Shoup is the 36th of 58 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers currently authorized by Congress and the 16th of this DDG 51 Aegis destroyer program to be built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. Construction of DDG 86 began at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Ingalls Operations on November 10, 1998. The ship's keel was laid on December 13, 1999, and it was launched on November 22, 2000.

PCU Shoup sailed into the Gulf of Mexico for her first sea trials on December 11, 2001. The ship was delivered to the Navy by Northrop Grumman on February 18, 2002, and departed Pascagoula on April 22, 2002. DDG 86 was commissioned on June 22, 2002, at Port Terminal 37 in Seattle. The ship is named in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Gen. David M. Shoup (1904- 1983), a naval hero of World War II, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the initial landings on Betio, Tarawa Atoll, in the Pacific in 1943, and who later became the 22nd commandant of the Marine Corps.

May 13, 2004 USS Shoup departed Naval Station Everett, Wa., to transit the coast of Washington, to conduct a series of drills including man overboard, engineering casulty, small arms fire and mooring to a bouy.

March 4, 2005 USS Shoup, commanded by Cmdr. Alexander T. Casimes, returned to Everett after providing humanitarian assistance to areas affected by the devastation left by the Dec. 26 tsunami. The return marks the end of a six-month voyage that also included port visits to Hawaii, Hong Kong, Singapore, and routine operations in the Central and western Pacific. From Jan. 1 until Feb. 4, ALCSG aircraft flew 1,747 missions in support of Operation Unified Assistance, carried 5,711,866 pounds of supplies, including 16,308 gallons of water, and transported 3,043 passengers.

February 27, 2006 USS Shoup departed Naval Station Everett, with the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, for a six-month deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) and Global War on Terrorism.

April 6, Personnel and units of the U.S. military and Republic of Korea (ROK) Combined Forces Command (CFC) conducted their annual combined and joint exercise, Reception, Staging, Onward-movement, & Integration and Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/Foal Eagle 06) March 24-31. Foal Eagle involved more than 70 U.S. ships, including USS Shoup, and ROK Navy ships and more than 100 aircraft from all services of both the U.S. and ROK armed forces.

April 10, The guided-missile destroyer departed Hong Kong after a four-day port visit.

June 20, DDG 86 is currently participating in Exercise Valiant Shield '06 off the coast of Guam June 19-23. The exercise will involve more than 20,000 Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Valiant Shield 2006 will also see more than 300 aircraft and 28 ships from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Groups, as well as the Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

July 5, USS Shoup departed Pearl Harbor to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006. Eight nations are participating in RIMPAC 2006, the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. Conducted in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC 2006 brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

August 8, USS Shoup returned to Everett after a five-and-a-half month deployment in the western Pacific.

September 20, DDG 86 conducted a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX), off the coast of southern California, with the Chinese destroyer Qingdao (DDG 113). SAREX is a routine exercise that focuses on understanding the procedures necessary to find and save those who are lost at sea. U.S. Navy ships regularly cooperate with foreign navies around the world in this type of exercise. After the Chinese ships complete this goodwill tour with port visits to Canada and the Philippines, the Chinese navy will conduct part two of the SAREX off the coast of China.

January 10, 2007 USS Shoup started with ship’s restricted availability (SRA) period at Naval Station Everett, that is scheduled to be completed by April 3. The guided-missile destroyer will undergo renovations to include new gray water piping, new placement of a MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), cleansing of the intakes to all of the ships generators and engines, and installation of a new radio system.

October 10, USS Shoup recently visited San Francisco for the 27th annual Fleet Week celebration.

November 5, DDG 86 is currently underway off the coast of southern California participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the USS Abraham Lincoln CSG 9.

January 20, 2008 The guided-missile destroyer is currently off the West Coast participating in a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), as part of the Abe Carrier Strike Group.

March 14, 2008 USS Shoup departed Naval Station Everett for a scheduled underway period.

April 19, Cmdr. Michael J. Lehman relieved Cmdr. Mark A. Johnson as commanding officer of USS Shoup, during a change of command ceremony in Singapore.

May 7, The Shoup and USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) responded to a 15-meter dhow "Dunia", in distress in the Gulf of Aden, May 4 and towed the boat to Yemeni territorial waters, where it arrived May 6, so the ship could be repaired. The Shoup is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) between the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea.

September 10, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Albany, Australia, for a scheduled port visit.

October 12, DDG 86 returned to homeport after a seven-month deployment with the Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) CSG.

June 4, 2009 USS Shoup, along with three Royal Canadian Navy ships and two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, arrived pierside in Portland to celebrate the 102nd Rose Festival.

July 8, The Shoup wrapped up participation in joint air and space exercise Amalgam Dart, off the coast of Oregon June 23, as part of North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command's (USNORTHCOM) Ardent Sentry '09 exercise series.

July 28, The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Elliot Bay for the 60th Seattle Seafair celebration.

December 19, Cmdr. Michael Joseph Nadeau relieved Cmdr. Michael J. Lehman as CO of DDG 86.

March 31, 2010 USS Shoup completed an intense period of combat system maintenance and repair at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Port Hueneme, Calif., March 22-25.

August 1, The Shoup collided with a civilian 21-foot boat, with three passengers onboard, around 11.30 p.m., 56 miles northwest of Point Loma. The civilian motorboat’s fiberglass hull was damaged but seaworthy and the Shoup’s hull was scraped. No one is injured. DDG 86 is currently participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise, as part of the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, in preparation for the upcoming fall deployment.

September 7, USS Shoup departed Everett for a scheduled Middle East deployment.

October 8, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Port Klang, Malaysia, for a goodwill port visit.

October 27, The Shoup pulled into Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a routine port call.

November 4, USS Shoup arrived in Nagoya, Japan, for a goodwill port visit.

November 17, DDG 86 arrived in Phuket, Thailand, for a three-day port visit.

February 15, 2011 The Shoup arrived in Fremantle, Australia, for a scheduled port visit.

February 23, The guided-missile destroyer anchored in the River Derwent off Sandy Bay for a two-day visit to Hobart, Tasmania.

February 28, USS Shoup pulled into Melbourne to participate in Australian International Airshow at Avalon, March 1-6.

March 28, USS Shoup returned to homeport after a nearly seven-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.

July ?, Cmdr. Ray Acavedo relieved Cmdr. Michael J. Nadeau as CO of the Shoup during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship off the coast of Port Angeles, Wash.

February 2, 2012 DDG 86 returned to Naval Station Everett after a six-month at Vigor Shipyard's dry-dock on Harbor Island.