The Navy's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier shoved off Wednesday morning for its first combat deployment.

The USS George H.W. Bush, named after America's 41st president, is heading to the Middle East and Europe. The carrier is under the leadership of Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, the first woman to ever command a carrier strike group.

The carrier will focus on providing security during operations ranging from anti-piracy to disaster relief.

USS George H.W. Bush is the last ship of the 10-carrier Nimitz class to be built. The vessel cost $6.2 billion.