al Quida]] and [[Taliban]] forces in [[Afghanistan]]. Task Force 50 comprised over 59 ships from six nations including six aircraft carriers, stretching over 800 nautical miles.<ref>{{cite web | last= Adkins | first= Mark | author2= John Kruse | title= Case Study: Network Centric Warfare in the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet Web-Supported Operational Level Command and Control in Operation Enduring Freedom | url= https://acc.dau.mil/adl/en-US/37566/file/9071/CTF50%20NCW%20Case%20Study.pdf | date= 3 August 2003 | work= Center for the Management of Information | publisher= [[University of Arizona]] | accessdate= 23 February 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629024010/https://acc.dau.mil/adl/en-US/37566/file/9071/CTF50%20NCW%20Case%20Study.pdf | archive-date= 29 June 2011 | url-status= dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref>

Rear Admiral Evan M. Chanik was the last commander of Carrier Group 3. During his tenure, Admiral Chanik led the group through a reorganized Inter-Deployment Training Cycle which greatly compressed the training required for overseas deployment.<ref name= NNS040701-03>{{cite web | author= Journalist 3rd Class Jason McCammack, USN | title= Former ''Vinson'' XO Passes Strike Group to Former CO | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=13975 | work= NNS040701-03 | publisher= USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs | date=1 July 2004| accessdate=15 December 2010}}</ref> On 1 October 2004, Carrier Group Three was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Three.<ref name=NAB-YIR2004/>

==Command structure==
The strike group commander is responsible for unit-level training, integrated training, and material readiness for the group's ships and aviation squadrons. When it is not deployed, the group reports to Commander, [[U.S. Third Fleet]] which directs the group's pre-deployment training and certifications including its [[Composite Training Unit Exercise]]s. When deployed beyond U.S. coastal waters, the group comes under the command of the numbered fleet commander in the area in which it is operating – either Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh Fleets.  When deployed in this fashion, the group utilizes a task force or task group designator, for example, Task Group 50.1 in the Fifth Fleet area.

Group commanders since 2004 have included:
{|
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Bruce W. Clingan]]	|| &nbsp;
| (June 2004 – September 2005)<ref name=ComCarStrkGru3>{{cite web | title= List of Commanders | url= http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sghistory.html | work= History | publisher= Carrier Strike Group Three | year= 2011 | accessdate= 11 January 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110129202749/http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sghistory.html | archive-date= 29 January 2011 | url-status= dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Captain Scott A. Berg	|| &nbsp;
| (September 2005 – November 2005)<ref name=ComCarStrkGru3/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral [[Kevin M. Quinn]] || &nbsp;
| (November 2005 – September 2007)<ref name=ComCarStrkGru3/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral M. Stewart O'Bryan || &nbsp;
| (September 2007 – September 2008)<ref name=ComCarStrkGru3/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Mark A. Vance || &nbsp;
| (September 2008 – September 2009)<ref name=ComCarStrkGru3/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral [[Joseph P. Aucoin]] || &nbsp;
| (September 2009 – May 2011)<ref name=NNS090926-01>{{Cite web| title= Carrier Strike Group 3 Change of Command | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48581 | work= NNS090926-01 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 26 September 2009 | accessdate=20 April 2009}}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral [[Craig S. Faller]] || &nbsp;
| (May 2011 – April 2012)<ref name=NNS110525-08>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lex T. Wenberg, USN| title= ''John C. Stennis'' Carrier Strike Group Changes Command | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=60598 | work= NNS110525-08 | date= 25 May 2011 | accessdate=29 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title= Rear Admiral Craig S. Faller | url= http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sgbios/bio_sg_comm.html | work= Carrier Strike Group Three | publisher= USS John Stennis (CVN-74) | year= 2012 | accessdate= 28 November 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110806100530/http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/sgbios/bio_sg_comm.html | archive-date= 6 August 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name=NNS120406-23>{{cite web | title= Strike Group Conducts Change of Command on Stennis | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=66349 | work= NNS120406-23 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 6 April 2012 | accessdate=9 April 2012}}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Charles M. Gaouette || &nbsp;
| (April 2012 – October 2012)<ref name=NNS120406-23/><ref name=NNS121027-06>{{cite web | title= ''Stennis'' CSG Commander Reassigned Pending Investigation | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=70381 | work= NNS121027-06 | publisher= Defense Media Activity – Navy | date= 27 October 2012 | accessdate=27 October 2012}}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Troy M. "Mike" Shoemaker || &nbsp;
| (October 2012 – May 2013)<ref name=NNS121027-06/><ref name=history>{{cite web | title= About Us: History | url= https://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/ccsg3/Pages/About-Us.aspx | publisher= ComCarStrkGru Three | website= US Navy | accessdate=4 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Captain William C. Minter || &nbsp;
| (May 2013 – September 2014)<ref name=history/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Michael E. Smith || &nbsp;
| (September 2014 – September 2015)<ref name=history/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral [[Ronald A. Boxall]] || &nbsp;
| (October 2015 – April 2016)<ref name=history/><ref name=NNS160422-10>{{cite web | title= Carrier Strike Group Three Holds Change of Command  | url= https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=94349 | work= NNS160422-10 | author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Noble | publisher= USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) Public Affairs | date= 22 April 2016 | accessdate=4 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral [[Marcus A. Hitchcock]] || &nbsp;
| (April 2016 – August 2017)<ref name=NNS160422-10/><ref name=NNS170830-08>{{cite web | title= Carrier Strike Group 3 Changes Hands Aboard USS John C. Stennis | url= https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=102190 | work= NNS170830-08 | author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Jiang | publisher= US Navy | date= 30 August 2017 | accessdate=4 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral [[Michael A. Wettlaufer]] || &nbsp;
| (August 2017 – June 2019)<ref name=NNS170830-08/><ref name=DVIDS327162>{{cite web | title= Carrier Strike Group 3 Holds Change of Command | url= https://www.dvidshub.net/news/327162/carrier-strike-group-3-holds-change-command | author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erika Kugler | publisher= USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) | date= 11 June 2019 | accessdate=4 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Fred I. Pyle || &nbsp;
| (June 2019 – April 2020)<ref name=NNS200502-12>{{cite web | title= Carrier Strike Group Three Holds Change of Command  | url= https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112810 | work= NNS200502-12 | publisher= Carrier Strike Group 3 Public Affairs | date= 2 May 2020 | accessdate=4 June 2020}}</ref><ref name=DVIDS327162/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral James A. Aiken || &nbsp;
| (April 2020 – August 2021)<ref name=NNS200502-12/>
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson || &nbsp;
| (August 2021 – September 2022)
|-
| &nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Kevin P. Lenox || &nbsp;
| (September 2022 – {{As of|2022|alt=May 2024}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/428567/carrier-strike-group-3-changes-command|title=Carrier Strike Group 3 Changes Command|date=1 September 2022|access-date=2 September 2022|website=DVIDS}}</ref>
|-
|&nbsp; &nbsp; • Rear Admiral Adan G. Cruz
|&nbsp;
|(May 2024 – Present)
|}

==Operational history==

===2005 deployment===
On 17 January 2005, ''Carl Vinson'' departed [[Bremerton, Washington]], with Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked for a six-month deployment, which included several months in the Persian Gulf supporting U.S. forces fighting the [[War in Iraq]].<ref name=NNS050114-23>{{cite web | author= Journalist 3rd Class William Lopez, USN | title= ''Vinson'' Departs Bremerton for Exercise, Deployment | url= http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16624 | work= NNS050114-23 | publisher= USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs | date= 14 January 2005 | accessdate= 28 August 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090913124008/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16624 | archive-date= 13 September 2009 | url-status= dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=NNS050511-09>{{cite web | title= Carrier Air Wing 9 Aircraft Drop Bombs on Insurgents | url= http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18266 | work= NNS050511-09 | publisher= Carl Vinson Strike Group Public Affairs | date= 11 May 2005 | accessdate= 28 August 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090913124403/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18266 | archive-date= 13 September 2009 | url-status= dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref> On 30 January 2005, the group departed San Diego following the completion of its 22-day pre-deployment Joint Task Force Exercise.<ref name=NNS050201-08>{{cite web | title= Vinson Strike Group Deploys Following Successful Completion of JTFEX | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16874 | work= NNS050201-08| publisher= Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs | date=1 February 2005 | accessdate = 15 December 2010}}</ref>
[[File:US Navy 050327-N-6694B-001 An F-A-18C Hornet rolls into a turn while flying a combat mission over Iraq.jpg|thumb|right|F/A-18C from VFA-147 over Iraq (27 March 2005)]]
In total, the group launched more than 6,500 sorties, totaling more than 20,000 flight hours, in support of [[Multi-National Force - Iraq]] troops and various maritime interdiction operations, including 2,600 flight hours logged by its four F/A-18 strike-fighter squadrons.<ref name=NNS050804-01>{{cite web | author= Journalist 3rd Class (SW) Devin Dorney, USN | title= CVW-9 Concludes Successful Deployment with ''Vinson'' Strike Group | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19472 | work= NNS050804-01 | publisher= USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs | date=3 August 2005 | accessdate = 16 December 2010}}</ref><ref name=NNS050801-01>{{cite web | title= USS ''Carl Vinson'' Arrives in Norfolk | url= http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19433 | work= NNS050801-01 | publisher= Public Affairs Center Norfolk | date= 1 August 2005 | accessdate= 28 August 2010 | url-status= dead | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070717201642/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19433 | archivedate= 17 July 2007 | df= dmy-all }}</ref> [[Destroyer Squadron 31]] conducted more than 80 boardings in conjunction with British, Italian, Australian, Canadian and regional forces.<ref>{{cite web | author= Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Chris Fahey, USN | title= DESRON 31 Concludes Global Combat Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19461 | work= NNS050803-06 | publisher= USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs | date=3 August 2005 | accessdate = 16 December 2010}}</ref>

