A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt

I (Mark O’Brien) recently had the opportunity to spend time aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and it’s one of those experiences that’s hard to fully capture—but I’ll give it a shot.

I was especially honored to be invited as part of a small group that included Coronado Mayor John Duncan and Councilman Mark Fleming. As community leaders, they extended the invitation, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been included in such a unique experience.

The trip started early Monday morning at 7:30am with a briefing from the base Commanding Officer in San Diego. He walked us through the scale and importance of the Navy’s presence here, and how Carrier Strike Groups operate around the world. It was a powerful reminder that what we see locally is just a small piece of a much larger global mission.

From there, things only got more interesting. We had the honor of meeting the Artemis II recovery team, who shared firsthand stories about preparing for and executing the recovery of astronauts upon their return. Hearing about that level of precision and responsibility set the tone for what was to come.

After a safety briefing, we boarded an Osprey and headed about 200 miles off the coast to meet the USS Theodore Roosevelt. For those not familiar, an Osprey is a hybrid aircraft—part helicopter, part airplane—with massive rotors on each wing that tilt upward for vertical takeoff like a helicopter, then rotate forward to fly like a plane. It’s loud, fast, and feels like something straight out of a military movie—an unforgettable way to travel.

Once aboard, we were greeted by the ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Will Mathis, who gave us an overview of the vessel. One of the first stops was the reactor control room—an incredibly impressive and humbling look at the power behind a nuclear aircraft carrier.

I should also mention we had an outstanding Public Affairs Officer (PAO) guiding us throughout our time on board. The ship is essentially a floating city—and navigating it feels like the most complex maze you’ve ever encountered. There’s no chance we would have found our way around without her.

Then came what I’d call the moment that truly blew me away—literally.

Standing on the flight deck, just feet from where F-18s and F-35s were launching and landing, was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The noise, the force, the coordination… it’s hard to describe. We watched about 15 aircraft take off and land in roughly 60-second intervals. The precision required is mind-boggling.

From there, we toured several key areas of the ship:

• Air Traffic Control
• The Helicopter “Wolfpack” Squadron
• Arresting Gear Engine Room
• Jet and frame repair operations

That evening, we had dinner with the ship’s Executive Officer and Master Chief—an incredible opportunity to hear more about life and leadership aboard the carrier.

But the day still wasn’t over.

Later that night, we visited the munitions area, and then experienced something I’ll never forget: watching night flight operations from the “bird’s nest.” Seeing fighter jets take off and land in complete darkness, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with afterburners glowing—it felt surreal.

After finally getting some sleep, we were back up at 6:30am for another full day.

We toured:

• Flight Deck Control
• The Roosevelt Museum
• Sick Bay (including the operating room)
• Hangar Bay
• Anchor Room
• Life raft and fueling operations

Then came another once-in-a-lifetime moment: standing on the navigation deck, sitting in the Captain’s chair, and actually steering the ship for about 10 minutes. Driving a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is not something I ever imagined I’d do.

We wrapped up with lunch in the Chiefs’ Mess, toured the USO and chapel spaces, and then boarded the Osprey back to shore.

But beyond the technology, the power, and the sheer scale of the ship, what stood out most to me was the people.

The integrity, dedication, and pride—from both officers and enlisted personnel—was unmistakable. Every person had a clear role, a commitment to their teammates, and a deep sense of purpose in what they were doing.

It takes extraordinary coordination to operate something as massive and complex as a nuclear aircraft carrier—and even more impressive is the teamwork that makes it all possible.

I walked away with a deep appreciation for the men and women who serve, and for the level of excellence required to keep something like this mission-ready, anywhere in the world.

Truly an unforgettable experience.