[2] Carrier strike groups are employed in a variety of roles, all of which involve gaining and maintaining sea control.

Carrier Strike Group 15 was briefly based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, in 2004, prior to changing its homeport to Naval Air Station North Island, California, in 2005, with the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) assigned as its flagship.

She ceased OSW operations on 4 August, having conducted multiple air strikes in response to Iraqi violations of the no-fly zone.

"Connie" departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 9 September with dependents on board for the traditional Tiger Cruise on the final leg to San Diego.

She was soon supporting Operation Enduring Freedom; on 17 December she entered the Persian Gulf to begin OSW missions.

[13][14] Reagan subsequently paid port visits to Valparaíso, Chile, and Callao, Peru, prior to arriving at its new homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, California, on 23 July 2004.

On 17 June 2004, two Super Étendard jet fighters and three S-2T Turbo Trackers antisubmarine aircraft from the Argentine Navy carried out touch-and-go landings on the Reagan's flight deck during Gringo-Gaucho exercises (pictured).

[18] The Reagan Carrier Strike Group also participated in a SIFOREX (Silent Forces) exercise with the Peruvian Navy prior to its port visit to Callao, Peru, on 9 July 2004.

[20][21] UNITAS 45-04 included naval forces from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, United States, and Uruguay, with observers from Colombia and Mexico, and it was hosted by Peru and sponsored by Rear Admiral Vinson Smith, commander, Commander U.S.

[2] On 11 January 2005, Ronald Reagan departed San Diego, transporting two VRC-30 C-2A Greyhound aircraft for use in Operation Unified Assistance.

[1] In January 2016, Rear Admiral Rick Williams, Commander Carrier Strike Group 15, was relieved of his duties.

[26] Stars and Stripes reported that it was revealed during a routine inspection that Williams had violated Navy rules by looking at pornographic images on his government computer.