On 11 June 2005, {{USS|Mustin|DDG-89|2}} rendered assistance in response to a distress call from the Iranian fishing dhow ''Henif''.  A boat transported an ill Iranian fisherman to ''Mustin'', where he was subsequently transferred to ''Vinson'' by helicopter.  Once aboard ''Vinson'', the fisherman was taken to the ship's infirmary where he underwent tests.  The fisherman was apparently suffering from a severe allergic reaction.  He was treated, and after a short recovery period, he was returned to the ''Henif'' via one of the carrier's boats.<ref>{{cite web | title= '' Vinson'' Strike Group Responds to Distress Call | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18756 | work= NNS050620-05 | publisher= USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs | date=20 June 2005 | accessdate = 16 December 2010}}</ref>

The group completed its 2005 deployment at [[Naval Station Norfolk]] on 31 July 2005. ''Vinson'' then began a scheduled 36-month [[Refueling and Complex Overhaul]], prior to becoming flagship for [[Carrier Strike Group One]].<ref name=NNS050801-01/> The new group flagship, {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74|2}}, changed its homeport to Bremerton in January 2005, and once there, underwent an 11-month overhaul.<ref>{{cite web | author= Journalist 3rd Class Chris Gethings, USN | title= Kitsap County Welcomes ''Stennis'' | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16833 | work= NNS050129-02 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=29 January 2005 | accessdate = 12 January 2010}}; {{cite web | author= Journalist 3rd Class Nick Flabi, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Enters Dry Dock  | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16703 | work=  NNS050121-11 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=21 January 2006 | accessdate = 12 January 2010}}; and {{cite web | author= Journalist 2nd Class Ryan Hill, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Begins Sea Trials Following DPIA |url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=21353 | work= NNS051213-02 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=14 December 2005 | accessdate = 12 January 2010}}</ref> Reflecting the reduced responsibilities while the ships were undergoing overhauls, Rear Admiral Clingan was succeeded by Captain Scott A. Berg in September 2005 as carrier strike group commander. Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn subsequently relieved Captain Berg in November 2005.<ref name=ComCarStrkGru3/>
;2005 deployment force composition<ref name=NNS050114-23/><ref name=NNS050511-09/><ref>{{cite web | title= USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Begins Joint Task Force Exercise |url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16739 | work= NNS050124-04 | publisher= Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs | date=24 January 2005 | accessdate = 15 December 2010}}; {{cite journal |author= Linwood B. Carter |title= Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces |url= https://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/48598.pdf |journal= [[Congressional Research Service]] |publisher= [[Library of Congress]] |location= Washington, DC |page= CRS-6 |date=23 May 2005 |accessdate = 12 November 2010}}; and {{cite web | title= CVW-9 (NG) – CVN-70 USS ''Carl Vinson'' – (13 January 2005 – 31 July 2005 (JTFEX, WestPac, World Cruise) | url= http://gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.html | work= Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) | publisher= GoNavy.jp | date=10 January 2007 | accessdate = 28 August 2010}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! colspan="1" width="20%" align="center" | CARSTRKGRU 3 Warships/Units
! colspan="1" width="0%" align="center" |
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]] (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70}}
|-
| {{USS|Antietam|CG-54}}
|
| [[VMFA-323|Marine Fighter Squadron 323 (VMFA-323):]] [[FA-18|FA-18C(N) Hornet]]
| Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33):  [[Lockheed S-3|S-3B Viking]]
|-
| {{USS|O'Kane|DDG-77}}
|
| [[VFA-154|Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154):]] [[F/A-18 Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]
| [[HS-8|Helicopter Squadron 8 (HS-8):]] [[HH-60|HH-60H/SH-60F Seahawk]]
|-
| {{USS|Mustin|DDG-89}}
|
| [[VFA-147|Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147):]] FA-18C(N) Hornet
| [[VRC-40|Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. 4:]] [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound|C-2A Greyhound]]
|-
| {{USS|Camden|AOE-2}}
|
| [[VFA-146|Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146):]] FA-18C Hornet
| ——
|-
| {{USS|Olympia|SSN-717}}
|
| [[VAQ-138|Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138):]] [[EA-6B|EA-6B Prowler]]
| ——
|-
| [[United States Navy EOD|EOD Mobile Unit 11, Detach. 9]]
|
| [[VAW-112|Carrier Airborne Early Warning 112 (VAW-112):]] [[E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C Hawkeye]]
| ——
|-
|}

===2007 deployment===
{{see also|Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2007}}
[[File:US Navy 070522-N-8157C-240 (from foreground) USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) transit the Gulf of Oman.jpg|thumb|right|''John C. Stennis'', ''Bonhomme Richard'', and ''Nimitz'' in Gulf of Oman (22 May 2007)]]
''Stennis'' departed from its homeport in [[Bremerton, Washington]], on 16 January 2007, spent one day in port on-loading [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]] onto the carrier, and the strike group departed San Diego on 20 January 2006 for its 2007 deployment.<ref name= NNS070120-01>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gethings, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Begins Transit Toward 5th Fleet | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27380 | work= NNS070120-01 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=20 January 2006 | accessdate = 2 September 2010}}</ref>

During its 2007 deployment, Carrier Air Wing Nine flew more than 7,900 sorties providing more than 22,000 flight hours and dropping nearly 90,000 pounds of ordnance in support of the International Security Assistance Force operating on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref name= NNS070821-11>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Reeves, USN | title= JCSCSG Arrives in Pearl Harbor | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=31336 | work= NNS070821-11 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 21 August 2007 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}}</ref> The guided-missile destroyers {{USS|O'Kane|DDG-77|2}} and {{USS|Preble|DDG-88|2}} were primarily responsible for carrying out [[Maritime Security Operations]], [[Maritime Interdiction Operations]], and [[Visit, Board, Search and Seizure]] operations for the strike group during the deployment.<ref name=AllHandsGulf072007>{{cite journal |author= Lt. Nathan Christensen, USN |title= Securing the Gulf |url= http://www.navy.mil/media/allhands/acrobat/ah200707.pdf |journal= [[All Hands]] |publisher= U.S. Navy |location= Washington, DC |pages= 31–35 |date= July 2007 |accessdate= 15 November 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070711125527/https://www.navy.mil/media/allhands/acrobat/AH200707.pdf |archive-date= 11 July 2007 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

On 23 May 2007, ''Stennis'', along with eight other warships including the aircraft carrier {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|2}} and amphibious assault ship {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|2}}, passed through the [[Strait of Hormuz]] into the [[Persian Gulf]] ''(pictured)''.  US Navy officials said it was the largest such move of warships since 2003.<ref>{{Cite web| last= Abbas | first= Mohammed | title= Nine U.S. warships in Gulf for show of force | url= https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2360749620070523?feedType=RSS | date=28 May 2007 | publisher= [[Reuters]] | accessdate = 3 September 2010}}</ref> The group subsequently participated in Expeditionary Strike Force (ESF) training while simultaneously providing close-air support to coalition ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The ESF training brought together Carrier Strike Group 3, [[Carrier Strike Group 11]] led by ''Nimitz'', and ''Bonhomme Richard'' Expeditionary Strike Group to test their ability to plan and conduct multi-task force operations across a broad spectrum of naval disciplines.<ref name= NNS070821-11/>

Thereafter, the group participated in Exercise [[Valiant Shield]] off the coast of Guam between 7–14 August 2007.  The exercise brought together more than 30 ships, including carrier strike groups led by the {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63|2}} and {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|2}}; 280 aircraft; and more than 20,000 service members from the U.S. Navy, [[U.S. Air Force]], [[U.S. Marine Corps]], and [[U.S. Coast Guard]].  Valiant Shield 2007 tested the military's ability to rapidly bring together joint forces in response to any regional contingency.<ref name= NNS070821-11/><ref name=NNS070807-04>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Frank E. Neely, USN | title= JCSSG Begins Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=31033 | work= NNS070807-04 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=7 August 2007 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}}</ref><ref name=NNS070815-09>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Frank E. Neely, USN | title= JCSSG Completes Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=31193 | work= NNS070815-09 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=15 August 2007 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}}</ref> Valiant Shield was the last operational portion of the group's 2007 deployment.

