The Fitzgerald (DDG 62) was christened on January 29, 1994, at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and was commissioned on October 14, 1995, at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island.

January 31, 1996 USS Fitzgerald pulled into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a five-day port call after underway for 12 days off Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands at Kauai, for qualifications and trials. Underway again from Feb. 5-14. Returned to Naval Station San Diego on Feb. 22. Underway for Total Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) II from April 8-13; April 23-27 and April 29- May 3. Commenced a Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) at Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Diego on May 20. Underway for sea trials from Aug. 6-8.

August 19, The guided-missile destroyer arrived at Naval Submarine Base Point Loma, Calif., for a four-day magnetic deperming.

From Aug. 26 through Sept. 9, the Fitzgerald was underway for Independent Steaming Exercise, off the coast of southern California. Underway again for ISE from Sept. 16-20.

October 11, USS Fitzgerald departed San Diego, Calif., for a port visit to Manzasnillo, Mexico. Returned home on Oct. 22. Underway for COMPTUEX 95-5A/ITA with USS Constellation (CV 64) from Nov. 4-7. Underway again from Dec. 9-13 for FIREX, off San Clemente Island, and ammo onload at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif.

From January 9-21, 1997, the Fitzgerald was underway for Middle East Force Exercise (MEFEX) Phase II and Fleet Exercise (FLETEX), as part of the Connie Battle Group.

February 21, USS Fitzgerald departed San Diego for its maiden deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

February 27, DDG 62 pulled into Pearl Harbor for a two-day port call. Brief port visit to Guam on March 10 for refuel. Port call to Hong Kong from March 15-19.

March 22, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Singapore for a three-day port visit.

March 29, The guided-missile destroyer anchored off the coast of Male, Republic of Maldives, for a five-day visit.

April 7, The Fitzgerald anchored at Bahrain Bell-Sitrah for three-day visit to Manama. Port call to Jebel Ali, U.A.E., from April 19-22.

April 30, Cmdr. Charles W. Mortoglio relieved Cmdr. Gary M. Holst as commanding officer of DDG 62 during a ceremony aboard the ship in the North Arabian Gulf.

May 2, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for a three-day port visit. Another port call to Jebel Ali from May 19-24.

June 11, The Fitzgerald pulled into Manama, Bahrain, for an eight-day port call.

June 26, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Port Victoria, Seychelles, for a five-day port visit. Port call to Mombasa, Kenya, from July 2-5. Brief stop at Diego Garcia on 11th for refuel.

July 25, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Sydney, Australia, for a week-long port visit. Brief stop at Suva, Fiji, for refuel on Aug. 6.

August 13, DDG 62 pulled into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a two-day visit to embark friends and family members for a Tiger Cruise.

August 21, USS Fitzgerald returned to Naval Station San Diego after a six-month deployment.

October 3, The Fitzgerald entered the Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard for a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Underway for sea trials on Dec. 12. Ammo onload at NWS Seal Beach from Dec. 17-18.

From March 22-28, 1998, the Fitzgerald was underway in support of COMPTUEX for USS Constellation Battle Group, as part of oposition forces. Underway for TSTA II from April 21-24 and April 28- May 1. Underway for Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) from June 10-13. Port visit to Santa Barbara, Calif., from June 27-29.

July 20, DDG 62 departed Naval Station San Diego for a Dependent's Day Cruise. Underway for MEFEX from Sept. 15-25. Ammo onload from Oct. 5-8.

October 23, Cmdr. James S. Grant relieved Cmdr. Charles W. Mortoglio as CO of the Fitzgerald.

November 10, USS Fitzgerald departed homeport for a Middle East deployment as part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) BG.

December 2, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Singapore for a five-day port call. Port visit to Phuket, Thailand, from Dec. 8-13. Supported Operation Desert Fox from Dec. 19-22.

December 29, USS Fitzgerald anchored at Bahrain Bell-Sitrah for a port visit to Manama.

May 3, 1999 The Fitzgerald returned to San Diego after a nearly six-month underway period in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet AoR.

April 19, 2000 Cmdr. Al Collins relieved Cmdr. James S. Grant as commanding officer of the USS Fitzgerald.

