USS The Sullivans was laid down on June 14, 1993, at Bath, Maine, by Bath Iron Works Co.; launched on August 12, 1995; sponsored by Kelly Sullivan Loughren, granddaughter of Albert Leo Sullivan; and commissioned at Staten Island, N.Y., on April 19, 1997, Cmdr. Gerard D. Roncolato in command. The ship is named after the five Sullivan brothers; George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert who were killed in action aboard the USS Juneau (CL 52) during the battle of Guadalcanal.

On April 26, The Sullivans departed New York for Norfolk where, after arriving on the 27th, the crew completed underway replenishment qualifications with Platte (AO 186). The guided-missile destroyer then sailed for Naval Station Mayport on April 29th and arrived in its new homeport May 2.

After completing two days of gunnery trials in mid-May, DDG 68 embarked upon her shakedown deployment to the West Indies on May 27. That cruise took it to the waters off Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where the ship conducted numerous sonar, gunnery, and torpedo exercises. USS The Sullivans also twice entered Roosevelt Roads and stopped once at St. Thomas for port visits. On June 29, she conducted test firings of Standard SM-2 ER missiles from its vertical launch system (VLS). After a brief stop at Mayport for the 4th of July weekend, she joined other U.S. Navy ships off the Virginia Capes for a multiple-ship missile firing exercise. The Sullivans returned to Mayport on July 12 for upkeep.

Following three days of damage control exercises in mid-August, the crew began preparations for a post shakedown availability. She sailed for Maine on September 3rd, arriving at Bath Iron Works on the 5th. The shipyard repainted the hull, altered the superstructure, and installed equipment upgrades in the engineering plant and combat systems suite. When the yard work was completed the destroyer got underway for Mayport, arriving there Nov. 23.

On Dec. 8, USS The sullivans joined USS Enterprise off the coast of Georgia for a week of underway training. While providing plane guard services on the 11th, a McDonnell Douglas T-45A trainer ("Goshawk") splashed following take-off. The Sullivans made a high-speed dash to the site. While the carrier's rescue helicopter safely rescued the pilot, boats launched by the destroyer picked up considerable pieces of wreckage which were helpful in determining the cause of the crash. The crew also completed helicopter deck landing qualifications before returning to port for the holidays on the 12th.

In January 1998, the crew of USS The Sullivans began a series of exercises designed "to build the capability for long-term self-sustained training onboard." They included engineering, combat, seamanship, and battle scenario training exercises. These local operations lasted until May 18, when the warship got underway for New York and the annual "Fleet Week" celebrations.

Following a week long port visit, DDG 68 got underway on May 26 for Halifax, Nova Scotia, to conduct training workups for the upcoming Exercise Unified Spirit '98. During the exercise it joined an amphibious task force formed around Nassau (LHA 4), two LPDs, and two LSDs. The warship screened the "Gator" ships during an exercise focusing on multi-national peace enforcement operations. Ships from Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal also participated in the exercise. After this exercise, the ship visited Boston and then sailed with relatives and family for Mayport, arriving on July 1st.

September 4, 1998 Cmdr. Scott E. Hebner relieved Cmdr. Roncolato as commanding officer of USS The Sullivans.

In 1999, the guided-missile destroyer participated in a various training exercises to prepare for its maiden deployment in October to the Mediterranean Sea and then in 2000 continued into the Arabian Sea and participated in exercises and boarding operations until late March.

February 9, 2000 Cmdr. Daniel Paul Keller relieved Cmdr. Heber ac CO of DDG 68 in a change of command ceremony, held at sea on station in the Arabian Gulf.

After port visits in the Persian Gulf, the ship returned through the Mediterranean to its homeport in April 2000, successfully completing its first six-month deployment. After participating in Beach Fest at Port Canaveral, Fla, The Sullivans underwent a major maintenance overhaul to prepare for future operations.

February 16, 2002 USS The Sullivans departed homeport, as part of USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group, to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She returned to Mayport August 17.

August 20, 2004 USS The Sullivans, commanded by Cmdr. Richard Brown, departed Naval Station Mayport for a deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

September 21, DDG 68 arrived in Valletta, Malta, for a scheduled port visit.

October 6, The Sullivans is currently participating in a multilateral naval exercise in the Adriatic Sea with forces from Albania, Croatia and Macedonia Oct. 3-15. Named Adriatic PHIBLEX (Amphibious Landing Exercise), the exercise will include amphibious landings in Croatia, maritime interception operations, basic seamanship and coastal maneuvering, surface gunnery exercises, helicopter operations, and search and rescue scenarios.

November 17, USS The Sullivans provided assistance to damaged dhow Al Suleman in the Gulf of Oman, when the vessel was seen adrift. The 17-member crew of the dhow vessel from Karachi, Pakistan, had been under way for 21 days and adrift for 13 of them.

December 11, Cmdr. Wade Wilkenson relieved Cmdr. Rich Brown as commanding officer of USS The Sullivans.

December 13, DDG 68 departed Oman after a six-day port visit. Since transiting the Suez Canal Nov. 3 to operate with CTF 150, the ship has conducted 17 MIO boardings. The guided-missile destroyer is deployed to the Gulf of Oman under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 150, to support coalition efforts in the global war on terrorism (GWOT).

February 13, 2005 USS The Sullivans returned to Naval Station Mayport after completing a six-month underway period.

March 15, The Sullivans departed Savannah, Ga., after participating in St. Patrick's Day ceremonies.

December 1, The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Philadelphia for a Fleet Week.

June 7, 2006 DDG 68 is currently in the Atlantic Ocean to take part in Neptune Warrior, a course designed to enhance coordination between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.

June 30, USS The Sullivans completed the Neptune Warrior course in the North Atlantic. Capt. Robert E. Kapcio, COMDESRON 24, served as the Task Group Commander for one side during the 10-day scenario. He and his staff also evaluated the three U.S. ships for their deployment certification. Monterey (CG 61), Boone (FFG 28) and The Sullivans will return to homeport and prepare to deploy later this year.

October 12, DDG 68 is currently anchored in the Chesapeake Bay for a port visit to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

November 27, USS The Sullivans departed homeport, as part of Surface Strike Group (SSG) 07-1, for a six-month deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations.

Febryary 2, 2007 The guided-missile destroyer is currently in the Aegean Sea conducting maritime safety and security operations with the Turkey Navy.

February 6, USS The Sullivans arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, for a scheduled port call.

April 13, DDG 68 is currently participating in a National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led exercise Noble Manta from April 12-22. The largest joint anti-submarine warfare exercise held annually in the Mediterranean Sea, Noble Manta 2007 involves 10 NATO countries which provide maritime patrol aircraft, surface and subsurface assets.

May 3, The Sullivans recently departed Batumi, Georgia, after a port visit.

May 29, USS The Sullivans returned to Mayport after participated in seven multi-lateral exercises including Noble Dina and operated in 6th Fleet as part of Commander, Naval Forces Europe.

June 14, USS The Sullivans, commanded by Cmdr. Anthony Parisi, arrived in New York City to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the ship’s commissioning at Staten Island.

July 1, DDG 68 pulled to Gloucester, Mass., to participate in Navy Week.

March 29, 2008 The guided-missile destroyer is currently off the coast of Florida, conducting a group sail operations, as part of USS Theodore Roodevelt Carrier Strike Group.

September 12, USS The Sullivans departed Naval Station Mayport for a scheduled deployment.

October 19, Seven NATO warships from Standing Naval Maritime Group (SNMG) Two, including DDG 68, arrived off the coast of Somalia to help in the battle against pirates in the region. In September, The Sullivans' had the honor of participating in the first Navy monument dedication in Normandy, France.

January 7, 2009 USS The Sullivans recently pulled to Yokosuka, Japan, for a rare port visit in the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet Area of Operation.

February 16, The Sullivans arrived in Cochin, India, for a goodwill port visit. The guided-missile destroyer recently participated in undersea warfare exercise with the Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The ship also visited Chinhae, Republic of Korea; and Singapore during deployment.

April 8, USS The Sullivans departed Portsmouth, England, after a four-day port visit.

April 18, DDG 68 returned to homeport after a seven-month underway period.

August 28, Cmdr. Neil E. Funtanilla relieved Cmdr. Ryan C. Tillotson as new commanding officer of USS The Sullivans.

February 19, 2010 USS The Sullivans departed Mayport for a scheduled deployment, the first as Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capable ship.

April 7, DDG 68 damaged one of its two propellers after striking a buoy chain March 20 in the Persian Gulf. The incident was initially reported as a Class A mishap, but was downgraded to a Class B on April 2, meaning there was at least $200,000 in damage, permanent partial disability or three or more personnel hospitalized as inpatients.

May 18, Rear Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of Combined Task Force 50, fired Cmdr. Neil Funtanila in Manama, Bahrain, after a non-judicial hearing found he was "derelict in the performance of his duties." Cmdr. Robert Cepek assumed temporary command.

September 19, USS The Sullivans returned home after a seven-month underway period in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR). The guided-missile destroyer traveled more than 35,000 n.m. and visited several ports, including Malaga, Spain, recently.

April 15, 2011 DDG 68 departed Naval Station Mayport for a Friends and Family Day Cruise.

September 7, Vice Adm. Daniel P. Holloway, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, fired Cmdr. Mark Olson due to "a loss of confidence in his ability to command." He was in command on Aug. 17 when the ship was conducting a gunnery exercise at the Cherry Point Operating Range Area, off the North Carolina coast. During the exercise, The Sullivans mistook a fishing vessel for a towed gunnery target and began firing inert rounds at the vessel. They landed close but did not strike the boat. None of the fishermen was harmed. USS The Sullivans was scheduled to deploy Wednesday but was delayed since the ship will now have to complete predeployment certifications, including some exercises, under a new CO Cmdr. Sylvester Steele.

October 7, USS The Sullivans departed Mayport for an independent Mediterranean deployment with a primary focus on Ballistic Missile Defense.

October 27, The guided-missile destroyer pulled into Souda Bay, Greece, for a routine port call. The ship recently departed Gaeta, Italy, after a brief port visit.

November 8, Cmdr. Derick Armstrong relieved Cmdr. Sylvester Steele as CO of the DDG 68 during a change-of-coomand ceremony on board the ship at Rota, Spain.

November 24, USS The Sullivans arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, for a scheduled port call. The ship participated in a multi-national exercise Grampus, hosted by the French Navy, Nov. 8-21.

November 30, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Split, Croatia, for a three-day port visit.

December 26, USS The Sullivans recently departed Haifa, Israel, after a scheduled port visit.

January 24, 2012 DDG 68 arrived at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay for a routine port visit.