Named for Adm. Richard H. O’Kane, DDG 77 was commissioned October 23, 1999. Adm. O’Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor for his daring attacks on two Japanese convoys while in command of the World War II submarine USS Tang (SS 306) in 1944. After his submarine was sunk, the Japanese captured then-Cmdr. O’Kane, who spent the rest of the war in captivity.

August 1, 2001 USS O'Kane departed on a maiden western Pacific deployment, as part of USS Carl Vinson Battle Group. The guided-missile destroyer returned to Pearl Harbor after supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2002.

July 5, 2002 DDG 77 is currently participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) '02, a biannual exercise held off the waters of Hawaii.

August 11, USS O'Kane returned to Pearl Harbor after a visit to Hilo, on the big island of Hawaii, where her crew took part in the 41st International Festival of the Pacific (IFOP). The annual festival celebrates Japanese culture and its impact on Hawaiian life.

September 5, Cmdr. Michael S. Viland relieved Cmdr. Taylor W. Skardon as commanding officer of USS O'Kane.

March 21, 2003 Thirty U.S. Navy and coalition warships, including USS O'Kane, launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) during military operations to disarm Iraq.

July 20, DDG 77 became the first U.S. Navy ship in three years to visit the port city of Suva, Fiji, when the warship arrived here for a two-day port visit.

July 28, USS O'Kane returned to homeport afte a nearly seven-month underway period in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

February 7, 2005 USS O'Kane departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment, with USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike group, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 29, DDG 77 returned to homeport after nearly a six-month deployment, conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) off the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean.

July 5, 2006 The guided-missile destroyer departed Pearl Harbor to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006. Conducted in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC '06 brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

September 19, USS O'Kane, commanded by Cmdr. J. J. Duke, is currently off the coast of southern California participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), as part of the John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group Three.

January 26, 2007 USS O'Kane departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment with the Stennis CSG.

February 19, DDG 77 entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AoO) to conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

July 4, USS O'Kane recently arrived in Jebel Ali, U.A.E., for a scheduled port call.

August 10, The guided-missile destroyer is currently off the coast of Guam participating in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007.

August 20, USS O'Kane, commanded by Cmdr. Tom Druggan, returned home after a seven-month deployment.

April 18, 2008 DDG 77 departed Pearl Harbor for a surge underway period, to join USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the western Pacific.

June 8, USS O'Kane returned to homeport after a two-month deployment.

July 7, The guided-missile destroyer departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008 Exercise with units from Australia, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Taking part are 35 ships, six submarines, more than 150 aircraft, and 20,000 Sailors, airmen, Marines, soldiers and Coast Guardsmen.

September 25, USS O'Kane, along with USS Reuben James (FFG 57), departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment that calls for nine of the 11 Hawaii-based surface combatants to conduct intermediate/advanced training and regular deployments in the western Pacific, and is designed to improve the U.S. Pacific Fleet's war fighting readiness and effectiveness.

February 9, 2009 USS O'Kane, commanded by Cmdr. Timothy Steadman, returned to Pearl Harbor after a four-and-a-half month underway period. While on deployment, the crew participated in various exercises, including ANNUALEX 20G and the defense of Iraqi oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. The ship also visited Singapore and Guam.

September 14, USS O'Kane departed homeport for a western Pacific deployment.

October 13, DDG 77 is currently in western Korean waters participating in a joint drill with USS George Washington (CVN 73) CSG and Korea's Second Fleet.

October 29, The O'Kane arrived in Hong Kong for a goodwill port visit.

November 10, The guided-missile destroyer began its participation in Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 21G off the coast of Japan.

December 15, USS O'Kane returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after a three-month underway period.

July 2, 2010 Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) completed the O'Kane's Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) on time and within budget June 19. Work performed included decking preservation, helo safety net repairs, gas turbine resilient mount replacement on the ship's generators and alignment of various equipment.

July 9, USS O'Kane departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a Middle East deployment.

February 8, 2011 DDG 77 returned home after a seven-month deployment as part of Commander, Task Force-Iraqi Maritime, supporting maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

April 14, USS O'Kane, located west of Hawaii, fired and guided an SM-3 Block IA missile that intercepted the intermediate-range ballistic missile, fired from the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, at 08.52 p.m. (Hawaii Time). The test was the first time the Aegis system shot down an intermediate-range ballistic missile and also marked the 21st successful intercept, in 25 attempts, for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program since flight testing began in 2002.

October 13, The O'Kane participated in a passing exercise (PASSEX), off the coast of Hawaii, with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships: JS Mineyuki (DD 124), JS Kashima (TV 3508) and JS Asagiri (TV 3516).

November 7, Cmdr. Michael E. Ray relieved Cmdr. Derek A. Trinque as CO of the USS O'Kane during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Pearl Harbor.

November 18, The guided-missile destroyer returned to homeport after participating in integrated training exercise "Koa Kai 12-1", off the coast of Hawaii, Nov. 10-17.