³ÉÈËXÕ¾

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Bellevue native promoted to Rear Admiral by U.S. Navy

May 14, 2025, 11:24 AM

navy rear admiral bellevue...

USS Gerald R. Ford held a change of command aboard the ship at Naval Station Norfolk, May 12. (Photo courtesy of the Navy)

(Photo courtesy of the Navy)

A Bellevue man received an incredibly high honor when the U.S. Navy promoted him to Rear Admiral.

The decision came after a “passing-of-the-guard” event occurred when the USS Gerald R. Ford held a change of command aboard the ship at Naval Station Norfolk. Rick Burgess was the captain of the USS Gerald R. Ford until Sunday.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is a first-in-class nuclear aircraft carrier, the largest in the Navy. It is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. According to the , Burgess led the Ford through its first deployment. His crew worked with 17 allied nations, flew 10,000 sorties, and earned several top awards.

“Serving as the Captain of the USS Gerald R. Ford and leading the world’s finest Sailors has been the privilege of my lifetime,” Burgess said. “This ship’s extraordinary performance over the last two years is a testament to this talented crew and their ability to effectively employ the most capable, adaptable, and lethal combat platform in the world.”

With Captain David Skarosi taking over the aircraft carrier, Burgess will take over the Navy’s air combat training center in Nevada in addition to being promoted to Rear Admiral. He’ll be in charge of tactics and training for pilots across the fleet.

Awards for the USS Gerald R. Ford under Burgess

The USS Gerald R. Ford earned two Battle “E” Efficiency awards, two Chief of Naval Operations Aviation “S” Safety awards, the 2023 Rear Admiral (Upper Half) James “Jig Dog” Ramage Award alongside Carrier Air Wing 8, and the 2023 Battenberg Cup for best all-around ship in the Fleet while Burgess was commanding officer, according to the Navy.

“Captain Burgess’ leadership of the mission and his crew while serving as Gerald R. Ford’s commanding officer has been truly gratifying,” Lanzilotta said. “He built a culture of success through an extended operational deployment and the diligent preparation for another in quick succession. His commitment to excellence motivated the whole team to constantly learn, improve, and exceed expectations.”

Rear Admiral is a high rank in the Navy, equivalent to Major General in other military branches. It’s a two-star flag officer rank, and in peacetime, it’s the highest permanent rank an officer can hold.

Follow Frank Sumrall .Ìý³§±ð²Ô»åÌýnews tips here.

MyNorthwest News

Travis Decker search...

Julia Dallas

Dead or alive? Authorities still unsure as Travis Decker manhunt reaches week 5

Authorities persist in the search for Travis Decker, accused of killing his daughters near Leavenworth.

52 minutes ago

Clark County data lawsuit...

Jason Sutich

Residents file lawsuits claiming Clark County mishandled private information in data breach

Residents accuse Clark County of failing to protect private information in a recent data breach, prompting legal action.

1 hour ago

Diddy trial...

Associated Press

Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial, judge indicates they’ll keep deliberating

The jury has reached a partial verdict in the Diddy trial, deciding on four out of five counts against Sean Combs.

2 hours ago

campfire ban north cascades...

Frank Sumrall

North Cascades imposes full campfire ban ahead of July 4 due to fire danger

Campfires in "all portions" have been banned in the North Cascades National Park, the National Park Service confirmed Monday.

2 hours ago

Jonathan Hoang missing...

Jason Sutich

Surveillance footage spurs Kirkland area search for man with autism missing since March

A potential sighting of missing Jonathan Hoang prompts renewed efforts in the Kirkland area to locate the 21-year-old Arlington man.

3 hours ago

trump big beautiful bill senate...

Associated Press

Senate passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ tax bill as Vance breaks 50-50 tie

Senate Republicans hauled President Donald Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill to passage Tuesday on the narrowest of votes, pushing past opposition from Democrats and their own GOP ranks after a turbulent overnight session.

6 hours ago

Bellevue native promoted to Rear Admiral by U.S. Navy