USS Mitscher was commissioned December 10, 1994, and was sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson.

DDG 57 became the second U.S. Navy warship named to honor Admiral Marc A. Mitscher (1887-1947), famed naval aviator and World War II aircraft carrier task group commander. In 1988 the U.S. Navy contracted with Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to build the seventh ship of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Mitscher. These destroyers are designed to replace the Adams and Coontz-class destroyers.

January 12, 2001 USS Mitscher departed homeport for a six-month deployment, as part of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Battle Group. During the underway period the guided-missile destroyer visited Algiers, Algeria, for an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) exercise with the Algerian Navy. The joint exercise included surface and subsurface units. The Mitscher and an Algerian Koni-class frigate, Rais Kellich, were the surface participants. USS Norfolk (SSN 704) and the Algerian Kilo-class attack submarine El Hadj Slimane, composed the subsurface force.

December 5, 2002 USS Mitscher departed Naval Station Norfolk, with USS Harry S. Truman BG, to Persian Gulf in support of operations Southern Watch, Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. DDG 57 returned to homeport May 23, 2003.

April 28, 2004 The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to participate in Fleet Week 2004.

August 20, USS Mitscher, along with USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and USS Hawes (FFG 53), departed Naval Station Norfolk to participate in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s annual theater Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise, Smart Search ’04. The exercise begins Aug. 29 off the East Coast of the United States. This is the fourth year of the annual exercise and is headed by Commander, Task Force 84. U.S. Atlantic Fleet submarines, Jacksonville, Fla.-based P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft and allied forces will also participate in the exercise.

November 15, 2005 USS Mitscher returned to homeport after a scheduled deployment. Along with other NATO ships, she patrolled the Mediterranean, conducting surveillance and Maritime Interception Operations (MIO) in support of the global war on terrorism. She also took part in Operation Active Endeavor, establishing a presence in the Mediterranean and patrolling merchant traffic to prevent terrorism and illegal activities. The destroyer patrolled Black Sea and strengtened allied capabilities by providing maritime interception operations training to Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine forces. It also twice visited Souda Bay, Crete, Aug. 22 and Oct. 25.

April 4, 2007 USS Mitscher, commanded by Cmdr. Bill McKinley, is currently in the Caribbean Sea to begin their role in a U.S. Navy Task Group conducting Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007. During POA 2007, the ships will participate in several exercises as they sail around South America, including UNITAS and Teamwork South. The deployment will conclude with participation in PANAMAX 2007, an annual exercise designed to assist the government of Panama in protecting the sovereignty and security of the Panama Canal.

April 18, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Salvador, Brazil, for a port visit.

April 26, DDG 57 pulled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a scheduled port call.

May 2, U.S. Navy Task Group 40.0 arrived in Puerto Belgrano, Argentina, for a port visit. During the Atlantic phase of UNITAS 48-07, host nation Argentina plus Brazil, Chile, Spain and the United States will have ships participating in the exercise.

May 23, USS Mitscher Sailors completed a successful port visit in Punta Arenas, Chile, May 18-22.

May 30, U.S. Navy TG 40.0 arrived in Mejillones, Chile, after transiting the Strait of Magellan and conducting training off the central coast of Chile.

July 1, USS Mitscher pulled to Callao, Chile, after completing UNITAS 48-07 Pacific phase and a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the Peruvian Navy.

July 16, USS Mitscher successfully completed a northbound Panama Canal transit early morning on July 12, marking the first trip through the historic canal for the 13-year old warship. Mitscher entered the Miraflores Lock near midnight July 11, and then proceeded north through the Pedro, Miguel and Gatun Locks before emerging at 4 a.m. near Cristobal, Panama. This passage marks the completion of circumnavigation of the South American continent in support of Partnership of Americas 2007 deployment.

August 25, USS Mitscher recently visited ports of Martinique, Barbados and St. Lucia.

August 30, The guided-missile destroyer is currently in port visit to Panama to participate in PANAMAX 2007.

September 9, DDG 57 pulled to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) for a routine port call.

September 18, USS Mitscher returned to Norfolk after a six-month deployment in support of Partnership of the Americas (POA).

April 28, 2008 Six U.S. Navy ships, including the Mitscher, arrived in Port Everglades, Fla., for a Fleet Week.

September 19, The Mitscher departed homeport for a two-month deployment to participate in a multi-national exercise in the North Atlantic.

October 1, USS Mitscher, USS Hawes (FFG 53), USS Doyle (FFG 39) and USS Klakring (FFG 42) arrived in Faslane, Scotland, to participate in the Joint Warrior Course off the coast of Scottland.

November 22, The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer returned to Naval Station Norfolk.

January 27, 2009 USS Mitscher, commanded by Cmdr. Sterling W. Dawley, departed Norfolk for a scheduled underway period in support of the Royal Navy’s Taurus '09.

April 26, DDG 57 anchored off the coast of Malé, Republic of Maldives, for a goodwill port visit.

May 6, The Mitscher arrived in Singapore for a scheduled port visit and to take part in the International Maritime Defense Exhibition Asia 2009 Warship Display, May 12-14.

June 22, The guided-missile destroyer departed Phuket, Thailand, after a five-day port call.

August 14, USS Mitscher returned to Norfolk Naval Station after a nearly seven-month deplyoment and visiting 13 ports including Naples and Valencia. While in the Mediterranean Sea, the ship supported operation Active Endeavor, NATO’s initiative to help deter terrorist activity in the area.