First Commander of U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier to Speak in Grand Rapids April 30

Captain John Meier, the first commanding officer selected for the Navy’s newest class of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, is scheduled to speak at an event for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation at 7 p.m., April 30. Meier was scheduled to speak last year, but the event was canceled due to an unexpected November snow storm. His presentation, USS Gerald R. Ford: Creating a Culture of Excellence, will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

Meier graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1986, was “winged” as a naval aviator in 1988, and served with electronic attack squadrons and carrier air wings, accumulating more than 4,000 flight hours and 675 carrier landings. His decorations include the Legion of Merit (three awards) and various other personal and unit level awards. The Gerald R. Ford will replace the U.S.S. Enterprise, which was inactivated in 2012.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is located at 303 Pearl St NW,
Grand Rapids, MI 49504