It was time to scrap this amazing aircraft carrier: The USS John F. Kennedy, affectionately known as “Big John,” is on its final voyage to be dismantled in Brownsville, Texas.
-Commissioned in 1968, the carrier served for nearly 40 years, playing critical roles in U.S. foreign policy, from the Yom Kippur War and Desert Storm to post-9/11 operations in Afghanistan.
-Despite its storied history, efforts to transform the conventionally powered aircraft carrier into a museum failed, and it was sold for scrap.
-The ship’s legacy continues with the new USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), a Ford-class supercarrier set to carry on its namesake’s proud tradition.
The USS John F. Kennedy Is Making Its Last Voyage
One would think any vessel with the name John F. Kennedy could easily transform into a museum ship upon retirement.
Not so for the carrier USS John F. Kennedy.
The “Big John” has been sold for scrap for one penny and is now making its final voyage to be dismantled. It was a historic send-off for Big John and had many good memories for the sailors who served on it.
The John F. Kennedy has been in Philadelphia’s Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility for 17 years. It is now sailing toward the International Shipbreaking Limited facility in Brownsville, Texas.
Then, the vaunted carrier will be scrapped.
Big John will complete the voyage later this month after sailing south down the Atlantic coast and around Florida to Texas.
The Big John Won’t Be a Museum
It is not clear when the workers will begin cutting the Kennedy apart. The scrapyard bought Big John, along with the USS Kitty Hawk, for only one penny because efforts failed to make the ships into museums.
There were also attempts to sell the John F. Kennedy to India.
Since the Kennedy was a conventionally powered ship and not nuclear-propelled, there were hopes it could live on for tourists. Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are not open to the public.
Cold War Stalwart
The Kennedy was commissioned in September 1968 and retired in 2007.
The Big John was the last non-nuclear-powered carrier to be built. Kennedy never got to serve in the Vietnam War, but they made many cruises during the Cold War and various U.S. engagements in the Middle East.
A Hugely Impressive Run in the Middle East
The John F. Kennedy also was an important part of U.S. foreign policy and international security strategy.
The Kennedy patrolled the Mediterranean during the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and helped with the massive re-supply effort to prop up Israel.
It conducted aviation operations off the coast of Lebanon during the U.S. Marine Corps deployment to Beirut in 1983.
First Gulf War Success
The Kennedy also played a role in Operation Desert Storm, where its aircraft conducted many sorties to back U.S. and coalition troops for a historic victory against Saddam Hussein and his huge army. Kennedy was instrumental in the initial “shock and awe” campaign against Iraq. It started off that early operation on the first night when 80 sorties were conducted.
After 9/11, Big John was deployed off the East Coast of the United States to ensure no additional terrorist attacks would happen. Then, the Kennedy steamed to South Asia off Pakistan to conduct missions to support the initial invasion of Afghanistan and the special operations forces raids against al-Qaeda, plus assistance with ground strikes during the search for Osama Bin Laden.
The Kennedy headed for scrap was its own class, but it can be compared favorably to the Kitty Hawk-class.
In 2005, the Navy was considering giving Big John a major modernization refit, but it looked at the high cost of repairs and the time involved and decided against extending its life.
Scrapping the Big John Will Be a Long, Drawn-out Process
The John F. Kennedy is 1,000 feet long and displaces 87,000 tons. It will be a considerable job dismantling the carrier. It takes a lengthy work period with a complex process of cutting the ship into manageable pieces.
The New Ford-class Super Aircraft Carrier Aims to Dominate
John F. Kennedy’s namesake deserves another ship to adorn it, and the U.S. Navy has not been disappointed in this regard.
The second Ford-class carrier, CVN-79, is named after the former president. The new Kennedy supercarrier will be ready for delivery this summer. The CVN-79 cost $11 billion – $2 billion cheaper than the USS Gerald R. Ford.
The new Kennedy will be around 100 feet longer than the Big John. More than 75 aircraft will be onboard CVN-79.

Mayport, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2003) — USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport under her own power following a ten month Extended Service Repair Availability (ESRA). During a short at sea period the ship will test numerous systems installed or upgraded while in port. The $300 million maintenance period included renovation of berthing compartments, and new navigational radar system. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Greg Curry. (RELEASED)
“USS John F. Kennedy will carry the legacy of its namesake and the power of our nation,’” then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said in a 2019 news release. “The advanced technology and warfighting capabilities this aircraft carrier brings to our global challenges will strengthen our allies and partners, extend our reach against potential adversaries, and further the global mission of our integrated naval force,” Modly said.
The Big John had a successful combat history in the Middle East. This was a time fraught with tensions, and the United States feared that its troops could get bogged down during the First Gulf War, but Operation Desert Storm was a huge success.
Later, the Kennedy helped during the early days of Operation Enduring Freedom, providing support to American special operations forces fighting terrorists.
It is too bad that Big John will be turned into scrap. It would have been a popular museum. However, the new Kennedy CVN-79 is a remarkable supercarrier that would make Kennedy, himself a Navy hero, proud.

Mayport, Fla (Feb. 20, 2007) – USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport for the last underway period before her decommissioning in March. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Williams (RELEASED)
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.

BRIAN
January 21, 2025 at 10:34 am
I think it is a disgrace that they sell these ships to scrap yards for 1cent. When it cost 13.3 billion to build in 1968 where now it cost 200 billion. Instead of wasting money how about upgrade and do total refurbish these ships and upgrade everything they are still sea worthy.
John Chasey
January 22, 2025 at 6:00 pm
They overpaid