The group entered [[Pearl Harbor]] on 20 August 2007.<ref name= NNS070821-11/> The strike group returned to San Diego on 27 August 2007, and the carrier ''John C. Stennis'' returned to its homeport on 31 August 2007.<ref name=NNS070831-13>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Joseph R. Vincent, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Returns Home From Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=31574 | work= NNS070831-13 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=31 August 2007 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Christopher Gethings, USN | title=  ''Stennis'', CVW-9 Return to San Diego | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=31463 | work= NNS070827-25 | publisher=  USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=27 August 2007 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}}</ref>
;2007 deployment force composition<ref name= NNS070120-01/><ref>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gethings, USN | title= ''John C. Stennis'' Carrier Strike Group Arrives in 7th Fleet | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27556 | work= NNS070201-09| publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=1 February 2007 | accessdate = 2 September 2010}}; and {{Cite web| title= CVW-9 (NG) CVN-74 ''John C. Stennis'' 16 January 2007 – 31 August 2007 (WestPac, Persian Gulf)| url= http://www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.html | work= CVW-14 (NK) (20 December 1963 – Present) | publisher= GoNavy.jp | date=28 April 2010 | accessdate = 1 September 2010}}; {{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gethings, USN | title= CVW-9 Joins ''Stennis'' for Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27399 | work= NNS070122-14 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=22 January 2006 | accessdate = 2 September 2010}}; and {{Cite journal|last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2008 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2007–31 December 2007: Aircraft Carrier Airwing Assignments and Composition as of 31 December 2007 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 134 |issue= 5 |pages= 105 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2008-05 |accessdate = 4 September 2010 |quote=Registration required.}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! colspan="1" width="20%" align="center" | CARSTRKGRU 3 Warships/Units
! colspan="1" width="0%" align="center" |
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]] (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74}}
|-
| {{USS|Antietam|CG-54}}
|
| [[VMFA-323|Marine Attack Fighter Squadron 323 (VMFA-323):]] [[FA-18|FA-18C(N) Hornet]]
| [[VS-31|Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31):]] 8 [[Lockheed S-3|S-3B Viking]]
|-
| {{USS|Preble|DDG-88}}
|
| [[VFA-154|Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154):]] 12 [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|FA-18F Super Hornet]]
| [[HS-8|Helicopter Squadron 8 (HS-8):]] 2 [[HH-60|HH-60H Seahawk]] & 4 [[HH-60|SH-60F Seahawk]]
|-
| {{USS|O'Kane|DDG-77}}
|
| [[VFA-147|Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147):]] 12 [[FA-18|FA-18C(N) Hornet]]
| [[VRC-40|Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. 4:]] 4 [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound|C-2A Greyhound]]
|-
| {{USS|Paul Hamilton|DDG-60}}
|
| [[VFA-146|Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146):]] 12 [[FA-18|FA-18C Hornet]]
| ——
|-
| {{USNS|Bridge|T-AOE-10}}
|
| [[VAQ-138|Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138)]]:  4 [[EA-6B|EA-6B Prowler]]
| ——
|-
| [[United States Navy EOD|EOD Unit 11, Det. 11]]
|
| [[VAW-112|Carrier Airborne Early Warning 112 (VAW-112):]] 4 [[E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C Hawkeye NP]]
| ——
|-
|}
;2007 deployment exercises and port visits
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Number
! colspan="4" align="center" | Regional exercises
! colspan="2" align="center" | Port visits
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Notes
|-
! align="center" | ''Duration''
! align="center" | ''US force''
! align="center" | ''Bilateral or multilateral partners''
! align="center" | ''Operating area''
! align="center" | ''Location''
! align="center" | ''Dates''
|-
! 1st:
| ——
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| ——
| ——
| [[Singapore]]
| 19–23 Jul 2007
|<ref>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Reeves, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Stops in Singapore | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30975 | work= NNS070803-08 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=3 August 2007 | accessdate = 3 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
! 2nd:
| ——
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| ——
| ——
| [[Hong Kong]]
| 28 Jul – 1 August 2007
|<ref>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Reeves, USN | title= ''Stennis''{{‘}} Sailors and Marines Enjoy Hong Kong | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30980 | work= NNS070803-12 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=3 August 2007 | accessdate = 3 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
! 3rd:
| 7–14 Aug 2007
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| [[Exercise Valiant Shield]] 2007
| Guam operating area
| [[Pearl Harbor]]
| 20 August. 2007
|<ref name= NNS070821-11/><ref name=NNS070807-04/><ref name=NNS070815-09/>
|-
|}

===2009 deployment===
{{main|Carrier Strike Group Three 2004–09 operations}}

''John C. Stennis'' departed Bremerton on 13 January 2009, and the group departed [[Naval Air Station North Island]] on 17 January 2009 after embarking Carrier Air Wing Nine.<ref>{{Cite web| author= MCS 2nd Class (SW) Elliott J. Fabrizio, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Departs on Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=41797 | work= NNS090114-14 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=14 January 2009 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}} and {{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Elliott J. Fabrizio, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Embarks CVW 3 for WESTPAC | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=41797 | work= NNS090119-07| publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=19 January 2009 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}}</ref> Carrier Air Wing Nine flew more than 7250 sorties, consisting of approximately 12,747 flight hours with a sortie completion rate of 97 percent during its 2009 deployment.<ref>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Steve Owsley, USN | title= Carrier Air Wing 9 Completes 2009 Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=46760 | work= NNS090706-15 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=6 July 2009 | accessdate = 4 September 2010 }}</ref>
[[File:US Navy 090328-N-9928E-053 An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).jpg|thumb|right|MH-60S Knight Hawk from HSC-8]]
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 ([[HSM-71]]), a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine, was the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing  ''(pictured)''.<ref name=NNS080606-09>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damien E. Horvath, USN | title= First HSM Squadron Embarks ''Stennis'' | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=37665 | work= NNS080606-09 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=6 June 2008 | accessdate = 4 September 2010 }}</ref> The squadron flew more than 4,690 hours with a 95 percent sortie completion rate and earned the right to fly the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Pennant.  The highlight for the squadron occurred during the undersea warfare exercise when HSM-71 deployed multiple aircraft to practice engagements on U.S. and Japanese submarines.  The squadron kept three helicopters aloft throughout the entire four-day exercise for a total of 222 flight hours and conducted 28 simulated attacks on two U.S. and two Japanese submarines.<ref name= NNS090704-12>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (MC2) Dmitry Chepusov, USN  | title= HSM-71 Completes Maiden Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=46734 | work= NNS090704-12 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=4 July 2009 | accessdate = 20 April 2009}}</ref>

The strike group participated in Exercise Key Resolve/[[Foal Eagle]] which began on 28 February 2009.<ref name=Rowland>{{cite web | author= Ashley Rowland | title= U.S. carrier reportedly to join Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise | url= http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/korea/u-s-carrier-reportedly-to-join-key-resolve-foal-eagle-exercise-1.134856 | work= News-Pacific-Korea | publisher= [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Star and Stripes]] | date=15 February 2011 | accessdate = 30 November 2011}}</ref> Key Resolve/Foal Eagle was held in the aftermath of the [[ROKS Cheonan sinking|sinking]] of the [[Republic of Korea Navy|ROK]] corvette [[ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772)|''Cheonan'']] and the [[Bombardment of Yeonpyeong|shelling]] of [[Yeonpyeong Island]] by [[North Korea]].<ref name=RowlandChange>{{cite web | author= Ashley Rowland and Yoo Kyong Chang | title= U.S., S. Korea to begin annual training exercise | url= http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/korea/u-s-s-korea-to-begin-annual-training-exercise-1.135960 | work= News-Pacific-Korea | publisher= [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Star and Stripes]] | date=25 February 2011 | accessdate = 30 November 2011}}</ref> During the exercise, the aircraft carrier ''Stennis'' was overflown by two Russian [[Ilyushin Il-38]] maritime patrol aircraft on 16 March and two [[Tupolev Tu-95]] long-range bombers on 17 March.  Both time the Russian aircraft were intercepted and escorted by [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18 Hornets]] until the Russian aircraft left the exercise area.<ref>{{cite web | author= Jeff Schogol | title= Russian aircraft overfly U.S. ships in Sea of Japan | url= http://www.stripes.com/news/russian-aircraft-overfly-u-s-ships-in-sea-of-japan-1.89426 | work= News | publisher= [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Star and Stripes]] | date=21 March 2009 | accessdate = 30 November 2011}}</ref>

The strike group then split. Both ''Kidd'' and ''Preble'' returned to port on 16 June 2009. ''John C. Stennis'' and ''Antietam'' sailed north to the [[Gulf of Alaska]] to participate in Operation [[Northern Edge]], held between 15–26 June 2009.<ref name=NNS090617-06>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steve Owsley, USN | title= Joint Exercise Northern Edge Ensures Maritime Security | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=46241 | work= NNS090617-06 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=17 June 2009 | accessdate = 4 September 2010}}</ref> ''Stennis'' returned to port on 10 July 2009.<ref>{{Cite web| author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steve Owsley, USN | title= USS ''John C. Stennis'' Completes 2009 Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=46887 | work= NNS090710-30 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=10 July 2009 | accessdate = 20 April 2009}}</ref>

;2009 deployment force composition<ref name= NNS090704-12/><ref>{{Cite web| title= CVW-9 (NG) CVN-74 ''John C. Stennis'' 13 January 2009 – 10 July 2009 (WestPac, North Arabian Sea)| url= http://www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.html | work= CVW-14 (NK) (20 December 1963 – Present) | publisher= GoNavy.jp | date=15 July 2009 | accessdate = 1 September 2010}} and {{Cite journal|last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2008 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2007–31 December 2007: Aircraft Carrier Airwing Assignments and Composition as of 31 December 2010 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 134 |issue= 5 |pages= 105 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2010-05 |accessdate = 4 September 2010 |quote=Registration required.}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! colspan="1" width="20%" align="center" | CARSTRKGRU 3 Warships
! colspan="1" width="0%" align="center" |
! colspan="2" align="center" | Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74}}
|-
| {{USS|Antietam|CG-54}}
|
| [[VMFA-323|Marine Attack Fighter Squadron 323 (VMFA-323):]] 10 [[FA-18|FA-18C(N) Hornet]]
| [[VAQ-138|Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138)]]:  4 [[EA-6B|EA-6B Prowler]]
|-
| {{USS|Kidd|DDG-100}}
|
| [[VFA-146|Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146):]] 10 [[FA-18|FA-18C Hornet]]
| [[VAW-112|Carrier Airborne Early Warning 112 (VAW-112):]] 4 [[E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C Hawkeye NP]]
|-
| {{USS|Preble|DDG-88}}
|
| [[VFA-154|Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154):]] 12 [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|FA-18F Super Hornet]]
| [[HSM-71|Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71):]] 4 [[MH-60R Seahawk]]
|-
| ——
|
| [[VFA-147|Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147):]] 12 [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|FA-18E Super Hornet]]
| [[HSC-8|Helicopter Sea Control Squadron 8 (HSC-8):]] 4 [[MH-60S Knight hawk]]
|-
| ——
|
| 
| [[VRC-40|Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. 4:]] 4 [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound|C-2A Greyhound]]
|-
|}
;2009 deployment exercises and port visits
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Number
! colspan="4" align="center" | Regional exercises
! colspan="2" align="center" | Port visits
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Notes
|-
! align="center" | ''Duration''
! align="center" | ''U.S. Force''
! align="center" | ''Bilateral/Joint Partner(s)''
! align="center" | ''Operating Area''
! align="center" | ''Location''
! align="center" | ''Dates''
|-
! 1st:
| 10 February 2009
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| Undersea Warfare Exercise:  [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force|JMSDF]]
| Western Pacific
| [[Hong Kong]]
| 17 February 2009
|<ref name= NNS090704-12/><ref name=CVN74History2009>{{cite web | title= History – 2009 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn74history.htm | work= USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 | publisher= USCarriers.net | date=16 November 2011 | accessdate = 30 November 2011}}</ref>
|-
! 2nd:
| —
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| —
| —
| [[Sasebo, Japan]]
| 27 February 2009
|<ref name=CVN74History2009/>
|-
! 3rd:
| 28 Feb – 30 April 2009
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| [[Foal Eagle|Key Resolve/Foal Eagle]]: [[Republic of Korea Armed Forces|South Korea]]
| Korean Theater of Operations
| [[Busan]], [[Republic of Korea]]
| 11 March 2009
|<ref name=Rowland/><ref name=CVN74History2009/>
|-
! 4th:
| —
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| —
| —
| [[Laem Chabang]], [[Thailand]]
| 9–13 Apr 2009
|<ref name=NNS080606-09/><ref name=CVN74History2009/>
|-
! 5th:
| —
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| —
| —
| [[Singapore]]
| 24 April. 2009
|<ref name=CVN74History2009/>
|-
! 6th:
| 15–26 Jun 2009
| ''Stennis'', ''Antietam''
| [[Northern Edge]]: [[Alaskan Command]]
| [[Gulf of Alaska]]
| [[Pearl Harbor]]
| 27 May – 10 June 2009
|<ref name=NNS090617-06/><ref name=CVN74History2009/>
|}

