CENTCOM commander, acting SecNav offer answers about USS Abraham Lincoln
Amid a flurry of reports circulating in the media about alleged issues aboard a long-deployed aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, CENTCOM Adm. Brad Cooper and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao set the record straight.
by Summer Lane | August 17, 2026
U.S. Central Command’s Adm. Brad Cooper, the defense force’s commander, has weighed in this week with an official statement regarding the situation aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The aircraft carrier came under scrutiny last week amid reports, primarily originating from the Military Times, that conditions aboard the vessel were less than stellar during a deployment that has been ongoing since last fall.
“My time aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln yesterday was awe-inspiring,” Cooper said in a statement. “I wish every American could see the crew in action. You would beam with absolute pride when witnessing their camaraderie, teamwork and resilience.”
Cooper said that of the 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln “currently has the lowest number of cases related to mental health.”
He said that didn’t meant everything was “perfect,” but pointed out the obvious: “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.”
Cooper acknowledged the difficulty of long deployments, but didn’t shy away from the reality of life in the U.S. Navy: it’s not always easy.
“To all our Sailors and Marines aboard the ship, keep up the great work and fair winds and following seas on the journey home,” he stated.
The USS Abraham Lincoln will be replaced by another aircraft carrier, reportedly the USS George Washington.
According Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao, the safety and well-being of Sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln, and any Navy vessel, “comes first.”
For those wondering why the Lincoln’s deployment was extended, Cao pointed to the war with Iran, which was sparked after the vessel had already begun its deployment.
“The Lincoln was extended because the mission demanded it,” he said in a statement. “Deployments are hard. Combat operations make them harder. War is hell and normal routines are disrupted. One of the hardest aspects about warfighting beyond knowingly placing our service members in harm’s way is that even with the best planning and communication, change and uncertainty will always be in play. Our success depends on how we adapt.”
Cao said the media was “trying to paint our warriors as victims.”
“Not only is that dishonest but it takes away the focus on the enemy and the threat it poses against our nation, people, and way of life,” he said.
Cao said the USS Abraham Lincoln had been deployed for 266 days, with 200 of those days in a combat zone. He also addressed the following issues:
- “A small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life.
- Meal plans were adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, without a single meal being missed.
- Calls home were limited when the operational threat was too high.”
Photo: Adobe Stock