May 23, DDG 62 departed San Diego to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2000, off the coast of Hawaii. Port calls to Pearl Harbor from May 30- June 2; June 10-13 and June 27-29. Returned home on July 12. Underway for MEFEX from Oct. 2-12.

November 9, USS Fitzgerald departed Naval Station San Diego for a scheduled western Pacific and Arabian Gulf deployment. Port call to Pearl Harbor on Nov. 15. Ammo onload at Naval Magazine Lualualei from 16-17th.

November 29, The guided-missile destroyer pulled into Port Kembla, Australia, for a five-day port call. Port visit to Fremantle from Dec. 12-17, after participating in Multi-Sail training exercise with units from the Australian Navy.

December 31, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Manama, Bahrain, for a three-day pot call. Another visits to Bahrain from Jan. 15-18; Feb. 1-6; and Feb. 26- March 2. For over two weeks, while operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet, the Fitzgerald was tasked with escorting San Don II across the Arabian Gulf to a holding port where it was to be transferred to civilian authorities for disposition. San Don II was found carrying illicit cargo from the waterways of Iraq. The ship operated as part of multinational interception forces that board and divert vessels like San Don II that are found to be violating United Nations sanctions.

March 12, The Fitzgerald anchored off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, for a five-day visit. Port calls to Singapore (March 19-24) and Hong Kong (March 28- April 1).

April 8, DDG 62 pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a brief port visit to refuel. Port call to Pearl Harbor from April 16-19.

April 26, USS Fitzgerald returned home after five-and-a-half month deployment.

July 11, The Fitzgerald entered the Southwest Marine shipyard in San Diego for a two-month Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA). Underway for Teamwork North 01 from Sept. 24-28. Ammo onload at NWS Seal Beach from Oct. 25-26.

November 3, The guided-missile destroyer departed San Diego in support of Operation Noble Eagle. Port calls to Naval Station Everett, Wash., from Nov. 5-14 and Nov. 17-26.

November 27, USS Fitzgerald pulled into Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada, for a five-day port call.

December 13, Cmdr. John P. Neagley relieved Cmdr. Al Collins, Sr., as CO of the Fitzgerald.

January 15, 2002 DDG 62 departed homeport for Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence (TBMD) testing at the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands in Kauai, Hawaii. Port call to Pearl Harbor from Jan. 26-30. Underway for a Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) from Feb. 12-16 and 19-23rd. Underway for TBMD testing on April 1. Port call to Pearl Harbor from April 7-8.

April 15, USS Fitzgerald arrived at Kwajelin atoll for a brief stop to refuel. Port calls to Apra Harbor, Guam, (April 22-27) and Pearl Harbor (May 11-13). Returned home on May 20.

July 24, USS Fitzgerald departed Naval Base San Diego in support of Fleet Battle Experiment-Juliet (FBE-J), the Navy’s latest in a series of battle experiments. FBE-J is taking place underneath the broad spectrum of Millennium Challenge 2002 (MC02), a congressionally-mandated experiment involving units from all of the U.S. Armed Forces. Underway for Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) from Aug. 5-10.

From September 3-14, the guided-missile destroyer was underway off the coast of southern California for Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) event #10. Ammo onload at NWS Seal Beach from Oct. 23-25. Underway for CEC event #12 from Nov. 1-17 and event #13 from Dec. 9-13..

March 3, 2003 USS Fitzgerald departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment, as part of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

November 8, The Fitzgerald returned home after an eight-month underway period in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The ship provided escort of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during air strikes into Iraq and was later designated flagship for Commander, Maritime Interception Operations in the North Arabian Gulf. Also served in an Air Defense role for U.S. and coalition ships operating in the Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea, in addition to escort of merchant ships.

December 15, DDG 62 pulled into Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., to off-load ordnance.

March 11, 2004 The Fitzgerald departed for sea trials after a nine-week Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at the Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard.

April 1, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for a four-day port visit. Underway for INSURV preparations from May 10-15. Underway for CART II from June 29- July 3. Underway again for routine training from July 12-17.

July 31, The Fitzgerald departed Naval Base San Diego for a Friends and Family Day Cruise. Underway for routine training from Aug. 9-14. Ammo onload at Seal Beach from Aug. 17-19. Underway for Engineering Demonstration from Aug. 23-28. Underway for FEP from Aug. 31- Sept. 3.

