NAVAL AIR STATION LEMOORE, Calif., (Aug. 9, 2022) Lt. Sam Wales assigned to the "Tophatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14 greets his family during a homecoming celebration. VFA-14, as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and returned to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Aug. 9, 2022, following a seven-month deployment to U.S. 3rd Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of operations. CVW-9 deployed with a combination of fourth and fifth-generation platforms that predominantly represent the "Airwing of the Future," executing more than 21,307 fixed-wing and helicopter flight hours comprising of 10,250 sorties, 8,437 launches and 8,487 aircraft arrestments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Emiline L. M. Senn)