Retired senior US naval officer Harlan Ullman, chairman of strategy consultancy
Killowen Group, warned prolonged deployments are eroding aircraft carrier
readiness and said the nuclear-powered USS Abraham Lincoln urgently needs
in‑port routine maintenance. He said advanced weapons systems cannot be fully
maintained at sea and that nine‑month deployments increasingly degrade ship
readiness and capability due to lack of necessary maintenance. Ullman added
extended wartime deployments also damage crew morale and health, citing strict
operational security that limits internet and phone use and complicates basic
resupply. He urged the Trump administration to prioritize navy readiness over
political considerations.