===2011–2012 deployment===
{{see also|Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2011|Piracy in Somalia|2011–12 Strait of Hormuz dispute}}
[[File:US Navy 111218-N-BT887-061 An E-2C Hawkeye from the Golden Hawks of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 launches from the Nimitz-class aircra.jpg|thumb|right|Final flight over Iraq (18 December 2011)]]
[[File:US Navy 111219-N-ZZ999-076 A visit, board, search and seizure team from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) approaches a suspected p.jpg|thumb|right|Anti-piracy boarding (19 December 2011)]]
[[File:120105-N-ZZ999-003 - USS Kidd rescue Iranian fishing dhow from pirates.jpg|thumb|right|''Al Molai'' rescue (5 January 2012)]]
[[File:US Navy 120118-N-VH839-091 A rigid hull inflatable boat with Sailors from the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey's (DDG 105) visit, board, search a.jpg|thumb|right|''Al Mamsoor'' rescue (18 January 2012)]]
On 25 July 2011, the aircraft carrier ''John C. Stennis'' departed from its homeport of [[Naval Base Kitsap]]-[[Bremerton, Washington]].  ''Stennis'' was subsequently joined by Carrier Air Wing Nine, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-one, and the guided-missile cruiser ''Mobile Bay''.<ref name=NNS110726-11>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dugan Flynn, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Sailors Focus on Mission after Bidding Families Farewell | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=61793 | work= NNS110726-11 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=26 July 2011 | accessdate=2 August 2011}}</ref> On 29 July 2011, the strike group departed from [[Naval Air Station San Diego]] near [[San Diego, California]], for its 2011–2012 deployment.<ref>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Carla Ocampo, USN | title= ''John C. Stennis'' Strike Group, Carrier Air Wing 9 Depart For Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=61995 | work= NNS110804-19 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=4 August 2011 | accessdate=5 August 2011}}</ref>

The first port-of-call for the group was to have been [[Manila]], [[Philippines]], but that port-call was cancelled because of [[Typhoon Nanmadol (2011)|Typhoon Mina]].<ref>{{cite web | author= Babe G. Romualdez | title= Time to cozy: Protecting US interests | url= http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=720144&publicationSubCategoryId=66 | series= Business | work= [[The Philippine Star]] | date= 25 August 2011 | accessdate= 25 August 2011 }} and {{cite web | title= Typhoon Mina Forces Cancellation of ''Stennis'' CSG Port Visit to Manila | url= http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2011/08-august/040.htm | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 28 August 2011 | accessdate= 28 August 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927070349/http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2011/08-august/040.htm | archive-date= 27 September 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref> On 13 October 2011, the guided-missile destroyer {{USS|Kidd|DDG-100|2}} was directed to join [[Carrier Strike Group 5]] to provide disaster relief to [[2011 Thailand floods|flood-ravaged Thailand]].<ref name=DDG100USCarrier2011>{{cite web | title= History – 2011 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg100history.htm | work= USS Kidd DDG-100 | publisher= USCarriers.net | date=28 October 2011 | accessdate=28 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= USS ''George Washington'' preps for possible aid mission to Thailand | url= http://www.stripes.com/mobile/news/uss-george-washington-preps-for-possible-aid-mission-to-thailand-1.157981 | work= News  | publisher= [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] | date=16 October 2011 | accessdate=29 November 2011}}</ref>

During the deployment, the strike group and Carrier Air Wing Nine launched a combined total of 13,389 sorties in support of Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan.<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2011>{{cite web | title= History – 2011 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn74history.htm | work= USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=12 October 2011 | accessdate=25 October 2011}}</ref> On 18 December 2011, the strike group's aircraft flew the final carrier-based air sortie over Iraq, effectively ending U.S. naval support for Operation New Dawn.  The final command-and-control mission for U.S. forces over Iraq was flown by an E-2C Hawkeye (''pictured'') from Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112, catapulting off the carrier ''Stennis'' at 7:32&nbsp;am and returning at 11:04 a.m, both local time.<ref name=NNS111220-02/>

While operating with [[Combined Task Force 151]], on 13 December 2011, the destroyer {{USS|Pinckney|DDG-91|2}} disrupted a group of suspected pirates south of Yemen near the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor.  At approximately 8:40&nbsp;am local time, the merchant vessel M/V ''Nordic Apollo'' reported to [[United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations]], Dubai, of being fired upon by pirates in a skiff. At approximately 11:00&nbsp;am, the M/V ''Heather'', operating 30 nautical miles from ''Nordic Apollo'', reported suspicious activity by a skiff.  CTF-151 commander Rear Admiral Kaleem Shaukat, Pakistan Navy, ordered ''Pinckney'' to investigate.<ref name=NNS111221-05>{{cite web | author= Ensign Elizabeth Kandt, USN | title= USS ''Pinckney'' Disrupts Piracy  | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=64524 | work= NNS111221-05 | publisher= USS Pinckney Public Affairs | date=12 December 2011 | accessdate=4 January 2012}}</ref> ''Pinckney'' got underway and launched its [[MH-60R]] helicopter which located a suspicious skiff.  Once under observation, the helicopter reported that the skiff had nine suspected pirates aboard, as well as several ladders, weapons and fuel containers that the suspected pirates attempted to cover up or throw overboard.  As ''Pinckney'' closed, the skiff stopped and the suspected pirates threw their weapons overboard, which were identified as five [[AK-47]] rifles, one [[rocket propelled grenade]] (RPG) launcher. and three RPG rounds.  ''Pinckney'' conduct a boarding using their [[VBSS|visit, board, search and seizure]] (VBSS) team (''pictured''), and once aboard, the VBSS team confirmed that there were nine suspected pirates, one grappling hook, 36 barrels of fuel, and 75 and 45 horsepower outboard engines. The VBSS team scuttled one outboard motor and left the skiff with enough fuel and water to return to shore.<ref name=NNS111221-05/>

On 5 January 2012, at approximately 12:30 p.m local time, an SH-60S Seahawk helicopter from guided-missile destroyer {{USS|Kidd|DDG-100|2}} detected a suspected pirate skiff alongside the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow ''Al Molai'' operating in the northern [[Arabian Sea]]. Simultaneously, the ''Kidd'' received a distress call was from the master of the ''Al Molai'' claiming to be held captive by pirates.<ref name=NNS120106-08>{{cite web | title= U.S. Navy Rescues Iranian Fishing Vessel from Pirates in Arabian Sea | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=64655 | work= NNS120106-08 | publisher= Commander, Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs | date= 6 January 2012 | accessdate=5 January 2012}}</ref> The ''Kidd'' dispatched a visit, board, search and seizure team that boarded the ''Al Molai'' (''pictured'') and subsequently detained 15 suspected pirates who had been holding a 13-member Iranian crew hostage for several weeks.  The pirates did not resist the boarding, quickly surrendered, and were detained on the ''Al Molai'' by the ''Kidd'' boarding party until the next morning, 6 January 2012, when they were transferred to the aircraft carrier ''John C. Stennis'' where the incident was reviewed for potential prosecution.<ref name=NNS120106-08/> According to the Iranian vessel's crew, the ''Al Molai'' had been pirated and used as a "mother ship" for pirate operations throughout the Persian Gulf during the preceding 40–45 days.  The pirates forced the ''Al Molai'' crew to live in harsh conditions under the constant threat of violence with limited supplies and medical aid.  The ''Kidd'' VSBB team provided the ''Al Molai'' crew with food, water, and medical care, and the ''Al Molai'' master thanked the VBSS team for their assistance.<ref name=NNS120106-08/>

On 18 January 2012, at 7:53&nbsp;am local time, an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from the squadron HSM-71 spotted the Iranian fishing vessel ''Al Mamsoor'' disabled in the Arabian Sea.  The vessel was in a sinking condition, and the helicopter alerted the guided-missile destroyer {{USS|Dewey|DDG-105|2}} which rendered assistance.  ''Dewey'' dispatched a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team (''pictured'') which discovered that the ''Al Mamsoor'' was in a sinking condition for the previous three days.  The VBSS team provided food, water, medical, and hygienic supplies to the Iranian mariners, and after confirming Iranian nationals' safety, departed the scene.<ref>{{cite web | author= Ensign John Tanalega, USN | title= ''Dewey'' Aids Sinking Iranian Fishing Dhow | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=64840 | work=  NNS120118-14 | publisher= USS Dewey (DDG-105) Public Affairs | accessdate=19 January 2012}}</ref>

