Amy Bauernschmidt

Amy N. Bauernschmidt is a United States Navy officer. She is the first woman to serve as the executive officer and then as the commanding officer of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Bauernschmidt assumed command of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on 19 August 2021.

Early life and education

Bauernschmidt was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended the United States Naval Academy. Six months before she graduated, the U.S. Congress passed legislation allowing women to serve on Navy combatant ships. She graduated in May 1994 with a B.S. degree in ocean engineering. On her first assignment as a Naval Academy midshipman, she chose aviation. After completing flight school, she was designated a naval aviator in 1996. She then learned to fly helicopters and also became a flight instructor.

Bauernschmidt later earned an M.A. degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.

Career

Trained as a helicopter pilot, Bauernschmidt served with the "Wolfpack" of HSL-45 on the destroyer USS John Young and the "Warlords" of HSL-51 on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. She later served as executive officer and then commanding officer of the "Spartans" of HSM-70 on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. In September 2016, after completing nuclear power school, Bauernschmidt became the executive officer of USS Abraham Lincoln. On 5 August 2019, she assumed command of the amphibious transport dock USS San Diego. On 19 August 2021, Bauernschmidt became the commanding officer of USS Abraham Lincoln. After she received her master's degree in strategic studies she also served at the U.S. Secretary of State's Office of Global Women's Issues.

On January 3, 2022, USS Abraham Lincoln deployed from Naval Air Station North Island under the command of Bauernschmidt.

In February 2023, Bauernschmidt was nominated for promotion to rear admiral (lower half).