Bath Iron Work's first Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyer proudly bears the name of private First Class Oscar P. Austin, United States Marine Corps. Displaying indomitable courage and selfless devotion to duty, Pfc Austin was killed on February 23, 1969, when he sacrificed his own life to save an injured companion. He has been recognized with numerous medals and decorations, including the Purple Heart, the National Defense Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Medal of Honor.

The most significant change associated with Flight IIA is the addition of dual helicopter hangars aft, on either side of the after VLS. Other upgrades to the ships' aviation capabilities include addition of Recovery Assistance, Securing and Traversing (RAST) helicopter hauldown systems on the flight deck, relocation of the helicopter control station, and additional berthing for a full aviation detachment. To accommodate these changes there have been numerous other alterations, including raising the aft VLS and aft SPY-1D radar faces by one deck level, relocation of the Mk32 12.75 inch torpedo tubes, removal of the Harpoon missiles and the SQR-19 towed array, and extensive internal rearrangements around the helicopter hangars.

November 7, 1998 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Oscar Austin was christened and launched during a ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Mrs. Dianne F. Reason, the wife of Adm. J. Paul Reason, Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, served as sponsor of the ship. Cmdr. Paul C. Smith is the prospective commanding officer.

August 19, 2000 USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) was commissioned during a ceremony at Bath, Maine.

November 30, 2001 Cmdr. John P. Cordle relieved Cmdr. Paul C. Smith as CO of the Oscar Austin.

March 3, 2002 The Oscar Austin arrived in Kiel, Germany, to participate in Operation Strong Resolve.

December 5, USS Oscar Austin departed Naval Station Norfolk for its maiden deployment, with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Battle Group, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

March 21, 2003 Thirty U.S. Navy and coalition warships, including DDG 79, launched the Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) during military operations to disarm Iraq.

May 23, USS Oscar Austin returned to homeport after nearly a six-month underway period, supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in the Mediterranean.

July 25, Cmdr. Ralph L. Tindall, III relieved Cmdr. John P. Cordle as commanding officer of the USS Oscar Austin.

June 7, 2004 The Oscar Austin recently moored at Port of Gydnia, Poland, to participate in the 32nd annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2004.

August 20, DDG 79 departed homeport to participate in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s annual theater Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise, Smart Search ’04, starting Aug. 29 off the East Coast. This is the fourth year of the annual exercise and is headed by Commander, Task Force 84.

February 18, 2005 Cmdr. Peter C. DeMane relieved Cmdr. Ralph L. Tindall, III as the 4th CO of DDG 79.

September 1, USS Oscar Austin departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

November 16, Members of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1 are currently leading a group of six coalition ships conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the North Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The strike group’s flagship, USS Tarawa (LHA 1) and USS Cleveland (LPD 7) are joined by USS Oscar Austin.

February 14, 2006 USS Oscar Austin located and assisted a distressed the Italian fishing vessel Zaira SR 2437, while operating 140 nautical miles off the coast of Sicily. The destroyer was headed to Civitavecchia, Italy, the next scheduled port of call.

April 28, DDG 79 departed Norfolk to participate in Fleet Week festivities in Port Everglades, Fla. This is the ship's first trip out to sea since returning from a six-month deployment as part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22.

October 20, Cmdr. Eric F. Weilenman relieved Cmdr. Peter C. DeMane as CO of the Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Naval Station Norfolk.

April 3, 2007 The Oscar Austin is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean for a Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA), as part of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG.

May 23, USS Oscar Austin pulled into New York City to participate in Fleet Week 2007.

July 24, The Oscar Austin departed Port Everglades, Fla., after a four-day port visit to participate in a JTFEX.

November 5, USS Oscar Austin departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment with the Truman Carrier Strike Group.

November 20, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Palermo, Italy, for a scheduled port visit.

May 14, 2008 The Oscar Austin recently moored at Toulon Naval Base, France, for a scheduled port call.

April 22, Cmdr. James R. Midkiff relieved Cmdr. Eric F. Weilenman as CO of the USS Oscar Austin.

June 2, The Oscar Austin moored at Naval Station Newport, R.I., for a brief stop to embark friends and family members for a Tiger Cruise.

June 4, USS Oscar Austin returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a seven-month deployment.

December 4, USS Oscar Austin arrived in Philadelphia, Pa., to participate in the festivities surrounding the upcoming 109th Army-Navy college football game on Dec. 6.

April 29, 2009 The Oscar Austin is currently participating in an annual multi-national maritime exercise UNITAS Gold, off the coast of Florida.

October 23, Cmdr. Jeffrey J. Hoppe relieved Cmdr. Eric F. Weilenman as CO of DDG 79.

May 21, 2010 USS Oscar Austin departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR), as part of the Harry S. Truman CSG.

June 8, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Constanta, Romania, for a three-day port visit and to participate in a joint exercises with the Romanian Naval Forces.

November 18, USS Oscar Austin located and provided assistance to two Iranian mariners who were spotted, around 5 a.m., floating in a life raft in the Arabian Gulf, approximately 1,000 yards outside of Iranian territorial waters. The destroyer remained on scene until 12:30 p.m., when the mariners were picked up by an Iranian Coast Guard search and rescue vessel. DDG 79 is currently conducting maritime security operations under the command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 152.

December 20, USS Oscar Austin returned to homeport after a seven-month deployment.

August 25, 2011 The Oscar Austin emergency sortied from Naval Station Norfolk avoid the approaching Category 3 Hurricane Irene.

November 1?, Cmdr. Charlos D. Washington relieved Cmdr. Jeffrey J. Hoppe as commanding officer of DDG 79.

January 30, 2012 Capt. Nelson C. Castro relieved Capt. Peter C. DeMane as Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, during a change-of-command ceremony on board the Oscar Austin at Naval Station Norfolk.

March 19, USS Oscar Austin is currently underway for a Group Sail operations as part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) CSG.

May 2, The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in Eisenhower CSG's Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) as part of opposition forces.

July 18, USS Oscar Austin departed Norfolk for a scheduled independent deployment in support of Operation Ocean Shield.

October 22, Cmdr. Brian J. Diebold relieved Cmdr. Charlos D. Washington as CO of the Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Port Louis. DDG 79 recently arrived in Mauritius for a week-long port visit.

December 31, The Oscar Austin pulled again into Port Louis for a scheduled port visit.

January 18, 2013 USS Oscar Austin recently pulled into Augusta Bay, Sicily, for a brief port call to conduct turnover with the USS Gonzalez (DDG 66).

February 9, The guided-missile destroyer pulled into Funchal, Portugal, for a brief stop at Madeira Island to refuel.

February 17, USS Oscar Austin returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a seven-month Middle East deployment.

May 20, 2014 The Oscar Austin departed homeport for a two-month deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet AoR; Brief stop in Rota, Spain, on June 1.

June 4, USS Oscar Austin pulled into Cherbourg, France, for a three-day port call to participate in the 70th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landing at Utah Beach in World War II.

June 9, DDG 79 entered the Baltic Sea to participate in annual multinational maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2014, from June 9-20.

June 20, USS Oscar Austin moored at Scheermole, Tirpitzhafen Naval Base in Kiel, Germany, for a four-day port visit to participate in annual Kiel Week celebration.

June 25, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 17 in Port of Tallinn, Estonia, for a two-day port visit.

June 28, The guided-missile destroyer moored at Oil Terminal T2 in Port of Riga, Latvia, for a two-day port call.

July 1, USS Oscar Austin moored at French Quay, Baltic General Cargo Terminal in Port of Gdynia, Poland, for a two-day port visit.

July 3, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 81a, Passenger and Cargo Terminal in Port of Klaipeda, Lithuania, for a two-day port call; Anchored off Plymouth, England, for a brief stop to conduct personnel transfer on July 10; Brief stop to refuel at Ponta Delgada, Portugal, on July 15.

