USS Cowpens (CG 63) deployed in October 1996 for a six-month period to the Arabian Gulf as part of the USS Kitty Hawk Task Group.

The Cowpens, took part, along with the USS Valley Forge (CG 50) and USS Jarrett (FFG 33), in a live standard-missile firing exercise in the southern California operating areas in the fall of 1997. The exercise was a "Proof Of Concept" demonstration to see if the Navy could safely conduct live surface-to-air missile firings off the coast of San Diego, and possibly reduce the costs of conducting training.

USS Cowpens deployed in 1998 for six-months to the western Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.

The Cowpens underwent a regular overhaul that was scheduled to be completed in December 1999. Southwest Marine, Inc., San Diego, was awarded an $8,719,494 firm-fixed-price with performance fee contract for the overhaul; work for which was performed in San Diego, Calif. The cruiser joined the Forward Deployed Naval Forces of Seventh Fleet, replacing the USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), in July 2000.

USS Cowpens, after a deployment to the Indian Ocean, and visiting along the way Guam, Singapore, Thailand and India, paid a visit to Mumbai, India as the US Navy representative to the 2001 International Fleet Review. She was one of 97 ships representing more than 30 countries. The guided missile cruiser played an active role in the relief effort following January earthquakes in northwestern India, delivering medical and humanitarian supplies. CG 63 also participated in several bi-lateral and multilateral exercises with the navies of Japan and Korea. This included Annual Exercise 2001, a bilateral training drill between the Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, in November, in which the Aegis-class ship was the Navy's centerpiece for the exercise while the USS Kitty Hawk deployed to the Indian Ocean for Operation Enduring Freedom. Operationally, Cowpens also supported highly sensitive escort missions and Operation Noble Eagle. She also operated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom conducting Strait of Malacca escort operations.

May 16, 2002 USS Cowpens arrived in Shimoda, only 50 miles away from Yokosuka, to participate in the 63rd annual Black Ship Festival.

January 20, 2003 USS Cowpens departed Yokosuka, with the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group, in support of the Operation Enduring Freedom.

March 20, CG 63 successfully fired 11 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (TLAM) just before dawn in the Arabian Gulf, as part of the first strikes in what is now being called Operation Iraqi Freedom.

May 6, USS Cowpens returned to homeport after a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. During that time she served as Commander, Task Force 50 air commander, directing a multinational force of more than 150 ships. She also successfully launched 39 Tomahawk missiles in support of the operation.

August 22, The guided-missile cruiser departed Hong Kong after a two-day port visit.

September 26, USS Cowpens and USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) departed Zhanjiang, China, after a five-day port visit, completing the first U.S. Navy ship visit here to the People’s Republic of China navy’s South Sea Fleet (SSF) headquarters. The historical port visit to China is just one of several exchanges that have taken place between the two countries over the past year, and is a continuation of a series of military-to-military exchanges between the two countries, which will include a visit by a SSF navy ship to Guam in October.

April 14, 2004 CG 63 returned to Yokosuka, Japan, after almost two weeks of sea trials. This underway period marked the official end of Cowpens' nine-week dry-docking Selected Restricted Availability period. All facets of shipboard operation were subjected to rigorous testing during the trials in order to verify both the ship's material condition and the proficiency of her crew.

May 18, The U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Coronado (AGF 11) and USS Cowpens completed an historic port visit to Shimoda, Japan, May 14-16 to commemorate the 65th Shimoda Black Ship Festival.

June 11, Capt. John J. Sorce relieved Capt. Charles B. Dixon as commanding officer of the Cowpens in a change-of-command ceremony held on the ship’s flight deck.

June 28, USS Cowpens, as part of the USS Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group, departed its forward operating base of Yokosuka to participate in Summer Pulse 2004. Summer Pulse is the simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft carrier strike groups, demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat power across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. It is the Navy's first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan.

July 3, USS Cowpens and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) arrived in port Vladivostok, Russia, for a regularly scheduled port visit. The cruiser is preparing for multinational exercises between ships of the U.S., Russian, and United Kingdom naval forces.

October 14, The Cowpens Sailors took some time before and after the second phase of Exercise Malabar 04, Oct. 3-9, to enjoy the unique culture of Goa, India. Malabar, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Indian navies, was designed to increase interoperability between the two navies while enhancing the cooperative security relationship between India and the United States. The at-sea training included maritime interdiction, surface events, sub-surface and air events, as well as personnel exchanges.

February 10, 2005 USS Cowpens departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka, for an underway period with the Kitty Hawk (CV 63) CSG.

After departing Singapore Feb. 12, the cruiser continued with its deployment and arrived for another port call in Sattahip, Thailand, Feb. 17.

