Carrier Strike Group Seven (CSG-7 or CARSTRKGRU 7) was a U.S. Navy carrier strike group active from October 2004 until 30 December 2011. The strike group's antecendants included two previous aircraft carrier formations, Carrier Division Seven and Carrier Group Seven. Its heritage thus includes the Second World War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War, as well as the first and the second Persian Gulf wars, encompassing a total of 34 deployments to the Western Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf.

Carrier Strike Group Seven traced its lineage back to Night Carrier Division Seven, the U.S. Navy's first and only aircraft carrier formation exclusively dedicated to night air operations. Established on 19 December 1944, its aircraft carriers provided night air combat patrols for the U.S. Pacific Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force during World War Two. Night Carrier Division Seven participated in the Philippine and Okinawa campaigns as well as carrier air raids against the Japanese home islands. According to Clark G. Reynolds' The Fast Carrier and Edward P Stafford's Big E, the Enterprise and Saratoga operated very briefly off Okinawa in February 1945 until Saratoga was detached to cover the escort carrier and amphibious force. Initially, Night Carrier Division Seven operated as a separate carrier task group within Task Force 38 and operated only at night. When USS Bonhomme Richard (CV-31) arrived, it was integrated into an existing task group, and the commander of Night Carrier Division Seven directed the night operations within that task group.

Carrier Division Seven was re-established at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, on 22 March 1956. The group commander and staff first deployed to the Western Pacific on board USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) in 1957. USS Coral Sea, fresh from refit, arrived at Alameda on 1 April 1960 and was assigned to Carrier Division Seven. During the Vietnam War, division aircraft carriers operated as part of Task Force 77 from Yankee Station and Dixie Station. During its third Vietnam combat deployment, the Coral Sea implemented a new anti-MiG combat patrol plan developed by the Carrier Division Seven staff. Other aircraft carriers assigned to the division included Ticonderoga, Lexington, Hancock, Kearsarge, Oriskany, and Shangri-La. On 13 September 1962, Rear Admiral Ralph L. Shifley, Commander, Carrier Division Seven, embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) for her first Pacific deployment. In January 1963, the division conducted the major Pacific Fleet exercise 'Red Wheel.'

On 6 April 1964, Rear Admiral William F. Bringle assumed command of Carrier Division Seven. In addition to commanding Carrier Division Seven, Admiral Bringle served as Commander Task Group 77.6, during the period of 29 March, to 29 June 1965 and as Commander Task Force 77 from 28 May, to 27 June 1965.

Carrier Division Seven was re-designated as Carrier Group Seven on 30 June 1973. USS Enterprise (CVN-65) reached Cubi Point in the Philippines in time for Christmas Eve 1974. An extended deployment in the Indian Ocean lay ahead. "On the morning of 5 February 1975, Enterprise anchored four miles outside of Mombasa, while guided missile destroyer USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22) and ocean escort USS Rathburne (DE-1057) moored to buoys.. Two days later, Rear Admiral William L. Harris, Jr., relieved Rear Admiral Owen H. Oberg, as Commander, Carrier Group Seven." After Cyclone Gervais struck Mauritius on 6 February 1975, Enterprise, USS Long Beach (CGN-9), and USS Camden (AOE-2) were sent to provide disaster relief. In the last days of April 1975 the Enterprise and USS Coral Sea attack carrier groups stood off South Vietnam covering Operation Frequent Wind, the final evacuation of Americans and associated Vietnamese from the doomed country. In 1978, the group was homeported at Alameda as part of Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC). By 1984, as always part of COMNAVAIRPAC, the staff had moved to NAS North Island and controlled USS Ranger (CV-61).

On 2 July 1985, a group change of command ceremony was held on Kitty Hawk's flight deck, and Read Admiral Stan Arthur hauled down his flag. Rear Admiral D. M. Brooks then took command of the group, with his flag in Kitty Hawk. On 24 July 1985, Kitty Hawk, with Rear Admiral Brooks, Commander Destroyer Squadron 13, and Carrier Air Wing 9 embarked, departed San Diego to commence its fifteenth Western Pacific deployment. Kitty Hawk spent two days in the Southern California Operating Area on 25–26 July to conduct an abbreviated Operational Readiness Exercise which included AAW defense, long-range conventional strikes and a 39-hour ASW exercise. The group commenced TRANSITEX 85–14 en route to Naval Station Subic Bay in the Philippines on 27 July. Kitty Hawk conducted Exercise Busy Observer, with USAF B-52s simulating Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear D aircraft on 29 July. An encounter exercise was held with the USS New Jersey Surface Action Group on 1 August and then Carrier Air Wing Nine participated in COPE CANINE 85-02, a Hawaiian air defence exercise, on 2–3 August. USS Pintado then practiced anti-submarine warfare with the group on 3–4 August.

On 9–10 August an ENCOUNTEREX/INCHOPEX was held with USS Constellation (CV-64) (Battle Group Delta) as they returned from a Western Pacific deployment. On each of these days, Kitty Hawk was monitored by a pair of Soviet Tu-95 aircraft. Kitty Hawk came under the operational control of the U.S. Seventh Fleet on 12 August and transited the Bashi Channel five days later. The ship the operated briefly in the South China Sea.

During 1986, Kitty Hawk was under the group's control from January to 28 June 1986, and then was transferred to Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5 for later work ups, which included READIEX 87–1. In 1987, the group controlled Kitty Hawk, which was in the process of shifting to the Atlantic Fleet, and USS Constellation (CV-64). In 1990–91, the group saw action during the First Gulf War. Rear Admiral R.J. Zlatoper commanded the group from the carrier Ranger. Later, the group made several Middle East deployments, taking part in Operation Southern Watch.