Carrier: Controlled Chaos

"Carrier" is a character-driven, edge-of-your-seat, nonfiction drama and a once-in-a-lifetime total immersion in the high-stakes world of a nuclear aircraft carrier. "Carrier" follows a core group of film participants aboard the "USS Nimitz," from the admiral of the strike group to the fighter pilots to the youngest sailors, as they navigate personal conflicts around their jobs, families, faith, patriotism, love, the rites of passage and the war on terror.

The "USS Nimitz" is 24 stories high, three football fields long and carries more than 5,000 Navy personnel and 85 military aircraft. Filmed from May to November 2005, nearly 2,000 hours of high-definition video were captured aboard the ship during a full six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf, of which three months were spent in combat in support of the ground troops. For the first time, a television series takes a raw and personal look at the Navy’s role in this controversial war.

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F-18 pilot Alex Dietrich served as a lieutenant, junior grade, and was promoted to lieutenant with Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), also known as “The Black Aces,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Master Chief Christopher L. Penton served as command master chief on the USS Nimitz during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Chris Altice served as an E-3/aviation ordnanceman with Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14), also known as “The Tophatters,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Shaneka McReed served as an airman and was promoted to third class petty officer during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Christian Garzone served as an undesignated airman working in the V2 Division during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Cindi Costa served as a seaman recruit E-1 and culinary specialist during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Lonnie Fields served as a lieutenant and V2 Division officer and was promoted to lieutenant commander during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Dell Bull served as the executive officer and an F-18 pilot and David Fravor served as commanding officer and an F-18 pilot for Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), also known as “The Black Aces,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Doug Booher served as a lieutenant and F-18 pilot with Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), also known as “The Black Aces,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Laurie Coffey served as a lieutenant and F-18 pilot for Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94), also known as “The Hoboes,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Lieutenant Commander and F-18 pilot Kevin McLaughlin served as both safety officer and maintenance officer for Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94), also known as “The Hoboes,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Major Justin Knox served as a captain and F-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232), also known as “The Red Devils,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Brian Foster served as an F-18 pilot and director of safety and standardization with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232), also known as “The Red Devils,” during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Randy Brock served as a gunnery sergeant with maintenance control with the Red Devils, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232), during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Willie Johnson served as an aviation bos’un’s mate on the flight deck during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Susan Clapp served as a limited duty officer and supervisor of the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Ted Branch served as captain and commanding officer of the USS Nimitz during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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Peter H. Daly served as a one-star rear admiral and commander of Carrier Strike Group 11 during the deployment featured in "Carrier."

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"Controlled Chaos"

The men and women of the "USS Nimitz" live beneath the runway of a major airport. They sleep on the roof of a nuclear power plant. It’s a perilous environment. Their only bulwark against danger and chaos is to bond with their units on board the ship. The “Shooters,” who launch the jets, have a “Circle of Trust”; the Ordies (ordnance personnel) pride themselves on being a “mafia”; the F-18 squadrons — the Black Aces, the Hoboes and the Marine Red Devils — are tight fraternities.

Upcoming Episodes:

"Super Secrets" will air on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV

"Squared Away' will air on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV