The ship's name commemorates the World War II Battle of the Philippine Sea, fought near the Marianas Islands in June 1944, in which U.S. Naval forces destroyed over 400 Japanese planes and three aircraft carriers.

CG 58 was commissioned March 3, 1989 and is homeported in Mayport, Florida. The ship's first deployment to the Mediterranean and Red Seas came in 1990 as part of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During Desert Storm, the ship fired ten Tomahawk cruise missiles and boarded many merchant vessels during coalition actions against Iraq. For its service, Philippine Sea received the Navy Unit Commendation, the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. While deployed, the ship transited the Suez Canal six times and visited Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, returning home in the spring of 1991.

Later in 1991, the ship served as the flagship for a joint task force conducting counterdrug operations in the Caribbean, earning the Joint Meritorious Unit Award. In May 1992, USS Philippine Sea sailed again to the Mediterranean and Red Seas. While deployed, the ship made two Suez Canal transits and boarded thirty-nine vessels in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq, earning a second Southwest Asia Service Medal. Additionally, she supported United Nations operations off the coast of the former Yugoslavia. Port visits were made to Spain, France, Italy, Egypt and Israel The ship returned from deployment in November 1992 and received the James F. Chezek Award for the highest Naval Gunfire Support score in the Atlantic fleet in 1992.

The guided missile cruiser completed a dry-docking period in Boston during 1993, followed by pre-deployment workups as part of the Saratoga Battle Group. In January 1994, the ship sailed with the USS Saratoga Joint Task Group for its third Mediterranean deployment, returning again to the Yugoslavian coast in support of UN Operations in the Adriatic. While deployed, the ship participated in numerous exercises with NATO forces. Philippine Sea made port calls in Spain, Turkey, Greece and Italy, and returned from deployment at the end of June 1994. For this deployment, the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

In July, August, November and December of 1994, the ship again conducted counterdrug operations in the Caribbean. The following year, CG 58 was chosen as the flagship for U.S. Baltic Operations '95 in Northern Europe from mid-May to mid-July. The ship then returned to homeport for a yard period to close 1995.

June 28, 1996 USS Philippine Sea deployed, with the USS Enterprise Battle Group, to the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas supporting UN operations in the former Yugoslavia and conducting multi-national exercises with seven other countries as part of NATO's Partnership For Peace program. She returned home in December.

Along with Big E Battle Group, the Philippine Sea took part in a Sink Exercise (SINKEX) on August 9, 1998, near Puerto Rico, sinking a decommissioned cruiser, the former USS Richmond K. Turner (CG 20). The cruiser then deployed again with the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Battle Group for a period of six-months November 6, 1998.

March 24, 1999 USS Philippine Sea started supporting the NATO Operation Allied Force by launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against military targets in Yugoslavia. In May 1999, she returned home to Naval Station Mayport.

From March 9-11, 2001, USS Philippine Sea was on alert as part of Unified Warrior, a complex series of missile firing exercises off the coast of Puerto Rico. She was acting as air defense commander for the Enterprise Battle Group. The 18-ship exercise also included units from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada. The cruiser coordinated precision maneuvers during the exercise to ensure each firing ship was positioned for their missile events, while stationing other ships nearby to gather data that was to be used to analyze and improve NATO and U.S. missile systems and tactics.

USS Philippine Sea deployed April 25, 2001 as part of the CVN 65 Battle Group to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf, as part of a scheduled six-month underway period. During that deployment, the ship took part in the Joint Maritime Course, a Royal Navy exercise hosted annually by the United Kingdom whose purpose is to train navies to operate in a joint service environment, providing large scale integrated training in land, maritime and air theaters.

Following the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC., on September 11, 2001, USS Philippine Sea participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001 by launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against al Qaeda terrorist training camps and Taliban military installations in Afghanistan. She returned to homeport November 10, 2001.

September 2, 2003 USS Philippine Sea departed Mayport, Fla., to participate in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), with the USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, in the Atlantic Ocean.

October 2, Ships and aircraft of the Enterprise CSG, including USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), began a routine deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The strike group, which wrapped up a month-long Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) Sept. 30, completed a series of complex training events, naval surface fire support training and air-to-ground bombing in the Virginia Capes and Jacksonville, Fla., operating areas over the last several weeks.

December 20, The Mayport-based guided-missile cruiser detained two dhows and their 21 crew members and seized 95 pounds of heroin and 50-to-100 pounds of methamphetamines.

March 12, 2004 USS Philippine Sea, commanded by Capt. Stephen J. Johnson, and embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron, Light (HSL) 44, Det. 3 returned to homeport of completing a five-month deployment with the USS Enterprise Carrier Strike group in the Persian Gulf. During the ship’s deployment, Philippine Sea served as the overall command ship for Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the Persian Gulf. The ship’s Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team conducted more than 120 MIO vessel boardings in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism. Most notable was Philippine Sea’s simultaneous takedown of two dhows carrying more than two tons of illegal drugs with possible terrorist ties. In addition, Philippine Sea provided protection of the al Basra oil terminal, keeping more than $60 million of oil a day flowing into the Iraqi economy.

April 28, CG 58 pulled to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to participate in Fleet Week 2004.

May 25, 2005 USS Philippine Sea departed homeport for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Saipan (LHA 2) ESG, in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The deployment is the latest implementation of the Navy’s new operational construct, the Fleet Response Plan. FRP is about new ways of operating, training, manning, and maintaining the fleet that results in increased readiness and the ability to provide significant combat power when and where it’s needed.

June 8, The guided-missile cruiser pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, for a scheduled port visit.

September ?, Philippine Sea returned home after a four-month surge deployment in support of Maritime Inerdiction Operations in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean.

March 17, 2006 CG 58 arrived in Boston port for a four-day visit on St. Patrick's Day weekend.

June 6, USS Philippine Sea departed Naval Station Mayport with the USS Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, for six months to conduct maritime security operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 4, USS Iwo Jima Expeditonary Strike Group transited the Suez Canal to relieve USS Peleliu on her duty in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. The ESG will conduct maritime security operations (MSO) throughout the region and support further tasking from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

September 15, The Philippine Sea is currently operating in the Persian Gulf in support of maritime security operations and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

November 8, LHD 7 ESG successfully transited the Suez Canal, concluding operations in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AoO).

November 10, USS Philippine Sea pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, for a scheduled port call.

December 8, CG 58 returned to Mayport Naval Station after a scheduled six-month deployment.

September 29, 2007 USS Philippine Sea is currently participated in Expeditionary Strike Group Integration exercise (ESGINT), with the USS Nassau (LHA 4) ESG, in preparation for the upcoming deployment next year.

December 15, The guided-missile cruiser successfully completed a 17-day Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX).

February 19, 2008 USS Philippine Sea departed Mayport for a scheduled deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

March 13, CG 58 pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, for a routine port call.

April 24, The Philippine Sea, commanded by Capt. Gary Parriot, is currently in the Persian Gulf conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

June 27, The cruiser visited Aksaz, Turkey, June 15-18, following three months in the Navy's 5th Fleet AoO.

July 10, USS Philippine Sea returned to homeport after a nearly five-month underway period.