The USS George Washington remains the primary U.S. aircraft carrier operating in the U.S. Central Command area as of early October 2026, conducting sustained flight operations with its air wing in the Arabian Sea to support maritime security and regional stability amid ongoing tensions with Iran. Its arrival in August 2026 relieved the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, while the USS George H.W. Bush recently departed the theater for a port visit in Thailand. The USS Theodore Roosevelt left San Diego in late September and is expected to transit toward CENTCOM as a relief option, consistent with Navy rotation practices to manage crew endurance and maintain at least one carrier in the region. Schedules stay subject to operational security, with any departure timing dependent on the incoming carrier's arrival and broader force posture decisions.