Capt. Amy N. Bauernschmidt, left, outgoing commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), shares a fist bump with her relief, Capt. Peter J. Riebe, right, during a change of command ceremony held Thursday, May 18, 2023, and presided over by Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, commander, Carrier Strike Group 3, on the flight deck (Raymond D. Diaz III/U.S. Navy)

The first woman to lead a Navy aircraft carrier successfully completed her command tour May 18.

Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt was relieved by Capt. Pete Riebe as commanding officer of USS Abraham Lincoln during a change of command ceremony held on the flight deck. The carrier is home-ported at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego.

Bauernschmidt, who took command of Abraham Lincoln in August 2021, has been nominated for the rank of rear admiral, the Navy announced in February. She received the Legion of Merit during the ceremony and will report to the commander of 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, for her next tour of duty, a Navy news release said.

Capt. Amy N. Bauernschmidt, outgoing commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), delivers remarks during a change of command ceremony Thursday, May 18, 2023, on the flight deck. (Madison L. Cassidy/U.S. Navy)

“There remain complicated challenges around the globe,” Bauernschmidt said during the ceremony. “We must remain steadfast in doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. I know under Capt. Riebe’s leadership you will continue to strive for excellence in daily tasks and cohesion across Lincoln Nation, addressing obstacles, remaining ready and continuing your development into the most effective, powerful and trusted fighting force.”

Under Bauernschmidt’s command, the sailors of Abraham Lincoln completed a seven-month deployment to the 7th and 3rd Fleet area of operations in the Pacific, culminating in the Lincoln serving as the flagship for the largest Rim of the Pacific exercise to date with 32 coalition partners, according to the release.

Milwaukee native Bauernschmidt is a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. She earned a master’s degree from the Naval War College and was designated a pilot in 1996. She has 3,000 flight hours and has served as commanding officer of the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego, according to her Navy biography.

Riebe previously served as commanding officer of USS Anchorage, and executive officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt. He completed the Aviation Nuclear Officer training pipeline in 2018 and has accumulated more than 3,800 flight hours, according to the Navy release.

Capt. Peter J. Riebe, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), is piped ashore during a change of command ceremony on the flight deck. (Madison L. Cassidy/U.S. Navy)

“We are a critical cog for the United States to maintain our maritime superiority and military dominance,” Riebe said. “We will ensure that we are ready and focused on maintaining the warfighting advantage needed to win.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of women flying in the Navy. Bauernschmidt was one of the first women to be assigned to a combat squadron after the combat exclusion policy for women was lifted in 1993, according to the release.

“Over the course of her CVN command tour, Capt. Bauernschmidt has shown herself to be an immensely impactful leader,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, who presided over the ceremony. “She did this job as well I as I have ever seen it done, by anyone.”