On 27 December 2011, ''Stennis'' concluded a four-day port visit to [[Jebel Ali]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]]. It then steamed through the [[Strait of Hormuz]] to the [[North Arabian Sea]] to provide combat air support to coalition ground forces in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].<ref name="CVN74USCarrier2011"/><ref name=Hafezi>{{cite web | author= Parisa Hafezi | title= Iran threatens U.S. Navy as sanctions hit economy | url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa-idUSTRE80208P20120103 | publisher= [[Reuters]] | date= 3 January 2012 | accessdate= 4 January 2012 | archive-date= 24 September 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161340/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/03/us-iran-usa-idUSTRE80208P20120103 | url-status= live }}</ref> On 3 January 2012, following the end of Velayat 90, a 10-day Iranian military exercise in international waters near the [[Strait of Hormuz]], the [[Iranian Army]] chief of staff, General [[Ataollah Salehi]], warned the United States to not send the ''Stennis'' back into the Persian Gulf.  This initiated the [[2011–12 Strait of Hormuz dispute]] between the United States and Iran over access through the strait.<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2011/><ref name="Hafezi"/>

On 27 February 2012, the strike group completed its seven-month deployment. The cruiser ''Mobile Bay'' and destroyers ''Pinckney'', ''Kidd'', ''Dewey'', and ''Wayne E. Meyer'' returned to [[Naval Base San Diego]].  ''Stennis'' stopped in San Diego before returning to its homeport of [[Naval Base Kitsap]], Washington, on 28 February 2012.<ref>{{cite web | title= Stennis strike group ships returning home | url= http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/02/navy-carrier-stennis-strike-group-ships-returning-home-san-diego-022712w/ | series= Navy News | work= [[Navy Times]] | date=27 February 2012 | accessdate=27 February 2012}} and {{cite web | author= Ed Friedrich | title= ''Stennis'' coming home: Sailors returning from a busy deployment | url= http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/feb/28/stennis-coming-home-sailors-returning-from-a/ | publisher= [[Kitsap Sun]] | date=28 February 2012 | accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
;2011–2012 deployment force composition<ref name=NNS110726-11/><ref name=Morison2012/><ref>{{cite web | title= CVW-9 (NG) – CVN-75 Carl Vinson July 25, 2010 – March 2, 2012 (WestPac, North Arabian Sea) | url= http://www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.html | work= Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) | publisher= GoNavy | date=2 November 2011 | accessdate=1 December 2011}} and {{cite journal|last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2010 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2010–31 December 2010: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 1 March 2011 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 137 |issue= 5 |pages= 118 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2011-05 |accessdate= 2 August 2011|quote=Registration required.}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! colspan="1" width="20%" align="center" | CARSTRKGRU 3 Warships
! colspan="1" width="0%" align="center" |
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]] (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74}}
|-
| {{USS|Mobile Bay|CG-53}}
|
| [[VFA-192|Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192):]] 10 [[FA-18|F/A-18C]]
| [[VAW-112|Carrier Airborne Early Warning 112 (VAW-112):]] 4 [[E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C]]
|-
| {{USS|Wayne E. Meyer|DDG-108}}
|
| [[VFA-97|Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97):]] 10 [[FA-18|F/A-18C]]
| [[VRC-40|Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. 1]]: 2 [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound|C-2A]]
|-
| {{USS|Dewey|DDG-105}}
|
| [[VFA-41|Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41):]] 12 [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F]]
| [[HSC-8|Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Squadron 8 (HSC-8):]] 7 [[MH-60S]]
|-
| {{USS|Kidd|DDG-100}}
|
| [[VFA-14|Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14):]] 12 F/A-18E
| [[HSM-71|Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71):]] 11 [[MH-60R]]
|-
| {{USS|Pinckney|DDG-91}}
|
| [[VAQ-133|Electronic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133):]] 4 [[EA-6B]]
| ——
|-
|}
;2011–2012 deployment exercises and port visits
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Number
! colspan="4" align="center" | Regional Exercises
! colspan="2" align="center" | Port Visits
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Notes
|-
! align="center" | ''Duration''
! align="center" | ''U.S. Forces''
! align="center" | ''Bilateral/Multilateral Partner(s)''
! align="center" | ''Operating Area''
! align="center" | ''Location''
! align="center" | ''Dates''
|-
! 1st:
| ——
| ''Kidd''
| ——
| ——
| [[Apra Harbor]], [[Guam]]
| 27 August 2011
|<ref name="DDG100USCarrier2011"/>
|-
! 2nd:
| 9 Aug
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| Undersea Warfare Exercise
| [[Hawaiian Islands|Hawaiian operating area]]
| [[Port Klang]], [[Malaysia]]
| 4–8 Sep 2011
|<ref name=NNS110809-10>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Grant Ammon, USN | title= ''John C. Stennis'' Strike Group Participates in Undersea Warfare Exercise | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=62083 | work= NNS110809-10 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date=9 August 2011 | accessdate=10 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= ''John C. Stennis'' Strike Group visits Port Klang | url= http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2011/09-september/002.htm | work= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | publisher= U.S. Seventh Fleet | date= 5 September 2011 | accessdate= 6 September 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120113092730/http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2011/09-september/002.htm | archive-date= 13 January 2012 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name=CG59History2011>{{cite web | title= History – 2011 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cg53history.htm | work= USS Mobile Bay (CG-59) | publisher= USCarriers.net | date=7 September 2011  | accessdate=28 November 2011}}</ref>
|-
! 3rd:
| ——
| ''Pinckney''
| ——
| ——
| [[Singapore]]
| 7 September 2011
|<ref name=DDG91USCarrier2011>{{cite web | title= History – 2011 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg91history.htm | work= USS Pinckney (DDG-91) | publisher= USCarriers.net | date=15 November 2011 | accessdate=28 November 2011}}</ref>
|-
! 4th:
| ——
| ''Kidd''
| ——
| ——
| [[Phuket Province|Phuket]], [[Thailand]]
| 8–11 Sep 2011
|<ref name=DDG100USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 5th:
| ——
| ''John C. Stennis''
| ——
| ——
| [[Al Hidd]], [[Kingdom of Bahrain|Bahrain]]
| 21–24 Sep 2011
|<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 6th:
| ——
| ''Kidd''
| ——
| ——
| [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]], [[Cambodia]]
| 20–25 Sep 2011
|<ref name=DDG100USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 7th:
| Various
| ''Kidd'', ''Pinckney''
| [[Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training|CARAT 2011]]
| Various
| [[Muara, Brunei|Muara]], [[Brunei]]
| 29 Sep to 2 October 2011
|<ref name=DDG100USCarrier2011/><ref name=DDG91USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 8th:
| ——
| ''Wayne E. Meyer''
| ——
| ——
| [[Singapore]]
| 13–17 Oct 2011
|<ref name=DDG108USCarrier2011>{{cite web | title= History – 2011 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg108history.htm | work= USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) | publisher= USCarriers.net | accessdate=28 November 2011}}</ref>
|-
! 9th:
| ——
| ''Pinckney''
| ——
| ——
| [[Incheon]], [[Republic of Korea|ROK]]
| 17 Oct
|<ref name=DDG91USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 10th:
| ——
| ''Pinckney''
| ——
| ——
| [[U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka|Yokosuka]], [[Japan]]
| 27 October 2011
|<ref name=DDG91USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 11th:
| ——
| ''Wayne E. Meyer'', ''Dewey'', ''Pinckney''
| ——
| ——
| [[Phuket, Thailand]]
| 11–14 Nov 2011
|<ref name=DDG91USCarrier2011/><ref name=DDG108USCarrier2011/><ref name=DDG105Carrier2011>{{cite web | title= History – 2011 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg105history.htm | work= USS Dewey DDG-105 | publisher= USCarriers.net | date=15 November 2011 | accessdate=28 November 2011}}</ref>
|-
! 12th:
| ——
| ''John C. Stennis''
| ——
| ——
| [[Jebel Ali|Jebel Ali, UAE]]
| 14 November 2011
|<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 13th:
| ——
| ''John C. Stennis''
| ——
| ——
| [[Jebel Ali|Jebel Ali, UAE]]
| 23–27 Dec 2011
|<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 14th:
| ——
| ''John C. Stennis'', ''Mobile Bay'', ''Dewey'', ''Pinckney''
| ——
| ——
| [[Singapore]]
| 26–30 Jan 2012
|<ref name=JCSCSG7thFltSingapore1>{{cite web | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Visits Singapore | url= http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2012/01-January/026.htm | work= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | publisher= Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet | date= 26 January 2012 | accessdate= 27 January 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130201112307/http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2012/01-January/026.htm | archive-date= 1 February 2013 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name=JCSCSG7thFltSingapore2>{{cite web | title= ''John C. Stennis'' Strike Group Concludes Visit to Singapore | url= http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2012/01-January/031.htm | work= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | publisher= Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet | date= 31 January 2012 | accessdate= 1 January 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120204063912/http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2012/01-January/031.htm | archive-date= 4 February 2012 | url-status= dead }}</ref>
|-
! 15th:
| ——
| ''Kidd''
| ——
| ——
| [[Port Klang]], [[Malaysia]]
| 26 January 2012
|<ref name=DDG100USCarrier2011/>
|-
! 16th:
| ——
| ''Wayne E. Meyer''
| ——
| ——
| [[Manila]], [[Philippines]]
| 29 January 2012
|<ref>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Grant P. Ammon, USN | title= USS ''Wayne E. Meyer'' Visits Manila | url= http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2012/01-January/028.htm | publisher= U.S. Seventh Fleet | date= 30 January 2012 | accessdate= 31 January 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130201112229/http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2012/01-January/028.htm | archive-date= 1 February 2013 | url-status= dead }}</ref>
|-
! 17th:
| ——
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| ——
| ——
| [[Pearl Harbor]]
| 17 February 2012
|<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2011/>
|-
|}

