CENTCOM Commander visits USS Abraham Lincoln, thanks crew for their tremendous dedication and courage

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln over the weekend. The visit to the aircraft carrier comes after reports that the 5,000 U.S. Navy sailors and Marines on board are experiencing poor conditions leading to mental health issues.   

CENTCOM says Adm. Cooper addressed the entire Lincoln team and thanked them for their tremendous dedication and courage. He also met with junior service members and presented awards.

Adm. Cooper released a statement about his visit:

"My time aboard USS Abraham Lincoln yesterday was awe-inspiring. I wish every American could see the crew in action. You would beam with absolute pride when witnessing their camaraderie, teamwork and resilience.

Here’s an important fact: Of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health.

This doesn’t mean that all is perfect. Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone. It is uniquely challenging and tough, and every single one of us, including me, reacts to stressors in different ways.

I’ve long believed that mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health. I applaud Lincoln’s leadership — the senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers' Mess in particular — for stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority.

To all our Sailor and Marines aboard the ship, keep up the great work and fair winds and following seas on the journey home."

This was Adm. Cooper's second visit to the USS Abraham Lincoln.  He previously visited the aircraft carrier in February with U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The backstory:

The carrier, based out of Naval Station San Diego, began a scheduled seven-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region on November 21, 2025. The carrier was later redirected to support Middle East operations and the war with Iran, with the mission being extended indefinitely. 

Both the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes published articles after speaking with the family members of service members on board that several sailors have made multiple attempts to jump overboard and are experiencing low morale, exhaustion, and issues with their mental health and suicidal thoughts. 

Hegseth says reports about poor conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln are misrepresented

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said reports about poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln were "completely misrepresented."

What they're saying:

"We ​make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide ​them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and ⁠I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in ​those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it's incredible," Hegseth told reporters ​during a visit to Panama.

Navy ship deployments usually last six to nine months, but during times of conflict, deployments can be extended, leading to a strain on crews.

Reuters reports that a U.S. ‌official, ⁠speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the George Washington aircraft carrier will deploy to the region with the intention of replacing the Lincoln carrier and the move was pre-planned.

USS Abraham Lincoln history

The USS Abraham Lincoln’s keel was laid Nov. 3, 1984 at Newport News, Virginia and the ship was christened less than four years later and commissioned on November 11, 1989, in Norfolk, Virginia. 

The ship is America’s fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and is named in honor of our nation’s 16th president.

Military