March 17, The Kitty Hawk and Cowpens departed Busan, Republic of Korea, after a three-day visit, during which many Sailors took advantage of opportunities to help the local community and experience a foreign culture.

March 28, CG 63 returned to homeport after completing its scheduled underway period in support of Exercise Foal Eagle 2005.

July 3, The guided-missile cruiser arrived in Sydney, Australia, for a 4th of July celebtations.

August 20, USS Cowpens returned to Yokosuka ending the three-month underway period in support of Exercises: Talisman Saber 2005, the third annual Orange Crush and Joint Air and Sea Exercise (JASEX) 2005.

December 12, USS Cowpens returned to Yokosuka completing its fall deployment with the Kitty Hawk CSG. The Strike Group participated in a joint annual exercise ANNUALEX 2005, between the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

March 31, 2006 Four Russian Federation Navy (RFN) ships and two U.S. Navy ships, including USS Cowpens, participated in passing exercise (PASSEX) 2006, off the coast of Guam. PASSEX is an exercise designed to increase interoperability between the two navies, while enhancing the strong cooperative relationship between Russia and the United States.

April 10, USS Cowpens, commanded by Capt. John Sorce, and USS Chosin (CG 65) completed a multinational exercise March 31 with Russian Federation Navy ships RFN Marshal Shaposhnikov (DD 643), RFN Nikolay Korsakov (LST 077), RFN Pechenga (AOR 244) and the ocean-going tug RFN SB-522 (ATA). The exercise, held off the coast of Guam, followed the Russian ships' port visit to Guam March 27-30. The exercise focused on demonstrating the interoperability of U.S. and Russian forces for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR).

May 17, The Cowpens recently departed Wakayama, Japan, after a goodwill port call.

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.

August 10, USS Cowpens along with the Kitty Hawk and Russell pulled to Perth, Australia, for a scheduled port visit.

October 17, CG 63 departed Yokosuka for a regularly scheduled deployment with USS Kitty Hawk CSG.

November 13, The U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force kicked off their largest bilateral exercise, ANNUALEX, Nov. 9. About 8,500 U.S. Sailors are taking part aboard 13 ships, including USS Cowpens, and various shore-based aircraft.

March 27, 2007 USS Essex (LHD 2) Expeditionary Strike Group, including USS Cowpens, combined forces with amphibious and destroyer ships from the Republic of Korea (ROK) to create a Combined Amphibious Task Force (CATF) and complete a sea transit as a convoy in the waters off the Republic of Korea on March 26-27, as part of Foal Eagle (FE) 2007.

July 10, USS Cowpens departed Sydney, Australia, after a scheduled port visit. The guided-missile cruiser recently concluded participation in Exercise Talisman Saber 07, as part of USS Kitty Hawk CSG.

August 13, CG 63 is currently participating in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 off the coast of Guam.

September 1, USS Cowpens departed Port Kelang, Malaysia, after a four-day port visit.

November 14, The Yokosuka-based cruiser is currently in the Philippine Sea participating in ANNUALEX 19G, the maritime component of the U.S.-Japan exercise Keen Sword 08.

January 24, 2008 USS Cowpens departed homeport for a scheduled western Pacific deployment, as part off USS Essex ESG.

September 17, CG 63 is currently in the western Pacific Ocean, as part of USS Goerge Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group, on its way back to Japan. The GW replaced Kitty Hawk as the only forward-deployed U.S. aircarft carrier.

September 28, The Cowpens recently arrived to Wakayama, Japan, for a scheduled port call.

October 10, The guided-missile cruiser departed Busan, Republic of Korea, after a 2008 International Fleet Review.

February 17, 2009 The Cowpens arrived in Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit after completing its participation in undersea warfare exercise with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) CSG and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

May 7, USS Cowpens, commanded by Capt. Holly Graf, pulled to Vladivostok, Russia, for a four-day port visit and to participate in Victory Day celebrations.

July 1, CG 63 arrived in Fremantle, Australia, for a scheduled port visit before taking part in Exercise Talisman Saber '09. The Cowpens is currently on a routine summer deployment as part of the George Washington CSG.

August 11, The guided-missile cruiser arrived in Manila Bay, Republic of the Philippines, for a goodwill port visit.

September 3, USS Cowpens returned to Yokosuka after a scheduled underway period.

October 29, USS Cowpens pulled to Hong Kong for a scheduled port call. The ship is currently on a Fall Patrol with the Washington Carrier Strike Group.

January 13, 2010 Capt. Holly Graf was relieved of duty after being punished for "cruelty and maltreatment." Capt. Robert Marin is the new commanding officer of the Cowpens.