===2012–2013 deployment===
{{see also|Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2012}}
[[File:Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - USS Mobile Bay and USS John C. Stennis.jpg|thumb|right|Valiant Shield 2012 (20 September 2012)]]
[[File:George Washington and John C. Stennis carriers strike groups, 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Andaman Sea (12 October 2012)]]
[[File:An FA-18C Hornet launches..jpg|thumb|right|Combat air operations (1 January 2013)]]
Between 29 June and 17 July 2012, ''Stennis'' conducted [[Fleet Replacement Squadron]] Carrier Qualifications and Sustainment Exercises off the coast of southern California.  On 27 August 2012, four months ahead of schedule, the group departed for an eight-month [[U.S. Fifth Fleet]] deployment under the command of Rear Admiral [[Charles M. Gaouette]].<ref name=NNS120823-01>{{cite web | title= ''John C. Stennis'' to Depart for 8-month Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=69160 | work= NNS120823-01 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) Public Affairs Office | date=23 August 2012 | accessdate=28 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Carrier strike group rushes to Persian Gulf | url= http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2012/08/27/Carrier-strike-group-rushes-to-PersianGulf/UPI-35731346063400/?spt=hs&or=si | publisher= [[UPI]] | date=27 August 2012 | accessdate=28 August 2012}}</ref> On 30 August 2012, ''Stennis'' arrived at [[Naval Air Station North Island]], California, to embark [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]], departing on 1 September 2012 with the guided-missile cruiser ''Mobile Bay''.<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012>{{cite web | title= History – 2012 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cg53history.htm | work= USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=1 September 2012 | accessdate=7 September 2012}}</ref> On 31 August 2012, the carrier ''Stennis'' embarked additional Carrier Air Wing Nine personnel during a port visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, departing on 1 September 2012, with the guided-missile ''Paul Hamilton'' joining the strike group.<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012>{{cite web | title= History – 2012 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn74history.htm | work= USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=29 December 2012 | accessdate=30 January 2013}}</ref><ref name=DDG60USCarrier2012>{{cite web | title= History – 2012 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg60history.htm | work= USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=8 October 2012 | accessdate=7 October 2012}}</ref>

On 11 September 2012, the group came under [[U.S. Seventh Fleet]] command and soon began taking part in [[Exercise Valiant Shield]] 2012 off [[Guam]] (''pictured'').<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012Location>{{cite web | title= Aircraft Carrier Locations | url= http://www.gonavy.jp/CVLocation.html | work= USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=26 September 2012 | accessdate=25 September 2012}}</ref><ref name=VS12>{{cite web | title= ''Mobile Bay'' Participates in Valiant Shield | url=http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cg53/Pages/MobileBayParticipatesinValiantShield.aspx#.UGLq4o1lQf4 | work= 120920-N-SF704-238 | publisher= U.S. Navy | date= 20 September 2012 | accessdate=25 September 2012}}</ref> The deployment of two carrier strike groups for this exercise coincided with the ongoing [[Senkaku Islands dispute]] between China and Japan.<ref>{{Cite web| author= Kirk Spitzer | title= Big U.S. Fleet Nears Disputed Islands, But What For? | url= https://nation.time.com/2012/09/30/big-u-s-fleet-nears-disputed-islands-but-what-for/ | publisher= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=20 September 2012 | access-date=1 October 2012}} and {{Cite web| author= Robert Johnson | title= Two Carrier Groups Are Now Operating in the China Sea | url= http://www.businessinsider.com/the-pentagon-is-sending-a-ton-of-ships-and-personnel-to-the-china-sea-2012-10 | publisher= [[Business Insider]] | date=4 October 2012 | accessdate=7 October 2012}}</ref> After four weeks underway, the first port call of the deployment followed at [[Kota Kinabalu]], Malaysia, the first such visit by a U.S. aircraft carrier to that port.<ref name=Kota>{{cite web | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Visits Kota Kinabalu | url=http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cds21/Pages/StennisStrikeGroupVisitsKotaKinabalu.aspx#.UGwa841lQf4 | publisher= John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs  | date= 30 September 2012 | accessdate=3 October 2012}}</ref> Following its port visit to [[Phuket, Thailand]], the group participated in joint operations with [[Carrier Strike Group 5]] in the [[Andaman Sea]] (''pictured'').<ref name=DVID10122012>{{cite web | title= ''Washington'', ''Stennis'' carrier strike groups operate in Andaman Sea | url= http://www.dvidshub.net/news/96043/washington-stennis-carrier-strike-groups-operate-andaman-sea#.UHgfkxXA-Sp |work= Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet Public Affairs | publisher= [[DVIDS]] | date= 12 October 2012 | accessdate=12 October 2012}}</ref>

On 17 October 2012, the strike group entered the Fifth Fleet area, joining [[Carrier Strike Group 8]] in support of [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan]], maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation missions.<ref>{{cite web | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Enters U.S. Fifth Fleet | url=http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cds21/Pages/StennisStrikeGroupVisitsKotaKinabalu.aspx#.UGwa841lQf4 | work= Release #171-12| publisher= [[NAVCENT|NAVCENT Public Affairs]]  | date= 17 October 2012 | accessdate=17 October 2012}}; {{cite web | title= #Warfighting: ''John C. Stennis'' Carrier Strike Group Enters US 5th Fleet | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=70208 | work=   NNS121018-04 | publisher= John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs  | date= 17 October 2012 | accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref> On 21 October 2012, Carrier Air Wing Nine began strikes supporting the [[International Security Assistance Force]] in Afghanistan.<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/> On 22 March 2013, the group concluded air operations over Afghanistan, with its aircraft having flown around 1,200 sorties totaling over 7,400 flight hours.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kathleen O'Keefe, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Concludes Support to OEF | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72877 | work= NNS130322-07 | publisher= John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs  | date= 22 March 2013 | accessdate=25 March 2013}}</ref>

On 27 October 2012, Fifth Fleet commander Vice Admiral [[John W. Miller]] ordered the temporary reassignment of Rear Admiral Gaouette pending the results of an investigation by the [[Naval Inspector General]].  Gaouette's chief of staff, Captain William C. Minter, led the strike group until the arrival of Rear Admiral Troy Shoemaker as Gaouette's replacement.<ref>{{cite web | author= Tony Lombardo  | title= ''Stennis'' CSG commander sent home; probe ongoing | url= http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/10/navy-stennis-carrier-strike-group-commander-sent-home-charles-gaouette-102712w/ | work= [[Navy Times]] | date= 27 October 2012 | accessdate=27 October 2012}}; see also C.J. Chivers and Thom Shanker, [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/us/rear-admiral-charles-m-gaouette-is-disciplined-by-navy.html?_r=0 Admiral at Center of Inquiry is Censured by Navy,'] ''[[The New York Times]]'', 26 March 2013</ref> Later it emerged that Gaouette was dismissed for misconduct including '..for misconduct including foul language, flipping off lieutenants, speculation that black admirals were chosen because of their race and sending fellow officers a racially charged email about a black sailor.'<ref>Navy Times, [http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/01/09/navy-strike-group-commander-fired-viewing-porn-work/78512588/ Navy Strike Group Commander Fired], 9 January 2016.</ref>

On 6 February 2013, the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] announced that the upcoming deployment of the carrier {{USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75|2}} and the cruiser {{USS|Gettysburg|CG-64|2}} would be postponed pending the resolution of the upcoming [[budget sequestration]], leaving Carrier Strike Group 3 as the only U.S. carrier force operating in the Persian Gulf region.<ref>{{cite web | author= David Lerma | title= Pentagon Delays Sending Carrier to Mideast to Save Money | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=71830 | work= [[Bloomberg News]] | date= 6 February 2013 | accessdate= 7 February 2013 }} and {{cite web | title= Budget Fears Delay US Navy Gulf Deployment | url= http://www.voanews.com/content/budget-fears-delay-us-navy-voyage-to-gulf/1598721.html | publisher= [[Voice of America]] | date= 6 February 2013 | accessdate= 7 February 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130212235735/http://www.voanews.com/content/budget-fears-delay-us-navy-voyage-to-gulf/1598721.html | archive-date= 12 February 2013 | url-status= dead }}</ref>

In a March 2013 interview, group commander Rear Admiral Troy Shoemaker noted that the shortfall of U.S. escort ships was being off-set by the assignment of the British destroyer {{HMS|Diamond|D34|2}} and the French frigate [[French frigate Chevalier Paul (D621)|Chevalier Paul'']], to operate with the strike group.<ref name=Cavas>{{cite web | author= Christopher P. Cavas | title= Deployed Carrier Makes Do with Fewer Ships, Preps for Budget Cuts | url= http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130309/DEFREG02/303090005 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20130410175308/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130309/DEFREG02/303090005 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 10 April 2013 | work= [[DefenseNews]] | date=9 March 2013 | accessdate=14 March 2013}}</ref> Two destroyers from [[Carrier Strike Group 8]], the {{USS|Winston S. Churchill|DDG-81|2}} and {{USS|Farragut|DDG-99|2}}, also joined Carrier Strike Group 3 temporarily.<ref name=NNS130313-11>{{cite web |author=Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class A.J. Jones, USN | title= ''Farragut'' Departs U.S. 5th Fleet | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72691 | work= NNS130313-11 | publisher= USS Farragut Public Affairs | date= 13 March 2012 | accessdate=17 March 2013}}</ref><ref name=NNS130314-04>{{cite web |author=Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Aaron Chase, USN | title= ''Churchill'' Leaves U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72716 | work= NNS130314-04 | publisher= USS Winston S. Churchill Public Affairs | date= 13 March 2012 | accessdate=17 March 2013}}</ref> In that capacity, on 2 March 2013, the ''Farragut'' joined the guided-missile frigate {{USS|Nicholas|FFG-47|2}} is aiding distressed mariners aboard a dhow in the [[Gulf of Aden]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class A.J. Jones, USN | title= ''Farragut'', ''Nicholas'' Aid Distressed Mariners | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72766 | work= NNS130317-04 | publisher= USS Farragut Public Affairs | date= 17 March 2012 | accessdate=17 March 2013}}</ref> Both ''Farragut'' and ''Churchill'' left the U.S. Fifth Fleet via the [[Suez Canal]] on 8 March 2013.<ref name=NNS130313-11/><ref name=NNS130314-04/> On 1 March 2013, the destroyer {{USS|William P. Lawrence|DDG-110|2}} from [[Carrier Strike Group Eleven]] entered the [[Persian Gulf]] for operations with the strike group.<ref name=NNS130304-05>{{cite web | author=Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Carla Ocampo, USN |title= ''Lawrence'' Conducts First Strait of Hormuz Transit | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72475 | work= NNS130304-05 | publisher= USS William P. Lawrence Public Affairs | date= 3 March 2013 | accessdate=14 March 2013}}</ref>

