The USS Gerald R. Ford won't be making its way back to Naval Station Norfolk until around May, meaning the massive aircraft carrier will have been away from Hampton Roads for about 11 months. That's significantly longer than the typical deployment, which usually runs six to eight months. A senior Navy official broke the news to senators during a hearing with the Armed Services Committee last week. The Ford originally departed Norfolk sometime last summer, and what was expected to be a standard deployment has stretched well beyond the usual timeframe. For military families in our region, extended deployments like this are always challenging. The Ford is one of the Navy's newest and most advanced carriers, so the longer mission likely reflects the high demand for its capabilities around the world. The extended timeline means thousands of sailors and their families will have to wait a bit longer for reunions. Naval Station Norfolk remains one of the largest employers in the Hampton Roads area, so these deployment schedules affect our entire coastal community.