Capt. Peter J. Riebe served as the commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln from May 2023 to June 2025, where he successfully led the carrier through a five-month deployment to the U.S. Navy’s 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations from July-December 2024.
In response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Coronado-based aircraft carrier, was ordered by the Pentagon to extend its deployment in the region in September 2024, after initially being deployed in July.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead the men and women of the USS Abraham Lincoln,” said Riebe. “The crew endured many challenges over the course of my tour, and they repeatedly rose to the occasion as steadfast warfighters, professionals, and Navy sailors. Inspiring the crew to grow together as a tight knit team and conduct a near flawless deployment absolutely marks the apex of my career.”
During Lincoln’s deployment, the carrier collaborated with joint forces to launch strikes into Iranian-backed Houthi controlled territory in Yemen. The strikes marked the first-ever combat strikes of the F-35C Lightning II variant, marking a historic deployment.
Capt. Daniel J. Keeler is the new commanding officer. He graduated with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998 and was designated as a naval aviator in 2000.
He has accumulated over 2,700 flight hours and previously served as the commodore of Amphibious Squadron 1.
The Abraham Lincoln is currently moored at Naval Air Station North Island.
