Carrier Strike Group 9 (CSG-9 or CARSTRKGRU 9) is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Commander Carrier Strike Group 9 (COMCARSTRKGRU 9 or CCSG 9) is responsible for unit-level training, integrated training, and material readiness for the ships and aviation squadrons assigned to the group. The group reports to Commander, U.S. Third Fleet, which also supervises its pre-deployment training and certification that includes Composite Unit Training Exercises.
It is currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is the group's current flagship. Other group units include Carrier Air Wing 11 and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), USS Halsey (DDG-97), and the USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118).
The strike group traces its history to Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3, created on 30 June 1973, by the re-designation of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 11. From 2004, the strike group has made multiple Middle East deployments providing air forces over Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as conducting Maritime Security Operations. The strike group received the Humanitarian Service Medal in recognition of its disaster relief efforts in Indonesia during Operation Unified Assistance in 2004–05.
Historical background flew the flag of the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 11 from 1 August to 11 November 1962.
Effective 30 June 1973, Commander Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 11 was re-designated as Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three (CCDG-3). was part of Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three in 1975. In 1978, the Group directed Destroyer Squadron 7, Destroyer Squadron 17, and Destroyer Squadron 27 (Naval Reserve Force), all at San Diego.Polmar, Ships and Aircraft, Eleventh Edition, 1978, 7. On 10 December 1981, the group staff embarked on board the aircraft carrier to prepare for its first Carrier Battle Group deployment. Since that date, deployments have been made in , , , and . Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three was embarked in when it was redesignated to its current designation of Carrier Strike Group Nine in 2004.
Rear Admiral Jonathan Howe commanded the group in 1984–86. During 1986, Enterprise'''s battle group deployment was directed by Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three.
In early 1991, Rear Admiral P. M. Quast, commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three, led Battle Group Bravo on deployment to the Middle East. The group consisted of USS Nimitz, USS Texas, USS Rentz, , , , and , along with commander, Destroyer Squadron 21 and Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked in Nimitz.Chancellorsville Command History Narrative 1991
In April 1992, the Navy implemented the 'core battle group' concept. From this point each carrier battle group was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier; an embarked carrier air wing; cruisers, destroyers, and frigates; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines. This reorganization set off a round of ship arrivals and reassignments for the group. From April 1992 the group was assigned as permanent Immediate Superior in Command for , , and . was assigned to CCDG-3, but was decommissioned in January 1994. In August 1992, and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen were added, and CCDG-3 took on the additional title of Commander, Carl Vinson Battle Group. In October 1992, Surface Squadron 5 was redesignated Destroyer Squadron 5 and assigned under CCDG-3. The addition of , , , and rounded out the Vinson Battle Group's forces. In December 1992, two submarines, and were added. joined the group in March 1993 and joined in September 1994.
Following this round of reassignments, Polmar reported in 1993 that the group had the following structure: Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three, late 1992 Guided-Missile Cruisers Destroyer Squadron Five Carrier Air Wing Fourteen squadrons embarked aboard Fighter Squadron 31: F-14D Electronic Warfare Squadron 139: EA-6B Fighter Squadron 11: F-14D Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113: E-2C USS Harry W. Hill (DD-986) Strike Fighter Squadron 113: F/A-18C Sea Control Squadron 35: S-3B Strike Fighter Squadron 25: F/A-18C Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 8: SH-3H USS England (CG-22) Attack Squadron 196: A-6E TRAM ——
The group completed a very successful deployment to the Persian Gulf in August 1994. In January 1996, the Carl Vinson Battle Group was redesignated the Carl Vinson Task Group, and Destroyer Squadron 5 was reassigned to Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific in Hawaii on 1 February 1996. The Carl Vinson Task Group successfully completed all predeployment examinations and deployed in May 1996 with USS Carl Vinson, , , , , , , , and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen.
In June 1998 CCDG-3 deployed to the Persian Gulf. The deployment was the first on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. On 20 August 1998, the group took part in Operation Infinite Reach, launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against the Sudanese Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory. This factory was suspected of assisting Osama bin Laden in making chemical weapons. The Battle Group also launched a second wave of Tomahawk cruise missiles against Bin Laden's terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. These cruise missile strikes were ordered by President Bill Clinton 13 days after terrorists bombed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Rear Admiral Kevin Green transferred command of the group to incoming Rear Adm. Phillip Balisle on 3 December 1999, aboard the flagship Abraham Lincoln.'Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3 Gets New Commander Today.' (News)', Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3 December 1999.
In 2002, the battle group deployed to the Persian Gulf to fly operations over Afghanistan the group carried out combat operations against Iraqi military forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Battle Group received a Navy Unit Commendation for its support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Southern Watch, and Operation Iraqi Freedom during the period of 1 September 2001 to 30 April 2003, completing of an overseas deployment of 290 days. The Battle Group received its second NUC as part of the U.S. Fifth Fleet's battle/strike force, Task Force 50, during August 1998, and it received its third NUC for operations between 4 March to 1 May 2003.
The battle group also received a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for its support of Operation Southern Watch during the period of 11 June to 11 December 1998, in which was also included its support of Operation Infinite Reach. The Battle Group received a second MUC for its operations during the period of 1 January 1999 to 10 September 2001, including OSW air combat operations.
On 1 October 2004, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three was re-designated as Carrier Strike Group 9.
Command structure When deployed overseas, the strike group comes under the command of the numbered fleet in whose area it is operating (Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh Fleets). When deployed like this, the group utilizes a task force or task group designator, for example, Task Group 50.1 in the Fifth Fleet area.
Group commanders since 2004 have been: • Rear Admiral William Douglas Crowder (20 July 2004 – 7 September 2005) • Rear Admiral John W. (Bill) Goodwin (7 September 2005 – 26 March 2007) • Rear Admiral Scott R. Van Buskirk (26 March 2007 – 9 October 2008) • Rear Admiral Scott H. Swift (9 October 2008 – 29 January 2009) • Rear Admiral Mark D. Guadagnini (29 January 2009 – 13 May 2011) • Rear Admiral Troy M. (Mike) Shoemaker (13 May 2011 – October 2012) • Rear Admiral Patrick D. Hall (October 2012 – August 2014) • Rear Admiral Patrick A. Piercey (August 2014 – August 2015) • Rear Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti (August 2015 – June 2016) • Rear Admiral James S. Bynum (June 2016 – June 2017) • Rear Admiral Stephen T. Koehler (June 2017 – June 2018) • Rear Admiral Daniel W. Dwyer(June 2018 – June 2019) • Rear Admiral Stuart P. Baker(June 2019 – June 2020) • Rear Admiral Douglas C. Verissimo(June 2020 – July 2021) • Rear Admiral Robert B. Chadwick II(July 2021 – June 2023) • Rear Admiral Christopher D. Alexander(June 2023 – June 2025) • Rear Admiral Wilson Marks(June 2025 – June 2026) • Rear Admiral Marcos Jasso(June 2026 – present)
Operational history
2004–2009 operations
Between 2004 and 2009, the strike group completed three Western Pacific deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the War in Iraq, and the War in Afghanistan, as well as providing support for regional Maritime Security Operations. Additionally, the group also participated in such major military exercises as RSOI/Foal Eagle 2006, Valiant Shield, and RIMPAC 2006, as well as Operation Unified Assistance, the U.S. military response to the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. In recognition of its disaster-relief mission to Indonesia, the group received the Humanitarian Service Medal.
During its 2004–2005 deployment, Carrier Strike Group 9 executed 4400 fixed-wing sorties and completed 4455 flight deck landings (traps) for a total of 7588 flight hours. Also, the group executed 1518 rotary-wing sorties for a total of 4401 flight hours, including flying 1737 humanitarian relief missions in support of Operation Unified Assistance (pictured) between 26 December 2004 and 3 February 2005 following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.; The strike group received the Humanitarian Service Medal in recognition of its disaster relief efforts during this operation. Finally, helicopter squadron HSL-47 was the first LAMPS helicopter squadron deployed in its entirety on board an aircraft carrier, with the squadron providing LAMPS detachments to the other ships within the strike group while being supported by the carrier's aviation facilities.
During its 2006 deployment, the strike group participated in three major exercises, Foal Eagle, Valiant Shield and Exercise RIMPAC, as well as several passing exercises and port visits. Carrier Air Wing Two flew 7,871 sorties, with a total of 7,578 catapult launches from the flight deck of the carrier Abraham Lincoln. and Also, on 15 April 2006, squadron HSL-47 helicopters and the guided-missile destroyer provided aid to a fishing vessel in distress while operating in the South China Sea.
During its 2008 deployment, the strike group operated in the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea. It launched many sorties supporting U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) flew approximately 7,100 sorties, totaling more than 22,000 flight hours, which included 2,307 combat sorties that dropped 255,963 pounds (116,102,863.8 kg) of ordnance. Also, on 9 May, while operating with Combined Task Force 150, the guided-missile destroyer assisted a disabled dhow by towing it from the Gulf of Aden to Mukalla, Yemen.
The strike group's Composite Unit Training Exercise included Mobile Security Squadron 2 (MSRON-2), Helicopter Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (HVBSS) Team 1, a first for West Coast-based U.S. Navy ships. The Team specializes in boarding non-compliant ships at sea in the dead of night, detaining the crew if necessary, and identifying suspected terrorists or subjects of interest, using the element of surprise afforded by helicopter insertion and night vision equipment. MSRON-2 HVBSS Team 1 was established in 2004 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, and it was the first team of its kind to reach operational status.
On 26 March 2007, Rear Admiral Scott R. Van Buskirk took command of the group, becoming only the second former nuclear submarine commanding officer to lead a carrier strike group. Admiral Van Buskirk subsequently commanded the U.S. Seventh Fleet and lead U.S. naval forces during Operation Tomodachi, providing assistance to Japan following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. and
2010–2011 deployment