February 19, 2000 USS Mahan departed Norfolk Naval Station for a maiden deployment to the Arabian Gulf, as part of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Battle Group. The guided-missile destroyer returned to homeport August 18.

The Mahan (DDG 72) was deployed for the second time in Arabian Gulf, June 20 - Dec. 20, 2002, in support of operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom, along with USS George Washington BG. Ships of the GW Battle Group also participated in numerous exercises with allies in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. This included Med Shark 2002, a joint task force exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy and Air Force. In this exercise, USS Mahan and USNS Supply worked alongside four Moroccan warships, conducting maneuvering, flashing light and air-tracking exercises; boarding, undersea warfare and restricted transit drills; and surface gunfire exercises. While deployed overseas, battle group ships visited 16 different countries, including Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Slovenia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

December 18, 2004 USS Mahan returned Norfolk after a two-month surge deployment in support of Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). The ship deployed alongside the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Oct. 13, in support of Operation Active Endeavor in the eastern Mediterranean.

May 16, DDG 72 departed homeport for a six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

June 23, USS Mahan is currently participating in FRUKUS ’05, a multilateral fleet training and command post exercise in the eastern Atlantic Ocean June 20-25. Also is participating French Navy destroyer De Grasse, the Russian Federation Navy destroyer Adm. Levchenko, and the Royal Navy frigate Montrose.

July 20, The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, for a routine port visit.

July 26, Approximately 1,200 U.S. Sailors and Marines kicked off a series of naval training engagements with forces from Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine in the Black Sea July 23. U.S. assets deployed to the Black Sea include USS Nashville (LPD 13), USS Mahan, and air assets assigned to Task Force 67.

November 15, USS Mahan returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a scheduled deployment in Mediterranean. She patrolled the Black Sea and strengthened allied capabilities by providing maritime interception operations training to Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine forces.

June 14, 2006 USS Mahan, commanded by Cmdr. Frank Olmo, is currently in the Atlantic Ocean participating in Exercise Frontier Sentinel. Frontier Sentinel marks the first time a U.S. Navy surface combatant ship operated under the tactical control of the Coast Guard for a Maritime Homeland Security mission.

February 2, 2007 DDG 72 pulled to Boston for a few days in the New England port city before resuming a NATO joint operational training mission in the Atlantic Ocean.

February 20, The guided-missile destroyer is currently in Port Canaveral, Fla., for a scheduled port visit.

March 7, DDG 72 is currently in the Atlantic Ocean conducting trainings in support of Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1.

April 4, USS Mahan recently departed Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, after a brief port call.

April 11, Cmdr. Richard M. Miller Jr. relieved Cmdr. Frank J. Olmo, as commanding officer of USS Mahan, during the change of command ceremony held aboard the ship in Fort de France, Martinique.

April 28, The Arleigh Burke-class ship recently departed Mindelo, Cape Verde, after a brief port visit.

May 19, USS Mahan is currently conducting routine trainings in the Baltic Sea.

May 28, DDG 72 recently departed Gdynia, Poland, after a scheduled port call. Mahan turned over duties to USS Normandy (CG 60) as the flagship for Rear Adm Michael K. Mahon, commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1).

June 8, USS Mahan participated in combined Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) with the Russian frigate, Neustrashimy (RFS 712), June 6 as part of the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2007. BALTOPS, taking place June 4 - 15, is the largest annual international training event organized in the Baltic Sea and includes in-port and at-sea serialized training events designed to build interoperability and better information-sharing practices with partnering nations.

July 9, 2008 The guided-missile destroyer is currently in the Atlantic Ocean as part of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX).

September 9, USS Mahan departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations.

January 25, 2009 The Mahan, commanded by Cmdr. Stephen F. Murphy, is currently conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151.

April 7, DDG 72 returned to homeport after a seven-month underway period.

July 19, USS Mahan, along with HMAS Sydney (FFG 03) and HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155), pulled to New York City for a four-day port visit as part of operation Northern Trident 2009. The Mahan met the Royal Australian ships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the two navies conducted combined operations during the transit to New York. The two frigates are scheduled to also visit Baltimore and Norfolk in reciprocation for the U.S. Navy's "Great White Fleet" celebrations in Australia in 2008.

June 11, 2010 USS Mahan participated in a multinational Southeast Anti-Submarine Warfare Integration Training Initiative (SEASWITI) exercise 10-3, off the eastern coast of Florida June 4-9.

September 17, The XO Cmdr. Charles Mansfield has been relieved of duty for strucking a subordinate officer while the ship was on training July 9. The incident took place in the Mahan's combat direction center in front of several other sailors.

November 7, USS Mahan departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations.

February 15, 2011 DDG 72 recently arrived in Port Victoria, Seychelles, for a a goodwill port call.

May 11, The Mahan arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, for a brief port visit to participate in International Defense Industry Fair 2011.

June 8, USS Mahan returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a seven-month underway period in the Mediterranean Sea and Northeast Africa.

August 15, The guided-missile destroyer pulled into Naval Station Newport, R.I., for a four-day visit to conduct school ship training with Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS).

August 25, The Mahan departed Naval Station Norfolk to avoid the approaching Category 3 Hurricane Irene.

November 4, Cmdr. Adam M. Aycock relieved Cmdr. Kurt A. Mondlak as Commanding Officer of USS Mahan.

April 4, 2012 Twelve Sailors from USS Mahan received non-judicial punishment under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for the use, purchase, and/or distribution of illegal synthetic cannabinoid, also known as "Spice," during Captain's Mast proceeding held aboard the ship. DDG 72 completed a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) in March.