July 25, DDG 79 arrived in Naval Station Mayport, Fla., for a brief stop to embark friends and family members; Returned to Norfolk on July 26.

August 1, Cmdr. Russel B. Sanchez relieved Cmdr. Brian J. Diebold as the 10th CO of Oscar Austin during a pierside ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

October 4, The Oscar Austin recently departed homeport for Independent Deployer Certification Exercise (IDCERTEX) and in support of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) ARG's Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

November 21, USS Oscar Austin departed Norfolk for a scheduled independent deployment in support of Operation Ocean Shield.

November 28, The Oscar Austin moored at NATO Fuel Pier in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, for a brief stop at Sao Miguel Island to refuel.

December 9, The guided-missile destroyer moored at West Berth K14, NATO Fuel Depot in Souda Bay, Greece, for a brief port call; Transited the Suez Canal on Dec. 12.

December 16, The Oscar Austin recently pulled into Djibouti for turnover with the USS James E. Williams (DDG 95).?

January 17, 2015 USS Oscar Austin moored between two buoys off the coast of Victoria, Seychelles, for a liberty port visit.

February 27, DDG 79 moored at Quay A, Terminal 1 in Port Louis, Mauritius, for a week-long liberty visit; Inport Victoria, Seychelles, again from April 17-21.

June 21, The Oscar Austin transited the Suez Canal northbound, along with the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) ARG.

June 23, USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth K14 in Souda Bay, Crete, to conduct turnover with the USS Bainbridge (DDG 96); Inport Ponta Delgada, Azores, from July 3-4.

July 10, USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth 2, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk following a nearly eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet AoR.

October 12, The Oscar Austin moved "dead-stick" from Naval Station Norfolk to BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair in Portsmouth, Va., for a six-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).

April 28, 2016 USS Oscar Austin returned to Norfolk after underway for sea trials off the coast of Virginia.

May 2, Cmdr. Janice G. Smith relieved Cmdr. Russel B. Sanchez as CO of the Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony at Berth 6, Pier 2.

May 26, The guided-missile destroyer moored at Berth 1, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk after underway for routine training in the Virginia Capes Op. Area.

July 1, USS Oscar Austin recently moored at Freeport Cruise Port, Bahamas, for a liberty visit to celebrate the 4th of July.

July 25, The Oscar Austin departed Naval Station Norfolk for a routine training off the coast of Virginia.

September 16, USS Oscar Austin is currently moored at Berth 1, Pier 6 on Naval Station Norfolk, undergoing a Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV); Underway for routine training from Oct. 10-14; Underway in support of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) CSG's COMPTUEX, as part of opposition forces, on Nov. 28.

February 4, 2017 USS Oscar Austin, along with the USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), participated in a Missile Exercise (MISSILEX), while underway off the coast of North Carolina; Completed Task Group Exercise (TGEX) in the Jacksonville Op. Area on Feb. 1?.

April 17, USS Oscar Austin, with an embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46 Det. 1, departed Berth 6, Pier 5 for a scheduled independent deployment.

April 26, DDG 79 moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a two-day port call; Moored at Berth K10, East Refueling Wharf in Souda Bay, Crete, from May 2-3; Transited the Bosporus Strait northbound on May 5.

May 11, USS Oscar Austin moored at Passenger Berth in Port of Constanta, Romania, for a one-day visit to refuel; Participated in a bilateral underway engagement with the ROS Regele Ferdinand (F221) and BGS Drazki (F41) from May 12-14.

May 15, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 7, Container Terminal in Port of Varna East, Bulgaria, for a five-day visit; Transited the Bosporus Strait southbound on May 21; Transited the Suez Canal southbound on May 2?; Transited northbound on Aug. ?.

August 6, USS Oscar Austin recently moored at Western Terminal in Haifa, Israel, for a scheduled port visit before participating in at-sea phase of an annual search and rescue exercise Reliant Mermaid.

August 14, The Oscar Austin anchored off Theoule-sur-Mer, France, for a two-day visit to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of allied troops landing in Provence during World War II.

August 18, The guided-missile destroyer moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota for a five-day maintenance availability.

August 27, USS Oscar Austin moored outboard the HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310) at Haakonsvern Naval Base, Norway, for a three-day port visit to Bergen; Transited the Great Belt Strait southbound on Sept. 14.

September 16, USS Oscar Austin moored at Strommen Buoy 1 off Stadsgarden in Stockholm, Sweden, for a four-day liberty port visit before participating in a joint exercise Aurora 17.

September 30, DDG 79 moored at Eckernforde Naval Base, Germany, for a four-day port visit; Transited the Fehmarn Belt Strait eastbound on Oct. 4; Transited the Great Belt Strait northbound on Oct. 7; Transited the English Channel westbound on Oct. 9.

October 10, The Oscar Austin moored at Carrier Pier 4E in Arsenal de Brest, France, for a two-day port call.

October 11, Cmdr. Samantha A. Dutily relieved Cmdr. Janice G. Smith as the 12th CO of Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

October 13, USS Oscar Austin transited the Dover Strait northbound; Transited the Straits of Moyle southbound on Oct. 21.

October 21, The Oscar Austin moored at minewarfare vessel berth on Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde in Faslane, Scotland, for a one-day port call; Entered the North Sea on Oct. 24.

October 27, USS Oscar Austin moored at Filipstad Quay in Port of Oslo, Norway, for a four-day liberty visit; Transited the English Channel westbound from Nov. 2-3; Participated in a bilateral underway engagement with the NRP Corte-Real (F332), off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal, on Nov. 6.

November 8, DDG 79 moored at NATO Fuel Pier in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, for a two-day visit to Sao Miguel Island.

November 17, USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth 2, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet AoR.

December 14, The Oscar Austin moved from Pier 5 to Berth 2, Pier 10 on Naval Station Norfolk.

December 26, BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair was awarded a $41,6 million contract for the execution of USS Oscar Austin's Depot Modernization Period (DMP). This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $117,2 million and the work is expected to be completed by February 2019.

January 19, 2018 USS Oscar Austin departed homeport in support of emergent national tasking; Moored at Wharf C1 in Naval Station Mayport, Fla., from Jan. 26-27; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 5 on Jan. 29; Moved "dead-stick" to Old Dominion Dry Dock in BAE Systems shipyard on Feb. 21; Undocked and moored at Pier 6 on Aug. ?.

May 17, 2019 Cmdr. Wesley A. Brown relieved Cmdr. Samantha A. Dutily as CO of the Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony at Vista Point Club on Naval Station Norfolk.

January 22, 2020 USS Oscar Austin moved "dead-stick" from BAE Systems shipyard to Berth 2, Pier 7 on Naval Station Norfolk.

November 13, Cmdr. Matthew I. Krull relieved Cmdr. Wesley A. Brown as CO of the Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

February 17, 2022 USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth 2, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk after a three-day underway for sea trials, following an extended four-year overhaul; Anchored at Explosives Anchorage G4 for a brief stop before underway again on Feb. 22; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 4 on March 7.

April 11, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 1, Pier 1 on Naval Station Norfolk after a three-day underway in the Virginia Capes Op. Area.

June 3, Cmdr. Bryan T. Wolfe relieved Cmdr. Matthew I. Krull as the 15th CO of Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

June 23, USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth 2, Pier 7 on Naval Station Norfolk after a 10-day underway for routine training; Underway again on July 26; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 5 on July 29; Underway again from Aug. 8-9.

August 26, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 5, Pier 4 on Naval Station Norfolk after a week-long underway in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Underway again on Sept. 26; Moored at Berth 5, Pier 14 on Oct. 1.

October 14, USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth 1, Pier 4 on Naval Station Norfolk after a nine-day underway in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Moored at NWS Yorktown for ammo onload from Dec. 5-9; Returned home on Friday afternoon; Underway again on Jan. 13.

January 20, 2023 USS Oscar Austin moored at Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport for a five-day port call; Arrived at AUTEC range, off the east coast of Andros Island, just after midnight on Jan. 27; Arrived off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., in support of national tasking on Feb. 4.

February 6, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 5, Pier 4 on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway again from Feb. 14-17; Underway in support of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) CSG's COMPTUEX, in the Cherry Point, Charleston and Jacksonville Op. Areas, from March 2-23; Underway again on April 20.

April 27, The Oscar Austin moored at NATO Fuel Pier in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, for a brief stop to refuel; Moored at Grotsund Terminal in Port of Tromso, Norway, for the in-port phase of NATO exercise Formidable Shield 23, on May 4; Underway for at-sea phase on May 8.

May 9, the Oscar Austin conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the SPS Patino (A14), while underway off the nortwest coast of Norway; Transited westbound, south of Shetland Islands, just before midnight on May 14; Participated in a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) on May 15; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the SPS Patino, while underway off the west coast of Scotland, on May 19; Moored outboard the USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) at Berth 1/2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota, Spain, from May 27- June 1.

June 9, USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth 6, Pier 2 on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway again on June 27.

June 30, USS Oscar Austin moored at Breakwater Pier in Eastport, Maine, for a six-day port visit to participate in Independence Day and Old Home Week festivities; Returned home on July 8; Underway again from July 11-12 and Aug. 9-17; Underway in support of Operation NANOOK 23 on Aug. 19.

August 22, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 24 for a brief stop to refuel before moored at Berth 18 in Port of St. John's, Newfoundland, for a two-day visit; Moored at HMC Dockyard Jetty NB3 on Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Aug. 29- Sept. 2; Brief stop at Berth 24 before moored at Berth 18 in Port of St. John's on Sept. 4; Underway on Sept. 7.

September 14, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 1, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway in support of carrier escort duties for HMS Prince of Wales (R09) on Sept. 17; Moored at Wharf A2 on Naval Station Mayport from Sept. 20-25; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 2 on Sept. 26; Underway again from Sept. 29-30.

October 2, DDG 79 moored at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown for a three-day ammo offload; Returned home on Oct. 5; Underway off the coast of Virginia from Oct. 10-11; Moved to Berth 2, Pier 14 on Talton Marine Terminal in Newport News, Va., on Oct. 16.

October 27, Cmdr. Scott B. Burrill relieved Cmdr. Bryan T. Wolfe as CO of the Oscar Austin during a change-of-command ceremony at Pier 7 on Naval Station Norfolk.

February 6, 2024 USS Oscar Austin moved "dead-stick" from Talton Marine Terminal to Berth 1, Pier 4 on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway for sea trials, following a four-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA), from Feb. 8-9; Underway again on Feb. 22; Moored at NWS Yorktown for ammo onload from Feb. 26-29; Moored at Berth 3, Pier 12 on Feb. 29; Underway again on March 15.

March 24, The Oscar Austin moored at Wharf B1 on Naval Station Mayport for a two-day port call; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 6 in Naval Station Norfolk on March 30; Underway again on April 27; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 6 on May 3.

June 21, USS Oscar Austin moored at Berth 5, Pier 7 on Naval Station Norfolk after an 11-day underway in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Underway again on June 28.

July 1, USS Oscar Auston moored at Berth 5, Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in South Boston, Mass., for a week-long port visit to participate in Harborfest and the Fourth of July festivities.

July 10, The Oscar Austin moored at Berth 6, Pier 7 on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway in support of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG's COMPTUEX on July 26; Brief stop off Mayport on Aug. 19; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 6 on Aug. 24; Underway for a homeport change to Rota, Spain, on Sept. 30; Moored at NWS Yorktown for ammo onload from Oct. 1-4.

October 12, The Oscar Austin moored at NATO Fuel Pier in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, for a brief stop to refuel; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 in its new homeport of Naval Station Rota on Oct. 15; Moved to Berth 1, Pier 1 on Oct. 20; Moved to Berth 3, Pier 1 on Dec. 4.

December 11, USS Oscar Austin departed Rota for its first forward-deployed patrol; Transited the Strait of Gibraltar eastbound on Dec. 12.