On 26 March 2013, the strike group departed the Fifth Fleet.  During over five months of operations, Carrier Air Wing Nine had flown a total of more than 9,000 sorties and more than 23,000 flight hours in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web | author=Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Grant Wamack, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Departs U.S. 5th Fleet AOR | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72960 | work=  NNS130327-09 | publisher= John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs| date= 27 March 2013 | accessdate=28 March 2013}}</ref> Also on that date, the carrier ''Stennis'' and Carrier Air Wing Nine received the 2012 [[James D. Ramage|Ramage Award]] for carrier/air wing operational excellence during the 2012–2013 deployment.<ref>{{cite web | author=Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Grant Wamack, USN | title= Stennis, CVW-9 Win Ramage Award | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=73256 | work=  NNS130409-08 | publisher= John C. Stennis Public Affairs| date= 9 April 2013 | accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref>

On 29 April 2013, the carrier ''Vinson'' and the cruiser ''Mobile Bay'' arrived at Naval Station San Diego, California, ending the 2013 deployment. The strike group had steamed over {{convert|66000|nmi|km mi}} and aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine had flown 10,000 sorties totaling 30,400 flight hours during the eight-month-long operation.<ref>{{cite web | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Returns from Deployment | url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/04/30/stennis-strike-group-returns-from-deployment.html?comp=7000023468025&rank=2 | work= Navy News | publisher= [[Military.com]] | date= 30 April 2013 | accessdate=30 April 2013}}</ref>

;2012–2013 deployment force composition<ref name=Morison2012>{{cite journal |last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2012 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2011–31 December 2011: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 2 April 2012 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 138 |issue= 5 |pages= 112 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2012-05 |accessdate= 11 May 2012 |quote=Registration required.}}</ref><ref name=NNS120823-01/><ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref name=DDG60USCarrier2012/><ref name=Cavas/><ref name=NNS130313-11/><ref name=NNS130314-04/><ref name=NNS130304-05/><ref name=GoNavy2012>{{cite web | title= CVW-9 (NG) – CVN-75 Carl Vinson Aug.27, 2012 – date (WestPac, North Arabian Sea) | url= http://www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.html | work= Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) | publisher= GoNavy | date= 29 August 2012 | accessdate=28 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=NNS130226-06>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Armando Gonzales, USN | title= ''Mobile Bay'', ''Chevalier Paul'' Train at Sea | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72349 | work= NNS130226-06 | publisher=USS Mobile Bay Public Affairs | date= 26 February 2013 | accessdate=10 March 2013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! colspan="2" width="35%" align="center" | Surface Warships
! colspan="1" width="0%" align="center" | 
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]] (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74}}
|-
| {{USS|Mobile Bay|CG-53}}
| {{HMS|Diamond|D34}}
|
| [[VFA-192|Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192):]] 10 [[FA-18|F/A-18C]]
| [[VAW-112|Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 (VAW-112):]] 4 [[E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C]]
|-
| {{USS|Paul Hamilton|DDG-60}}
| {{HMS|Daring|D32}}
|
| [[VFA-97|Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97):]] 10 F/A-18C
| [[VRC-30|Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30), Det. 4]]: 2 [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound|C-2A]]
|-
| {{USS|Farragut|DDG-99}}
| [[French frigate Chevalier Paul (D621)|FS ''Chevalier Paul'' (D621)]]
|
| [[VFA-41|Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41):]] 12 [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F]]
| [[HSC-8|Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 (HSC-8):]] 12 [[MH-60S]]
|-
| {{USS|Winston S. Churchill|DDG-81}}
| ——
|
| [[VFA-14|Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14):]] 12 F/A-18E
| [[HSM-71|Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71):]] 11 [[MH-60R]]
|-
| {{USS|William P. Lawrence|DDG-110}}
| ——
|
| [[VAQ-133|Electronic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133):]] 4 [[EA-6B]]
| ——
|-
|}
;2012–2013 deployment exercises and port visits
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=99%
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Number
! colspan="4" align="center" | Regional exercises/operations
! colspan="2" align="center" | Port visits
! rowspan="2" width="5%" | Notes
|-
! align="center" | ''Duration''
! align="center" | ''US force''
! align="center" | ''Bilateral/multilateral partners''
! align="center" | ''Operating area''
! align="center" | ''Location''
! align="center" | ''Dates''
|-
! 1st:
| 20 September 2012
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| Valiant Shield 2012:  [[U.S. Pacific Command]]
| Guam operating area
| [[Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam]]
| 31 Aug to 1 September 2012
|<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012Location/><ref name=VS12/>
|-
! 2nd:
| ——
|  Carrier Strike Group 3
| ——
| ——
| [[Kota Kinabalu]], Malaysia
| 30 Sep to 4 October 2012
|<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/><ref name=DDG60USCarrier2012/><ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012Location/><ref name=Kota/><ref>{{cite web | author= Amy Dangin | title= US aircraft carrier visits KK | url= http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/01/us-aircraft-carrier-visits-kk/ | work= [[Borneo Post]] | date= 1 October 2012 | accessdate=1 October 2012}} and {{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lex T. Wenberg, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group departs Malaysia | url= http://www.dvidshub.net/news/95776/stennis-strike-group-departs-malaysia#.UG8zcY1lQf4 |work=John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs | publisher= [[DVIDS]] | date= 5 October 2012 | accessdate=5 October 2012}}</ref>
|-
! 3rd:
| 12 October 2012
|  Carrier Strike Group 3
| [[Carrier Strike Group 5]]
| [[Andaman Sea]]
| [[Phuket (city)|Phuket]], Thailand
| 7 – 11 October 2012
|<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/><ref name=DDG60USCarrier2012/><ref>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lex T. Wenberg, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group departs Malaysia | url= http://www.dvidshub.net/news/95776/stennis-strike-group-departs-malaysia#.UG8zcY1lQf4 |work=John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs | publisher= [[DVIDS]] | date= 5 October 2012 | accessdate=5 October 2012}}</ref>
|-
! 3rd:
| 21 Oct to 17 November 2012
|  Carrier Strike Group 3
| [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|OEF – Afghanistan]]: [[ISAF]]
| [[North Arabian Sea]]
| [[Manama, Bahrain]]
| 20 – 24 November 2012
|<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/><ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012Location/><ref>{{cite web | author= Seaman Daniel Schumacher, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Departs Bahrain | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=70798 | work= NNS121126-01 | publisher= John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs | date= 26 November 2012 | accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>
|-
! 4th:
| 28 Jan to 19 February 2013
| ''Mobile Bay''
| ''Chevalier Paul''
| Arabian Sea
| Manama, Bahrain
| 8 December 2012
|<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref name=NNS130226-06/>
|-
! 5th:
| ——
| ''Paul Hamilton''
| ——
| ——
| Manama, Bahrain
| 20 December 2012
|<ref name=DDG60USCarrier2012/>
|-
! 6th:
| ——
| ''John C. Stennis''
| ——
| ——
| [[Jebel Ali|Jebel Ali, U.A.E.]]
| 23–28 Dec 2012
|<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/>
|-
! 6th:
| 15 January 2013
|  Carrier Strike Group 3
| [[PASSEX]]: {{HMS|Monmouth|F235|6}}
| North Arabian Sea
| Jebel Ali|Jebel Ali, U.A.E.
| 1–5 Feb 2013
|<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/><ref name=DDG60USCarrier2012/><ref>{{cite web | author= Rebecca Ricks | title= Frigate crew encounters an ocean monster | url= http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Frigate-crew-encounters-ocean-monster/story-17957814-detail/story.html | work= [[The Herald (Plymouth)|Plymouth Herald]] | date= 25 January 2013 | accessdate= 25 January 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130128005150/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Frigate-crew-encounters-ocean-monster/story-17957814-detail/story.html | archive-date= 28 January 2013 | url-status= dead }}; {{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lex T. Wenberg, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group departs Malaysia | url= http://www.dvidshub.net/news/95776/stennis-strike-group-departs-malaysia#.UG8zcY1lQf4 | work= John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs | publisher= [[DVIDS]] | date= 5 October 2012 | accessdate= 5 October 2012 }}; {{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel Schumacher, USN | title= British Navy Sailors Visit ''Stennis'' | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=71549 | work= NNS130119-01 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs | date= 19 January 2013 | accessdate= 25 January 2013 }}; and {{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Grant Wamack, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Carrier Strike Group Departs Dubai | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72011 | work= NNS130211-02 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Strike Group Public Affairs | date= 11 February 2013 | accessdate= 21 February 2013 }}</ref>
|-
! 7th:
| ——
| ''Paul Hamilton''
| ——
| ——
| Manama, Bahrain
| 26 February 2013
|<ref name=DDG60USCarrier2012/>
|-
! 8th:
| ——
| ''John C. Stennis'', ''Mobile Bay''
| ——
| ——
| [[Jebel Ali|Jebel Ali, Dubai]]
| 13–17 Mar 2013
|<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist Christian Martinez, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Carrier Strike Group Departs Dubai | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72768 |work=  NNS130317-05 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 17 March 2013 | accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref>
|-
! 9th:
| 4–7 Apr 2013
| Carrier Strike Group 3
| [[PASSEX]]<ref group=Note>The Royal Navy frigate {{HMS|Monmouth|F235}}, the [[French Navy]] frigate [[French frigate Chevalier Paul (D621)|''Chevalier Paul'' (D621)]], and the [[Royal Australian Navy]] frigate {{ship|HMAS|Toowoomba|FFH 156}}.</ref>
| [[South China Sea]]
| [[Singapore]]
| 1–3 Apr 2013
|<ref name=CG53USCarrier2012/><ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/><ref>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel Schumacher, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Arrives in Singapore | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=73065 |work=  NNS130401-06 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 1 April 2013 | accessdate=1 April 2013}} and {{cite web | author= Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Kathleen O'Keefe, USN | title= Stennis Strike Group Operates in the South China Sea | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=73214 |work=  NNS130407-02 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 1 April 2013 | accessdate=7 April 2013}}</ref>
|-
! 10th:
| 17–18 Apr 2013
| Carrier Strike Group Three
| Munitions off-load:  {{USNS|Richard E. Byrd|T-AKE-4|2}}
| Mid-Pacific Ocean
| [[Naval Station Pearl Harbor]]
| 21–24 Apr 2013
|<ref name=CVN74USCarrier2012/><ref>{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel Schumacher, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Strike Group Arrives in Hawaii | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=73539 |work=  NNS130422-01 | publisher= USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 11 April 2013 | accessdate=22 April 2013}}</ref>
|-
|}

