The Lake Champlain (CG 57) is the third U.S. Navy ship to honor that name. She was commissioned on August 12, 1988.

January 7, 2000 USS Lake Champlain departed homeport for a six-month deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, as part of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Battle Group.

In Persian Gulf she participated with international navies in Exercises Neon Falcon and Arabian Gauntlet, and conducted Maritime Interception Operations (MIO) in support of the ongoing United Nations sanctions to stop the flow of illegal oil out of Iraq. During the underway period, she visited Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand, among others, as well as port calls in Townsville, and Mackay, Australia.

In June 2001, the guided-missile cruiser took part in Exercise Kernel Blitz (Experimentation), an Extending the Littoral Battlespace Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration.

November 12, 2001 USS Lake Champlain departed San Diego for a seven-month deployment in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. She conducted 135 Visit Board Search and Seizure boardings, 200 Gulf Sentry missions, 500 hours of flight operations, with coalition forces from all over the world. CG 57 returned to homeport in May 2002.

June 10, 2003 The Lake Champlain arrived to Portland, Oregon, to participate in the annual Rose Festival.

May 24, 2004 USS Lake Champlain departed San Diego, with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group, to conduct operations in the Pacific Ocean for joint and combined operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

June 3, The guided-missile cruiser departed Homer, Alaska, after a three-day a port visit. The CSG will continue to Hawaii for the biannual Rim of the Pacific 2004 Exercise (RIMPAC). More than 40 ships, seven submarines, 100 aircraft and nearly 18,000 Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Soldiers and Coast Guard personnel from seven nations participated in a myriad of naval air, surface, sub-surface and communications exercises on the high seas.

September 28, CG 57 pulled to Fremantle, Australia, for a scheduled port visit.

November 1, USS Lake Champlain returned to Naval Station San Diego after a five-month underway period.

January 4, 2006 USS Lake Champlain, commanded by Capt. Donald Roane, departed homeport, with the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, in support of the Global War on Terrorism, as well as national and theater cooperative security commitments in the western Pacific.

February 8, The guided-missile cruiser recently arrived in Singapore for a scheduled port call.

April 3, CG 57 assumed a major role in Maritime Security Operations in the northern Persian Gulf, by joining Combined Task Force (CTF) 58. In addition to MSO, CTF 58 also plays a key role in protecting both the Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) and the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT).

June 5, The Lake Champlain departed Phuket, Thailand, after a three-day port visit.

June 20, The guided-missile cruiser is currently participating in Exercise Valiant Shield '06 off the coast of Guam June 19-23. The exercise will involve more than 20,000 Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Valiant Shield 2006 will also see more than 300 aircraft and 28 ships from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Groups, as well as the Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

July 6, USS Lake Champlain returned to San Diego after a six-month deployment in the Persian Gulf and western Pacific.

November 9, CG 57 is currently off the coast of southern California, as part of USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, participating in large-scale joint operations with the USS John C. Stennis Strike Group. JCSCSG is conducting Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) in preparation for the upcoming deployment.

January 27, 2007 USS Lake Champlain departed San Diego for surge deployment in the western Pacific, with the USS Ronald Reagan CSG.

February 24, USS Lake Champlain pulled to Sasebo, Japan, for a routine port call.

March 7, The guided-missile cruiser arrived in Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit.

March 22, CG 57 arrived in Busan, Republic of Korea, for participaition in Exercise Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration/Foal Eagle 2007.

April 20, USS Lake Champlain returned to Naval Station San Diego after a nearly three-month underway period.

June 13, Approximately 20 leaders from San Diego's business community embarked aboard USS Lake Champlain, commanded by Capt. Sean O' Connor, as part of the Navy's 'Leaders to Sea' program June 5-7.

November 10, Five National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) workers and one employee of Cornwall, a local NASSCO subcontractor, were involved in a flash fire aboard the Lake Champlain. One NASSCO worker was slightly injured and was treated at the scene; the Cornwall employee was transferred to the UCSD Regional Burn Treatment Center. No U.S. Navy personnel were injured. Initial reports indicate that the flash fire occurred during routine day shift work involving welding and cutting operations with oxy-gas (a working mixture of oxygen and natural gas) equipment. The guided-missile cruiser entered the BAE facility in September and is undergoing extensive engineering and quality of life upgrades.

June 5, 2008 CG 57 pulled to Portland to celebrate the 101st annual Portland Rose Festival.

January 9, 2009 USS Lake Champlain departed homeport for a scheduled deployment, as part of USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group, in support of maritime security operations.

February 27, The guided-missile cruiser recently departed Maldives after a goodwill visit.

March 6, The Lake Champlain, commanded by Capt. Kevin P. Campbell, arrived in Karachi, Pakistan, to participate in a multinational naval exercise AMAN. The 10-day exercise focuses on air, surface and maritime security training and includes representatives from 38 countries as well as ships from 11 nations to include the United States, United Kingdom, Pakistan and Australia.

July 2, CG 57 recently departed Singapore after a scheduled port call.

July 30, USS Lake Champlain returned to San Diego after a seven-month Middle East deployment.

February 3, 2010 The giuded-missile cruiser participated in a Sentry exercise during an at-sea period Jan. 26-28. The Lake Champlain is part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Strike Group and is conducting unit level training in preparation for a regularly scheduled deployment. The Vinson recently departed Norfolk for its new homeport of San Diego.