The Monterey (CG 61) was built at Bath Iron Works, launched on October 23, 1988, conducted her first sea trials in Nov. 1989, and was commissioned in Mayport, Fla., June 16, 1990. It is the fourth ship to bear the name Monterey in the U.S. Fleet, to commemorates the battle fought on 20-24 September, 1846, in the war with Mexico.

USS Monterey returned in Jan. 1994 from a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean with the USS America Joint Task Group (JTG). While deployed, JTG ships supported a variety of national, NATO and United Nations missions, including participation in Operations Deny Flight, Provide Promise and Sharp Guard in the Adriatic Sea off Bosnia-Herzegovina, Southern Watch in the Red Sea, and UNOSOM II (Continue Hope) in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia. The ships of the JTG also participated in the bi-lateral U.S./Spanish exercise Poopdeck 94, off the coast of Spain in mid-January, before conducting visits to various Spanish ports.

August 25, 1995 USS Monterey departed Naval Station Mayport to relieve USS Mississippi (CGN 40) in the Adriatic Sea as the U.S. cruiser responsible for air surveillance off the coast of Bosnia. Once in the Adriatic, CG 61 assumed the duties of Redcrown, where it was responsible for all air surveillance and aircraft control in the Adriatic Sea in direct support of NATO operations Deny Flight and Sharp Guard. During the six-month deployment, she also had roles in operations Provide Promise, Southern Watch, Decisive Edge, and Decisive Endeavor in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas and the Arabian Gulf. The guided-missile cruiser also participated in Exercise Infinite Courage, and the multinational exercises Bright Star and Final Courage. It also joined forces with a the Russian RNS Admiral Kuznetsov battle group for two days of exercises January 21-22, 1996. The ships made port calls at Trieste, Ancona and Naples, Italy; Corfu, Souda Bay, Crete, Greece; and Antalya, Turkey, before returning to homeport on Feb. 24.

May 10, USS Monterey arrived at its new homeport of Norfolk as part of the Atlantic Fleet's reorganization of its forces. The ship then began an 11-month maintenance overhaul on June 19 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Inc. in Newport News.

CG 61 Participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 98-1 as part of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Battle Group Jan 12-Feb. 4, 1998. The JCS BG and Wasp ARG were to depart for a scheduled six-month deployment the following month, and the JTFEX was to serve as the final certification on their readiness to deploy.

September 22, 1999 USS Monterey departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled six-month deployment, as part of the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group, to the Arabian Gulf.

As part of the GW Carrier Battle Group, and in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the Monterey set sail in support of defense and humanitarian efforts off the coast of New York.

June 20, 2002 USS Monterey departed Norfolk for a six-month underway period, with the George Washington (CVN 73) BG, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed overseas, Battle Group ships visited 16 different countries, including Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Slovenia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

February 26, 2003 The search for a Seaman Apprentice Christian Nicolas Earlie, from Corona, N.Y., that apparently jumped overboard the Monterey around 5 p.m. Feb. 24, according to eyewitnesses, has ended unsucessufully. The guided-missile cruiser was conducting routine training exercises off Florida’s eastern shore.

January 28, 2004 Seaman Apprentice George C. Schultz, stationed abord USS Monterey, died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Schultz was undergoing treatment at the hospital's Burn Trauma Unit for burns sustained after falling into a utility trench housing steam pipes at Naval Station Norfolk around 9 p.m., Jan. 26.

July 15, USS Monterey, along with USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, wrapped up a first-of-its-kind multinational exercise known as Majestic Eagle. Majestic Eagle is a multinational exercise being conducted off the coast of Morocco.

October 13, CG 61 departed Naval Station Norfolk, with the Truman CSG, for a scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

November 8, The guided-missile cruiser departed Souda Bay, Crete, after a four-day port visit to Greece's largest island.

April 18, 2005 USS Monterey returned to homeport after a six-month underway period in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf.

April 4, 2006 USS Monterey, commanded by Capt. Robert Oldani, departed Naval Station Norfolk for approximately two months deployment, as part of USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, to participate in the "Partnership of the Americas" in the Caribbean Sea. Partnership of the Americas will enhance regional maritime security and strengthen ties through operations and exercises with Caribbean and Latin American partner nations.

April 12, CG 61 arrived in Aruba, Kingdom of the Netherlands, for a goodwill port visit.

May 2, The guided-missile cruiser arrived in St. Kitts for a scheduled port call.

May 8, USS Monterey and USS Stout (DDG 55) conducted a towing exercise (TOWEX) in the Caribbean Sea as part of their unit level training cycles. The TOWEX is designed to exercise participating ships in the process of towing and being towed in the event of a disabling malfunction. The lead ship acts as a tugboat and delivers the disabled vessel to safety.

May 17, The Monterey pulled to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba for their third port visit as part of the "Partnership of the Americas" deployment.

May 25, USS Monterey returned to homeport after a seven-week underway period in the Caribbean Sea.

June 7, CG 61 is currently in the Atlantic Ocean and will take part in Neptune Warrior, a course designed to enhance coordination between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.

June 15, USS Monterey arrived in Faslane, Scotland, in anticipation of the upcoming Neptune Warrior Course to begin June 19.

July 3, The guided-missile cruiser pulled to Oslo, Norway, for a scheduled port visit and to celebrate the 4th of July.

July 24, The Monterey returned to Norfolk after spending seven weeks in the North Atlantic to support U.S. 6th Fleet tasking and participate in the joint military course Neptune Warrior.

October 24, USS Monterey is currently off the coast of Scotland participating in Exercise Neptune Warrior. The cruiser relieved USS Ross (DDG 71) as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG 2). SNMG-2 was established as an immediate reaction force and as a High Readiness Maritime Element of the NATO Response Force (NRF).

November 20, CG 61 arrived in Riga, Latvia, for a port visit in preparation to provide local authorities security support for the NATO summit Riga 2006 set to begin Nov. 28.

January 15, 2007 USS Monterey pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, for a routine port call.

January 22, The guided-missile cruiser is currently in Aegean Sea preparing to participate in operations in support of Operation Active Endeavor.

April 4, USS Monterey returned to Norfolk Naval Station from a six-month deployment in support of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean. She visited 10 foreign ports and navigated more than 30,000 nautical miles.

September 13, CG 61 arrived in Annapolis, Md., ahead of First Class Parents' weekend at the Naval Academy.

October 12, Capt. Todd W. Black relieved Capt. Robert E. Oldani as commanding officer of USS Monterey during a change of command ceremony held aboard the ship.

March 29, 2008 The guided-missile cruiser is currently participating in a tailored ship's training availability, as part of USS Theodore Roodevelt CSG, off the coast of Florida.

September 10, USS Monterey departed homeport for a scheduled underway period in the 5th and 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

October 3, The Monterey pulled to Cape Town, South Africa, for a scheduled port visit.