May - November 1996, DDG 59 deployed with USS Carl Vinson Battle Group to western Pacific and Persian Gulf in support of operations southern Watch and Desert Strike.

USS Russell departed Jan. 29, 2000, for a six-month deployment with the USS John C. Stennis BG, and returned July 7.

The Russell got underway under its own power November 23, 2000, for the first time in almost three months to conduct sea trials. The destroyer had been in Dry Dock 4 since the end of September as part of a periodic availability before beginning its training cycle once again. The sea trials are a vital part of the process. While the ship was dry, many modifications and improvements were made. Russell was the final ship of her class to have its two vapor compressor distiller units replaced with more efficient reverse osmosis units.

On December 12, 2001 the USS Russell rescued four B-1B crewmembers that had crashed in the Indian Ocean, roughly 100 miles north of Diego Garcia. At approximately 1:30 p.m. EST, the guided missile destroyer rescued four crewmembers from the ocean using the ship's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB). DDG 59 and U.S. military aircraft operating from Diego Garcia immediately responded to the scene where the B-1B was last seen on radar. At the time, she was operating in the Indian Ocean. The ship departed Pearl Harbor Oct. 25th for a six-month deployment.

March 12, 2003 Cmdr. William A. Kerns III relieved Cmdr. Enrique F. Miranda as CO of USS Russell, in a change of command ceremony held aboard the ship in Pearl Harbor.

May 11, 2004 USS Russell along with USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Salvor (ARS 52), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and SCGC Mellon (WHEC 717) deployed to western Pacific in support of a Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) cruise. This year marks the 10th anniversary of CARAT exercises.

The 2004 edition of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series ended Aug. 4 with the closing ceremony of the Philippines phase. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises held annually throughout Southeast Asia that began in 1995 by combining a number of existing exercises to be conducted sequentially by a single U.S. Navy task group. CARAT Singapore was conducted from May 31-June 11 while CARAT Brunei took place from June 21-26. The 10-day CARAT Thailand phase ended July 9. CARAT Malaysia was performed from July 12-22. The CARAT Task Group ships arrived in the Philippines July 27 for the final phase of the CARAT series. During deployment DDG 59 visited ports of Singapore; Brunei, Sattahip, Thailand; Kuantan, Malyasia and Subic Bay, Philippines. It returned to Pearl Harbor September 2.

August 11, 2005 USS Russell pulled to Seward, Alaska, for a four-day port visit. The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in the joint exercise Alaska Shield/Northern Edge 2005, a U.S. northern Command exercise conducted with military, state and local agencies and focuses on homeland security actions in and around the state of Alaska.

March 9, 2006 USS Russell, commanded by Cmdr. James Kilby, deployed to western Pacific and Arabian Gulf, with the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, in support of the Global War on Terorism and Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

April 6, Personnel and units of the U.S. military and Republic of Korea (ROK) Combined Forces Command (CFC) conducted their annual combined and joint exercise, Reception, Staging, Onward-movement, & Integration and Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/Foal Eagle 06) March 24-31. Foal Eagle involved more than 70 U.S., including USS Russell, and ROK Navy ships and more than 100 aircraft from all services of both the U.S. and ROK armed forces.

June 1, DDG 59 departed Sukumo, Japan, after a scheduled port visit. This was the first time a U.S. Navy ship has visited Sukumo and the first time since 1999 that an American ship has visited Shikoku Island.

June 20, USS Russell 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.

July 5, DDG 59 departed Pearl Harbor to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006. Eight nations are participating in RIMPAC 2006, the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. Conducted in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC 2006 brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

August 3, USS Russell is currently assigned to USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) CSG in the Indian Ocean.

August 10, DDG 59 along with the Kitty Hawk and USS Cowpens (CG 63) pulled to Perth, Australia, for a scheduled port visit.

September 5, USS Russell returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment in the western Pacific.

November 9, The guided-missile destroyer is currently off the coast of southern California, as part of USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group, participating in large-scale joint operations with the USS John C. Stennis Strike Group. JCSSG is conducting Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) in preparation for the upcoming deployment.

December 1, USS Russell returned to its homeport of Naval Station Pearl Harbor. DDG 59 is scheduled to perform a pass and review during a joint U.S. Navy/National Park Service ceremony commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 1,500 Pearl Harbor survivors, their families and friends from around the nation are scheduled to join more than 2,000 distinguished guests and the general public for the annual observance of the Dec. 7, 1941.

February 3, 2007 USS Russell departed Pearl Harbor for a surge deployment with the Reagan CSG.

March 7, DDG 59 pulled to Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit.

March 22, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Chinhae, Republic of Korea (ROK), for a scheduled port visit prior to the commencement of Exercise Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration/Foal Eagle (RSOI/FE) 2007.

April 7, USS Russell returned to homeport after a two-month underway period.

November 30, The Russell departed for a Friends and Family Cruise to Maui.

January 14, 2008 Cmdr. Jeff D. Weston relieved Cmdr. Brad Cooper as commanding officer of USS Russell in a ceremony held abord the ship at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

January 23, DDG 59 is currently off the western California coast participating in a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), in preparation for the upcoming deployment with the USS Abraham Lincoln CSG.

March 24, USS Russell departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a scheduled underway period.

June 8, The guided-missile destroyer responded to a vessel in distress between Bossasso, Somalia and the Yemeni coast in the Gulf of Aden. The Russell participated in Exercise Khunjar Haad, a four-day multinational exercise conducted in the Gulf of Oman, May 17-21.

August 18, DDG 59 recently departed Manama, Bahrain, after a routine port call.

September 12, USS Russell arrived in Laem Chebang, Thailand, for a four-day port visit.

October 1, The Russell returned to homeport after a six-month deployment in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

January 14, 2009 The guided-missile destroyer is curretly off the West Coast participating in the Middle Pacific (MIDPAC) Surface Combatant Group Sail.

July 27, USS Russell departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise.

August 24, USS Russell, along with USS Crommelin (FFG 37), recently arrived in Jakarta to kick off the second half of CARAT Indonesia 2009.

October 26, DDG 59 returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after a three-month underway period.

January 5, 2010 The Russell departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a surge Middle East deployment.

February 18, USS Russell participated in a maritime infrastructure defense exercise Feb. 16, with six U.S. and coalition surface combatants operating near the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal in the North Arabian Gulf.

July 10, The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore.

July 23, USS Russell arrived in Sendai, Japan, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the alliance between the two nations.

August 6, The Russell returned to homeport after a seven-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

April 11, 2011 Cmdr. Joseph Carrigan relieved Cmdr. Rodney M. Patton as CO of DDG 59 during a change-of-command ceremony at Pearl Harbor.

April 13, USS Russell began a three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

July 14, The guided-missile destroyer is currently conducting sea trials off the coast of Hawaii.

September 1, USS Russell departed Pearl Harbor for an independent deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR) with a primary focus on Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) operations.

September 11, The Russell recently pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port call.

September 16, USS Russell anchored off the coast of Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines, in support of "America in 3D" program of the United States Embassy.

September 28, USS Russell anchored off the coast of Gan for a two-day visit to Maldives.

January 17, 2012 DDG 59 is currently participating in a bilateral tactical surface exercise Iron Siren 2012, in the Arabian Gulf, off the coast of United Arab Emirates.