September 17, The guided-missile destroyer pulled into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a three-day port call.

September 30, USS Fitzgerald, commanded by Cmdr. Bradley J. Smith, arrived at its new forward-deployed homeport of Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan, after a 19-day transit from San Diego, Calif.

From November 29 through Dec. 16, the Fitzgerald was underway for Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) operations in the Sea of Japan. Port call to Busan, ROK, from Dec. 17-20.

February 10, 2005 USS Fitzgerald departed Yokosuka with the USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group to participate in exercise Foal Eagle '05. Arrived in Hong Kong on Feb. 22 for a week-long port visit. DDG 62 visited ports of Chinhae and Pyongtaek in Republic of Korea during March and returned home on 28th.

May 19, USS Fitzgerald departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a Summer Patrol, as part of the Kitty Hawk (CV 63) SG, in the western and southern Pacific.

May 22, The Fitzgerald departed Shimoda, Japan, after representing the U.S. Navy at the 66th Shimoda Black Ship Festival.

June 8, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Townsville, Australia, for a four-day port visit before part6icipating in exercise Talisman Saber 2005, at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

July 5, USS Fitzgerald departed Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, after a four-day port call.

August 21, USS Fitzgerald, along with USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Stethem (DDG 63), USS Vandegrift (FFG 48), USS Gary (FFG 51), USNS Dahl (T-AKR 312), and M/V Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr. (T-AK 3000), participated in integrated Strike Group operations, during the last two weeks, including Joint Air Sea Exercise 2005 (JASEX ‘05).

September 8, Cmdr. David Hughes relieved Cmdr. Bradley Smith as commanding officer of DDG 62.

September 13, USS Fitzgerald departed Palikir, Federated States of Micronesia, after a goodwill visit to Pohnpei Island.

October 16, The Fitzgerald departed Kagoshima, Japan, after a three-day port visit.

March 1, 2006 The guided-missile destroyer completed a Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) period at Yokosuka Naval Shipyard.

April 19, USS Fitzgerald departed Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a Spring Patrol.

August 2, DDG 62 returned to its forward-deployed homeport after a regularly scheduled deployment.

October 17, USS Fitzgerald departed Yokosuka, Japan, for a Fall Patrol, as part of the 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 the Fitzgerald, and submarines and various shore-based aircraft.

November 19, USS Fitzgerald and USS Juneau (LPD 10) joined with the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ship Zhanjiang (DD 165) in the second phase of a search and rescue exercise (SAREX).

November 30, DDG 62 recently departed Hong Kong after a scheduled port visit.

April 7, 2007 USS Fitzgerald is currently participating in Exercise Malabar 07-01, with the Indian Navy, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan.

August 13, The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, off the coast of Guam.

September 10, The Fitzgerald returned to homeport after a routine underway period.

October 26, USS Fitzgerald, commanded by Cmdr. Daniel P. Dusek, arrived at the Japanese Northern Island of Hokkaido for a scheduled port call to the city of Muroran. The ship recently departed Yokosuka to participate in 19th Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX), with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

February 22, 2008 DDG 62 completed its participation in the undersea warfare exercise while underway in the western Pacific, with the Nimitz (CVN 68) CSG and elements from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

July 4, The guided-missile destroyer recently arrived in Saipan to celebrate the Independence Day.

February 5, 2009 USS Fitzgerald, commanded by Cmdr. Richard Dromerhauser, arrived off the coast of Otaru, Japan, for a scheduled port visit.

February 12, The Fitzgerald returned to Fleet Activities Yokosuka after a routine underway period.

March 3, The destroyer is currently participating in Multi-Sail '09 exercise off the coast of Okinawa.

April 19, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Qingdao, People's Republic of China, to take part in the 2009 International Fleet Review, which is a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

July 28, DDG 62 pulled to Inchon, Republic of Korea, for a scheduled port visit.

August 11, The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Manila Bay, Republic of the Philippines, for a goodwill port call.

September 3, USS Fitzgerald returned home after a summer deployment with the George Washington (CVN 73) CSG.

October 26, The Fitzgerald arrived in Singapore to participate in a multinational Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise Deep Sabre II, Oct. 27-30.

