160818-N-CQ428-009 ATLANTIC OCEAN (August 18, 2016) Tom Briggs, right, chief test engineer for the F-35 Lighting II, discusses the F-35C Lightning II carrier variant with visitors from the Office of Legislative Affairs during a tour of the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). The F-35C is assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, which is conducting its third and final developmental test (DT-III) phase aboard George Washington in the Atlantic Ocean. The F-35C is expected to be Fleet operational in 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer O'Rourke)