Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, at Pascagoula, MS., the Vicksburg's keel was laid on May 30, 1990 and she was launched on September 7, 1991. The Vicksburg is sponsored by Tricia Lott, wife of the Honorable Trent Lott, United States Senator, Mississippi. The christening is a significant milestone in the service of a ship as it is the moment when the ship receives a name and begins to emerge as more than an inanimate object. On October 12, 1991, Mrs. Lott christened CG 69 as "Vicksburg". She was commissioned on November 14, 1992.

April 29, 1997 USS Vicksburg departed Mayport for a six-month deployment, with the USS John F. Kennedy CVBG, in support of Operation Deliberate Guard and Operation Southern Watch. J.F.K. Battle Group relieved USS Theodore Roosevelt CVBG, which had been operating in the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Red Sea and Persian Gulf. In July, the cruiser participated in the 6th Fleet exercise INVITEX involving 12 nations, and from September 23-October 7, in NATO'S Exercise Dynamic Mix. That exercise placed John F. Kennedy Battle Group units on opposing sides and was designed to increase task force and unit readiness as forces implemented NATO strategy and doctrine.

In 1998, CG 69 experienced significant problems with AEGIS Baseline 6.1 and CEC 2.0 integration, which forced re-scheduling its deployments and caused a major rework of these computer programs.

The guided-missile cruiser took part in U.S. Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) '99 in the western Baltic Seain mid-1999. The exercise included 53 ships, submarines and aircraft from European allies and Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations Poland, Germany, France, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania and the United States.

In the fall of 1999, USS Vicksburg participated solely in the modernized phase of the 40th annual UNITAS deployment to South America. During that deployment, she served as Flagship for the Commander, South Atlantic Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Commander, Destroyer Squadron Six. The 40th UNITAS was a three-week exercise was hosted by Brazil and included 23 ships from six countries, including the host, the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal and Spain.

In September 2000, CG 69 took part in Underway No. 10", one in a series of tests leading to the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) Operation Evaluation (OPEVAL) scheduled for Spring 2001. The CEC system provides the capability to cooperatively engage targets by a warship using data from other CEC-equipped ships, aircraft, and land-based sensors, even in an electronic-jamming environment. It also provides a common, consistent and highly accurate air picture, allowing battle group defenses to act as one seamless system. The test, off Wallops Island, VA, simulated missile firings from some of the Navy's most technically advanced ships against unmanned drones.

From February 9, 2001, to March 2, 2001, USS Vicksburg took part in a technical evaluation (TECHEVAL) to test whether the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) was on track to a successful Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) in April and May of 2001. The TECHEVAL was conducted in two phases, the first off the coast of Puerto Rico and the second off Wallops Island, Va. The tests included live missile firings and tracking exercises from some of the Navy's most technically advanced ships.

As part of the USS George Washington Carrier Battle Group, and in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, the Vicksburg set sail in support of defense and humanitarian efforts off the coast of New York.

The Vicksburg, as part of the John F. Kennedy Battle Group, participated in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 02-1, with Phase I of the exercise running from January 19-26 and Phase II running from February 7-14. She deployed as part of the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group, which relieved on March 8, 2002, the USS Theodore Roosevelt CBG, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

June 18, In monsoon seas of almost 20 feet, USS Vicksburg and its embarked helicopter detachment, "Proud Warrior," responded to a distress call and effected the rescue of all 16 crew members of a merchant vessel yesterday off the coast of Oman. The vessel, Al Murtada, was adrift without propulsion or electrical power and was believed to have been drifting for 11 days, before depleted food and water supplies, coupled with poor sea and weather conditions necessitated the crew abandon ship.

August 17, USS Vicksburg (CG 69) returned to Mayport from a six-month combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Arabian Gulf, in addition to operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

September 23, In order to deter, detect and disrupt international terrorist organizations (ITO) targeting critical infrastructures in the Central Arabian Gulf, USS Spruance (DD 963), USS Vicksburg, USS Sirocco (PC 6), USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) and air assets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 conducted exercises in the North Persian Gulf Sept. 14–16.

December 17, USS Vicksburg returned to Mayport Naval Station after a six-month deployment in support of the operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism.

January 25, 2006 USS Vicksburg departed homeport for approximately three months in support of Maritime Security Operations and the Global War on Terrorism.

February 26, CG 69 became the first U.S. Navy ship to take on fuel at the new Defense Fuel Supply Point (DFSP) at the Port of Doraleh in Djibouti. The Navy has leased several fuel storage tanks from DFSP Djibouti for the exclusive use of ships operating in and around the Horn of Africa in support of maritime security operations.

June 11, USS Vicksburg returned to Mayport, Fla., after the ship surged in support of the global war on terror (GWOT). The guided-missile cruiser worked with allies during their five-month deployment to detect, disrupt and deny international terrorist organizations the use of maritime environment.

November 23, Colombian Armada submarine A.R.C. Tayrona completed joint training with several U.S. Navy ships, including USS Vicksburg, in early November, during a brief deployment under the Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) off the coast of Mayport. The DESI program, established in 2001, has engaged several diesel South American navies with submarines to provide a series of programmed stateside deployments. The goal is to support fleet training exercises and tactical development events.

May 21, 2007 CG 69 is currently conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the USS Kearsarge ESG.

June 24, USS Vicksburg is currently participating in final exercise, in the Atlantic Ocean, before the deployment.

July 31, 2007 USS Vicksburg departed Naval Station Mayport for a scheduled deployment in the 5th Fleet AoO.

October 4, The guided-missile cruiser is currently in the Persian Gulf conducting Maritime Security Operations.

January 25, 2008 USS Vicksburg returned to Mayport after a six-month Persian Gulf deployment. She enjoyed several port visits including being the first U.S. Navy ship to visit La Spezia, Italy in over three years. The cruiser also visited Souda Bay, Crete; Manama, Bahrain, on four separate occasions; Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; Salalah, Oman; Limassol, Cyprus and Valletta, Malta. She traveled over 31,500 miles and passed through several major choke points, including eight Strait of Hormuz transits. While underway Capt. John C. Nygaard relieved Capt. Charles C. Swicker as new commanding officer in December.

January 10, 2009 CG 69 is currently participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise, as part of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) CSG, off the East Coast.

February 21, USS Vicksburg departed Mayport for a scheduled underway period.

March 10, The guided-missile cruiser departed Toulon, France, after a two-day port visit.

July 31, The Vicksburg returned to homeport after a five-month deployment in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

October 30, Capt. Timothy Mahan Jr. relieved Capt. John C. Nyggard as commanding officer of the Vicksburg.

March 11, 2010 USS Vicksburg recently departed Mayport Naval Station for a three-month deployment in support of Joint Warrior 10-1 exercise.

March 15, CG 69 arrived in Trondheim for a scheduled port call and will participate in several naval exercise with the Norwegian Navy.

April 4, The guided-missile cruiser recently arrived in Brest, France, for a port visit.

April 29, USS Vicksburg arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, for a four-day port call after participating in Exercise Joint Warrior off the coast of Scotland.

May 7, The Vicksburg departed Klaipeda, Lithuania, after a three-day theater security cooperation (TSC) port visit. CG 69 returned home on May 29.