Just in time to celebrate International Dog Day on shore, Rudder has returned home from a nine-month deployment onboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

“He would spend his day getting his exercise in the morning,” said Capt. Joshua Wenker, Commanding Officer, USS Carl Vinson, “and then traveling around the ship visiting sailors. It is great to have Rudder on board.”

Rudder is an expeditionary facility dog (EFD), specially trained to thrive in high-stress environments that are common on an aircraft carrier at sea. Newport News Shipbuilding sponsored Rudder’s training through Mutts with a Mission.

During this deployment, Rudder received the U.S. Navy’s Combat Action Ribbon for actively participating in ground or surface combat and rendering satisfactory performance under enemy fire. The rick of ribbons is proudly displayed on his service vest, next to his NNS patch.

To learn more about Rudder and his journey from puppy to EFD, read NNS Sponsors an Extra ‘Rudder’ for USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on NNS to Go.