Commanding Officer
Capt. Doug Langenberg

Captain Doug Langenberg of Lone Tree, Iowa enlisted in 1988 as a nuclear propulsion Machinist’s Mate. He was commissioned through the BOOST ROTC program and received a degree in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University. He earned his Naval Flight Officer wings in 1999 and received a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

Trained as a Radar Intercept Officer in the F-14 Tomcat, he deployed with the VF-11 Red Rippers on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. Transitioning to the FA-18F Super Hornet he served as a Fleet Replacement Instructor with the VFA-122 Flying Eagles and completed staff tours with Carrier Air Wing EIGHT and Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic as well as a Joint tour with NORAD U.S. Northern Command. His department head and command tours were with the VFA-213 Fighting Blacklions where he deployed on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve. He served as the Executive Officer of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and Commanding Officer of USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) prior to reporting as relief to the commanding officer of PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) in September 2024.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal as well as various unit, campaign and service awards.

Executive Officer
Captain Trevor J. Prouty, USN

Capt. Trevor Prouty is a native of Kingwood, Texas, and a 2001 U.S. Naval Academy graduate. After commissioning, he was selected for the Immediate Graduate Education Program and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University Of Notre Dame in May of 2003.

Prouty’s operational assignments include Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 5 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4. For his command tour, Prouty led the “Dragon Whales” of HSC-28 through their introduction to the mine countermeasure mission and the adoption of the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle.

Ashore, his shore assignments include Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Atlantic, emergency action officer in the Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations directorate of the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.; and flag aide to Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. He also served as the U.S. Navy's 2020-2021 MIT Security Studies Program Military Fellow.

Prouty has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours in various naval aircraft. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal, along with various other campaign, unit and individual awards.

Command Master Chief
CMDCM (SW/AW) Craig Johnson

A native of Santa Rosa, California, Master Chief Craig Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Navy August 1995 and attended Basic Training and ET “A” School in Great Lakes, Illinois.

His sea duty assignments include duty on an aircraft carrier, frigates and destroyer. During these tours, he deployed to multiple theaters throughout the world. He served as Leading Petty Officer onboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67); CE Leading Chief Petty Officer onboard USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58); Combat Systems Departmental Leading Chief Petty Officer onboard USS Thach (FFG 43); CE Leading Chief Petty Officer onboard USS Sterett (DDG 104).

His shore duty assignments include satellite technician in NAVCOMTELSTA Bahrain; satellite technician JCSE MacDill AFB; maintenance technician Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, Mayport, Florida; Team Leader Afloat Training Group, Mayport.

His previous command tours were with LCS Crew 201, which was permanently stationed onboard the USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Dewey (DDG 105).

Master Chief Johnson is designated Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, Master Training Specialist and Afloat Training Specialist. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), and various campaign and service medals.

The seal which exemplifies President Kennedy’s life

The ship's motto:

"Serve with Courage.”

The future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) will be the second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier. The seal integrates elements that honor President John F. Kennedy, his service to the Navy, and his vision for space exploration.

The seal features a ring of 35 stars to represent Kennedy being the nation's 35th President, while the Roman numeral "CIX" (109) notes Kennedy's naval service as commander of Patrol Torpedo Boat 109 in the South Pacific during World War II. A moon backdrop represents Kennedy's role in pushing forward the nation's space program.

Captain Todd Marzano, Former Perspective Commanding Officer, provided the following insight to the crest.

“From the first day of his presidency, he challenged every American during his inauguration speech to ‘ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.’ He regarded serving one’s nation as an honor and held the utmost respect for those who did so with courage, especially when faced with adversity."

Quick Facts about CVN 79

• PCU John F. Kennedy is the 2nd ship of the Ford Class.
• At an official naming ceremony at the JFK Library, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier CVN 79 would be called USS John F. Kennedy. The announcement was made on what would have been the 94th birthday of President John F. Kennedy.
• CVN 79 marks the second aircraft carrier to be named for the late president. The first, a conventionally powered carrier, served from 1968 to 2007 and was also built by Newport News Shipbuilding. Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding Division.
• Keel Laid: 22 August 2015
• Island Landing: 29 May 2019
• Official Stand up of Command 2 October 2019
• Christening: 7 December 2019
• Installed combination of three SPY-6(V)3 radar arrays. First ship to have system providing 360-degree coverage. 19 July 2022
• Commissioning: To Be Determined