November 7, USS Fitzgerald anchored in Victoria Harbor for a scheduled port visit to Hong Kong.

December 7, Sailors aboard the Fitzgerald are among the first to use a new version of the Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS), employing it for the first time in the Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness and Evaluation Measurement (SHAREM) 163 exercise, off the coast of Okinawa, Dec. 3-7. USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Connecticut (SSN 22) were also participating, along with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships.

April 13, 2010 USS Fitzgerald is currently participating in Multi-Sail 2010 exercise off the coast of Okinawa.

May 18, Cmdr. Dennis Velez relieved Cmdr. Richard Dromerhauser as CO of DDG 62 during a change-of-command ceremony at Fleet Activities Yokosuka’s Fleet Theater.

September 26, The Fitzgerald recently arrived in Pyeongtaek Naval Base for a brief port call before taking part in anti-submarine warfare exercise in the waters west of the Korean peninsula, Sept. 27- Oct. 1.

October 4, The guided-missiled destroyer pulled into White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa for refueling and supplies.

October 28, USS Fitzgerald departed Yokosuka for a few days at sea to avoid the approching Typhoon Chaba. The ship recently returned to homeport from its fall deployment.

November 6, The Fitzgerald departed CFAY for a Friends and Family Day Cruise.

November 24, USS Fitzgerald departed for joint naval drills with the Republic of Korea naval forces in the waters west of the Korean Peninsula, from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, as part of the USS George Washington CSG.

December 14, The Fitzgerald recently returned to Yokosuka after participating in exercise Keen Sword 2011, Nov. 3-10.

December 24, The guided-missile destroyer returned home after a week underway period in support of "National Tasking."

February 4, 2011 USS Fitzgerald arrived in Otaru, Japan, for a goodwill port visit. DDG 62 departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka Feb. 2.

February 24, The Fitzgerald is currently participating in a Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness and Evaluation Measurement (SHAREM) exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, off the coast of Okinawa.

March 12, DDG 62 departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka to prepare for any humanitarian assistance/disaster relief duties, if called upon, after a catastrophic magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck east coast of Japan on Friday.

March 28, USS Fitzgearld returned to Yokosuka for resupply and well deserved rest.

April 5, The Fitzgerald recently returned home after concluding its support of Operation Tomodachi.

May 26, USS Fitzgerald completed the basic phase of the training cycle after naval surface fire support (NSFS) and towing exercises off the coast of Japan.

May 28, The guided-missile destroyer departed CFAY for a few days to avoid Typhoon Songda.

June 12, USS Fitzgerald departed homeport for a routine Summer Patrol, as part of the USS George Washington CSG.

June 23, DDG 62 departed White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, after a routine port call.

July 4, USS Fitzgerald, along with USS McCampbell (DDG 85), arrived in Sydney for a scheduled port visit before participating in Talisman Sabre 2011, a joint-exercise with the Royal Australian Navy.

July 26, Cmdr. Brian T. Mutty relieved Cmdr. Dennis Velez as CO of the Fitzgerald during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at sea.

August 30, The guided-missile destroyer departed Yokosuka to avoid Tropical Storm Talas in anticipation of the typhoon’s projected arrival on early Friday morning.

October 1, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, for a three-day port visit.

October 13, DDG 62 departed Naval Base Guam to participate in a joint anti-terorism exercise Pacific Eagle 2011 with the Russian Federation Navy (RFN) forces, including Pacific Fleet flagship RFS Varyag (011), off Mariana Islands.

October 27, The Fitzgerald arrived in Saipan for a scheduled port visit to the capital of the U.S. Commonwealth of the northern Mariana Islands, before participating in a bilateral Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX 2011), as part of the USS George Washington CSG.

November 16, USS Fitzgerald recently arrived in Manila, Republic of the Philippines, to host the signing of the Manila Declaration in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty.

January 29, 2012 The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in Multi-Sail 2012 exercise, off the coast of Okinawa.

February 3, USS Fitzgerald returned to homeport after a two-week underway period.

February 24, USS Fitzgerald arrived in Busan, Republic of Korea, for a scheduled port visit. DDG 62 departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka Feb. 17.

March 22, The Fitzgerald returned to CFAY after a 16-day underway period.