Navy Captain Becomes First Woman To Command Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

Navy Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt made history Aug. 19 in San Diego, California, becoming the first woman to take command of an aircraft carrier.

Bauernschmidt took command of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a ceremony aboard the ship, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. She previously served as the USS Abraham Lincoln’s executive officer in 2016, another first for women. Most recently, she commanded the amphibious transport dock USS San Diego.

“There is no more humbling sense of responsibility than to know you are entrusted with the care of the people who have chosen to protect our nation,” Bauernschmidt said in a statement.

Bauernschmidt is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1994, according to her Navy bio. She has racked up more than 3,000 flight hours in naval aircraft.

Capt. Walt “Sarge” Slaughter previously commanded the USS Abraham Lincoln, during which time the ship completed a 295-day round-the-globe deployment — the longest carrier deployment since the Cold War. The ship arrived in San Diego in January 2020.

The Lincoln is set to deploy again soon with a Marine F-35 squadron, the Union-Tribune reported.

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Hannah Ray Lambert

Senior Staff Writer

Hannah Ray Lambert is a staff writer who has previously covered everything from murder trials to high school trap shooting teams. Most recently, she spent several months getting tear gassed during the 2020 (and now 2021) civil unrest in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not working, Hannah enjoys hiking, reading, and talking about authors and books on her podcast Between Lewis and Lovecraft.

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