USS George Washington (CVN 73) celebrated the reopening of the aft crew mess with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 16.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is in the final stages of testing, which is designed to exercise all aspects of the propulsion plant systems and will certify the systems and components for future operations over the next 25 years of service. The refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) is more than 85% complete, and the ship is on track to be redelivered to the Navy in 2022.

Pictured from left are Capt. Kenneth Strong, the ship’s commanding officer; Thomasina Wright, CVN 73 program director; and Scott Menkes, deputy project supervisor for Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News.