Breaking the Deck

Dr. Laurence M. Burke, Curator of U.S. Naval Aviation at Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, provides a history of the development of the modern aircraft carrier, what worked, what did not work, and the future of aircraft carriers.

Dr. Laurence M. Burke, Curator of U.S. Naval Aviation at Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum, provides a preview of how the history of Naval Aviation will be told through artifacts and exhibits at the renovated museum.

In this episode we speak one of the pioneers in aircraft carrier history, retired Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, the first African American female command master chief (CMC) of an aircraft carrier, about life aboard a carrier.

Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, USN, (Ret.) speaks about the significance of naming an aircraft carrier for World War II hero Doris "Dorie" Miller. Fleet, the first African American female command master chief of an aircraft carrier, shared her views on the importance of keeping the legacy of heroes like Miller alive in the nation's memory and her own role as an example for those who come after her.

More than 2,000 businesses from 46 states make the parts and equipment for the construction and maintenance of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. We talk to two suppliers, Rick Giannini, President and CEO of Milwaukee Valve Company, and Lisa Papini, President of Dante Valve Company about their company's contribution and pride in building carriers. Learn more: https://www.acibc.org

In February 2020, the U.S. Navy officially received the first CMV-22B Osprey, the replacement for the venerable C-2 Greyhound aircraft as Carrier on Board Delivery—the COD. We talked with Capt. Sean McDermott, USN (Ret.) and Col. Mike Orr, USMC (Ret.) about the fascinating story behind how the decision to make the V-22 the COD happened.