This month marks 50 years since first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was commissioned and officially entered the U.S. Navy’s fleet, ushering a new era for the nuclear Navy.

Built at Newport News Shipbuilding, Nimitz is the Navy’s second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It was named in honor of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, who was commander of the U.S Pacific Fleet during World War II.

Nimitz’s keel was laid in June 1968. The ship was christened at NNS in 1972 and commissioned on May 3, 1975, during a ceremony with President Gerald R. Ford, who later became the namesake of the lead ship of the next class of nuclear-powered U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

Between the late 1960s and the early 2000s, 10 Nimitz-class carriers were built by NNS shipbuilders, and all remain in service. USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) – the final ship of the class – was commissioned in 2009.