Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, listens as Capt. Gordon Smith, air boss from Mercer Island, Wash., explains the responsibilities of coordinating aircraft movement on the flight deck from Primary Flight Control aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. Palin embarked as a distinguished visitor aboard John C. Stennis during the ship's participation in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate