The Honorable Paul D. Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense (DEPSECDEF), signs a Certificate of Reenlistment in the Captain's cabin onboard the US Navy (USN) Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76). Mr. Wolfowitz took time to reenlist several Sailors aboard the REAGAN while onboard for the home porting ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) San Diego, California (CA)

Aircraft carriers are warships that act as airbases for carrier-based aircraft. In the United States Navy, these consist of ships commissioned with hull classification symbols CV (aircraft carrier), CVA (attack aircraft carrier), CVB (large aircraft carrier), CVL (light aircraft carrier), CVN (aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion) and CVAN (attack aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion). The first aircraft carrier commissioned into the United States Navy was USS Langley (CV-1) on 20 March 1922.