===2013–2015 operations & upkeep===
[[File:140425-N-IO414-165.JPG|thumb|right|USS ''John C. Stennis'' (25 April 2014)]]
[[File:USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) underway in the Pacific Ocean in April 2014.JPG|thumb|right|Southern California operations area (30 April 2015)]]
On 27 June 2013, the carrier ''John C. Stennis'' began a scheduled 14-month-long overhaul when it entered drydock at the [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility]] at [[Bremerton, Washington]] (''pictured'').<ref>{{cite web |author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Schumacher, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Enters Dry Dock | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75137 | work= NNS130629-04 | publisher=USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 29 June 2013 | accessdate=12 July 2012 }}</ref><ref name=CVN74History2015>{{cite web | title= History – 2013 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn74history.htm | work= USS John C. Stennis CVN-74 | publisher= USCarriers.net | date=27 July 2013 | accessdate =13 January 2014}}</ref> On 19 August 2013, the destroyer ''Milius'' completed its Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (E-DSRA) overhaul.<ref name=DDG69USCarrier2013>{{cite web | title= History – 2013 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg69history.htm | work= USS Milius (DDG-69) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=20 November 2013 | accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> On 23 September 2013, the destroyer ''Wayne E. Meyer'' completed its Mid-Cycle Inspection (MCI) assessment with the [[Board of Inspection and Survey]].<ref name=DDG108USCarrier2013>{{cite web | title= History – 2013 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg108history.htm | work= USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=10 November 2013 | accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>

Between 7–11 October 2013, the cruiser ''Mobile Bay'' and destroyer ''Dewey'' participated with other U.S. and Canadian warships in a Task Group Exercise (TGEX) maneuvers.<ref name=CG53USCarrier2013/><ref name=DDG105USCarrier2013>{{cite web | title= History – 2013 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg105history.htm | work= USS Dewey (DDG-105) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=8 October 2013 | accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> Following this exercise, the ''Mobile Bay'' began its Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) overhaul at the [[BAE Systems Inc|BAE Systems]] ship repair facility in San Diego, California, with a completion date of May 2014.<ref name=CG53USCarrier2013>{{cite web | title= History – 2013 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/cg53history.htm | work= USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) | publisher= uscarriers.net | date=13 October 2013 | accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref>

In November 2013, the destroyer ''Kidd'' completed its two-week Independent Deployer Certification (IDCERT) exercises.<ref name=DDG100History2013>{{cite web | title= History – 2013 | url= http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg100history.htm | work= USS Kidd DDG-100 | publisher= USCarriers.net | date=26 February 2015 | accessdate=2 March 2015}}</ref> Also, during that month, the ''Wayne E. Meyer'' underwent its own IDCERT exercises in the southern California operating area, as well as participating Group Sail maneuvers with [[Carrier Strike Group Nine]], as part of ''Wayne E. Meyer''{{'}}s work-up for its upcoming 2014 deployment.<ref name=DDG108USCarrier2013/>

On 25 April 2014, ''John C. Stennis'' departed drydock, completing its 14-month-long overhaul (''pictured'').<ref>{{cite web |author= Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James Lyon, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Departs Dry Dock | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80633 | work= NNS140428-05 | publisher=USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 28 April 2014 | accessdate=15 September 2012 }}</ref> Between 23–28 September 2014, strike group planners held a pre-deployment training planning meeting among the various component commands. It was held at [[Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor]], Washington.<ref>{{cite web |author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Vaughan Dill, USN | title= Strike Group Planners Meet at Symposium | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=83599 | work= NNS140929-20 | publisher=USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 29 September 2014 | accessdate=30 September 2012 }} and {{cite web |author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christian B. Martinez, USN | title= Yard Period Complete: ''Stennis'' Looks Ahead | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84369 | work= NNS141110-17 | publisher=USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 10 November 2014 | accessdate=6 February 2015 }}</ref> Both ''Stennis'' and Carrier Air Wing 9 completed their flight deck certification on 11 December 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author= Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Jiang, USN | title= ''Stennis'' Certified to Fly | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84886 | work= NNS141215-21 | publisher=USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 15 December 2014 | accessdate=6 February 2015 }}</ref> During 13–15 January 2015, ''Stennis'' on-loaded over six million pounds {{convert|6000000|lb|t|sigfig=2}} of munitions at the [[Navy Region Northwest|U.S. Naval Magazine Indian Island]], Washington.<ref>{{cite web |author= Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago, USN | title= ''John C. Stennis'' Visits Indian Island | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=85198 | work= NNS150115-05 | publisher=USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs | date= 15 January 2015 | accessdate=6 February 2015 }}</ref>

On 23 March 2015, ''John C. Stennis'' departed [[Naval Base Kitsap]], Washington, for a Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Period (FEP) exercises in the Southern California operating area (''pictured'') after a six-week Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV). The ''Stennis'' subsequently conducted joint training exercise with the U.S. Army helicopters, stationed at [[Joint Base Lewis-McChord]], Washington, while transiting the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]].  On 8 June 2015, the ''Stennis'' departed Bremerton, Washington, for Carrier Qualifications (CQ) exercises before paying a port call at [[Naval Air Station North Island]], California, from 12–15 June 2015. The ''Stennis'' completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) training before returning to its home-base on 1 September 2015.<ref name=CVN74History2015/>

=== 2016 deployment ===
On 15 January 2016, ''John C. Stennis'' left [[Naval Base Kitsap]] for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=92735 |title=USS John C. Stennis Deploys |website=navy.mil |date=17 January 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2016}}</ref> On 20 January 2016, the destroyers {{USS|Stockdale|DDG-106|6}}, {{USS|Chung Hoon}} and {{USS|William P. Lawrence}}, along with the cruiser {{USS|Mobile Bay}} and the fast combat support ship {{USS|Rainier|AOE-7|6}}, left port, all running off a '[[Great Green Fleet]]' biofuel blend made from tallow, or rendered beef fat, a Navy spokesman told Navy Times.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/01/20/stennis-strike-group-sets-sail-10-percent-beef-fat-fuel-blend/79054624/
| title = Navy deploys first biofuel-powered Great Green Fleet to Asia-Pacific
| website = Navy Times
| access-date = 25 February 2016
}}</ref> The biofuel mix was 10% biofuel and 90% petroleum. However, the 50-50 goal is still on track, Navy Secretary [[Ray Mabus]] told Navy Times in September 2015. The strike group was planned to make a seven-month deployment within the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility.

==Notes==
;Footnotes
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

;Citations
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{cite journal |last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=September 2014 |title= U.S. Battle Force Aviation Changes 2013–14 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 140 |issue= 4 |pages= 48–50 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2014-09/us-battle-force-aviation-changes |accessdate= 13 September 2014 |quote=Registration required; covers 2013 and 2014.}}
* {{cite journal|author-mask=2|last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2009 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2008–31 December 2008: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 17 Feb 2009 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 135 |issue= 5 |pages= 118–120 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2009-05 |accessdate=26 August 2010 |quote=Registration required.}}
* {{cite journal|author-mask=2|last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2010 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2009–31 December 2009: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 1 March 2010 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 136 |issue= 5 |pages= 106–116 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2010-05 |accessdate=29 August 2010 |quote=Registration required.}}
* {{cite journal|author-mask=2 |last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2011 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2010–31 December 2010: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 1 March 2011 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 137 |issue= 5 |pages= 117–120 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2011-05 |accessdate=29 August 2010 |quote=Registration required.}}
* {{cite journal|author-mask=2 |last= Morison  |first= Samuel Loring |author-link= Samuel Loring Morison |date=May 2012 |title= U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2011–31 December 2011: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 2 April 2012 |journal= [[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Proceedings]] |volume= 138 |issue= 5 |pages= 112 |issn=  0041-798X |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2012-05 |accessdate= 11 May 2012 |quote=Registration required.}}

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{{United States Navy Carrier strike groups}}

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[[Category:Carrier Strike Groups]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2004]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Washington (state)]]