USS Ramage is the first U.S. Navy warship named to honor the life and service of World War II hero Vice Admiral Lawson Paterson Ramage, USN, (1909-1990) Construction began on November 15, 1991. The keel was laid on January 4, 1993. On February 11, 1994, USS Ramage floats free for first time. Mrs. Barbara Ramage christened the ship on April 23, 1994. On July 22, 1995 the guided-missile destroyer was commissioned in Boston, Mass.

November 25, 1996 USS Ramage embarked on her maiden deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, as part of USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle group. DDG 61 visited 6 countries and made 16 port calls. In March 1997 it provided logistic and communications support for Marines in Albania during Operation Silver Wake. The Ramage returned to Naval Station Norfolk May 22, 1997.

May 26, 1999 USS Ramage departed for its second deployment with the Roosevelt Battle Group. The ship visited 8 countries and made 15 port calls. It participated in Operation Allied Force, though it was not present when operations were initiated, but rather arrived later. The Aegis-class guided-missile destroyer returned to Norfolk September 22.

Following the Sept. 11th attacks the Ramage provided extended radar coverage to the East Coast of the United States and to New York City in particular.

September 19, 2001 USS Ramage deployed with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group to the Arabian Sea in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.

January 29, 2002 U.S. 6th Fleet ships, while operating in the eastern Mediterranean, conducted simultaneous compliant boardings of two merchant vessels Jan. 27 in international waters. USS Ramage, USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Hayler (DD 997) and USS La Salle (AGF 3) participated in the operations at approximately noon, Central European Time. The Syrian merchant vessel, Capten Mohamed, was intercepted and boarded by the Ramage crewmembers approximately 26 nautical miles northeast of Cyprus. Both merchant vessels had displayed suspicious behavior and were under surveillance for several weeks.

April 16, USS Ramage returned to Norfolk, Virginia, after a seven-month underway period.

May 30, 2003 USS Ramage, commanded by Cmdr. Randall M. Hendrickson, arrived in Boston to participate in various civic functions aboard the ship and in Dorchester, a Boston neighborhood.

April 30, 2004 USS Ramage departed Naval Station Norfolk for a Mediterranean deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. As a Surface Strike Group (SSG), the Ramage, Ross (DDG 71) and Elrod (FFG 55) will participate in regional exercises with allies, make diplomatic port calls and respond to any contingency including those associated with the ongoing war on terrorism.

August 31, USS Ramage returned to homeport after a four-month deployment. Since her departure, she operated with U.S. coalition and NATO warships, and participated in exercises Neo Tapon ’04 and Iron Siren ‘04. Ramage’s first duty on deployment was to support the GWOT by conducting extended maritime interdiction operations throughout the Mediterranean Sea. During deployment the guided-missile destroyer made port calls in Malta, Italy, Croatia and France. While in Italy, it also sailed off the shores of Anzio to commemorate the 60th D-Day anniversary.

June 20, 2005 DDG 61 departed Norfolk for a routine scheduled operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

December 15, USS Ramage is currenty underway off the East Coast conducting routine trainings with USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, in preparation for the upcoming deployment later next year.

April 24, 2006 DDG 61 is currently in the Atlantic Ocean conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) April 12 to May 12. COMPTUEX is the first step of integrated training for the Ike CSG in preparation for a scheduled deployment later this fall.

May 24, The Ramage arrived in New York City to participate in 19th Navy Fleet Week May 24-May 30. Fleet Week has been sponsored by New York City since 1984 in celebration of the United States sea service.

July 21, More than 16,000 service members from five countries, including USS Ramage, as part of Eisenhower CSG, will participate in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 06-2 "Operation Bold Step," July 21-31.

October 3, USS Ramage departed Naval Station Norfolk for a six-month deployment, with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

October 18, USS Ramage, commanded by Cmdr. James Dick, pulled to Neum, BiH, the only sea port in Bosnia. DDG 61 is the third U.S. Navy warship to visit Neum since the Dayton Peace Accords were signed in 1995.

October 30, The guided-missile destroyer transited the Suez Canal and entered the Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

January 5, 2007 Coalition ships from the British-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 continue to maintain a presence off the east coast of Africa in response to the recent events in Somalia. CTF 150 includes USS Ramage and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and other coalition ships. These warships are conducting maritime security operations (MSO) to ensure continued security and stability of international waters surrounding the Horn of Africa.

February 9, DDG 61 is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations in the Persian Gulf.

April 15, USS Ramage, USS Anzio (CG 68), USS Antietam (CG 54), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS O’Kane (DDG 77) successfully completed Unit Level Training and Readiness Assessment-Sustainment (ULTRA-S) April 9-14 during their deployments to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations.

May 23, USS Ramage returned to Norfolk after seven-and-a-half month underway period in the Central Command AoR. The destroyer conducted more than 40 approach and assist visits, three boardings, more than 100 maritime-awareness calls and 13 coordinated maritime-awareness calls.

April 28, 2008 The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Port Everglades, Fla., for a Fleet Week.

July 24, Cmdr. Peter G. Galluch relieved Cmdr. Randell W. Dykes as commanding officer of the Ramage. The ship is currently participating in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 as a part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group.

August 29, USS Ramage departed homeport for a scheduled deployment with USS Iwo jima (LHD 7) ESG. She is the first East Coast ship equipped with a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system.

September 18, DDG 61 recently arrived in Haifa, Israel, for a scheduled port visit.

October 26, The Ramage is currently in the Persian Gulf conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

February 7, 2009 The guided-missile destroyer is currently conducting anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Oman.

April 1, USS Ramage returned to Norfolk Naval Station after a seven-month underway period.

September 23, DDG 61 departed homeport to participate in a multi-national warfare exercise Joint Warrior 09-2.

October 25, The destroyer arrived in Gdynia, Poland, for a three-day port visit.

November 19, The Ramage returned to Norfolk after a two-month deployment in support of Joint Warrior exercise.

January 5, 2010 USS Ramage departed Naval Station Norfolk for a six-month Mediterranean deployment.

January 20, DDG 61 recently pulled to Naples, Italy, for a scheduled port visit.

January 25, The Ramage arrived off the coast of Lebanon for search-and-rescue efforts, after Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 409 crashed early Monday shortly after take-off from Beirut International Airport. It was headed to Ethiopia with 90 people aboard.