The keel for Chafee was ceremonially "laid" at Bath Iron Works at the opening of its new land-level ship facility on May 5, 2001. The bow sections were put in place on October 18 and the sonar dome was positioned in place for welding, June 5, 2002.

November 11, 2002 PCU Chafee was christened in a ceremony at Bath Iron Works. It is the first warship to be built at a $240 million land-level transfer facility designed to make the Navy shipbuilder more efficient. Because of the modernization, the Chafee was the first Bath-built ship that did not go into the Kennebec River with a splash. Instead, it was transferred into a dry dock and floated a week before the ceremony.

The Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, PCU Chafee (DDG 90), earned a "clean sweep" during her Shipbuilder’s Trials June 16-19, becoming the first ship to demonstrate cooperative engagement capability (CEC) at trials.

October 18, 2003 USS Chafee was formally commissioned at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. The guided-missile destroyer is named after the late Senator John H. Chafee, former Secretary of the Navy and decorated veteran of the Marine Corp.

December 19, USS Chafee arrived at her new homeport in Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

October 2004, DDG 90 performed a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) from USNS Loyal (T-AGOS 22) in October, 900 nautical miles (NM) away from Oahu. A female crew member aboard Loyal was suffering from a detached retina and needed medical attention as quickly as possible.

May 20, 2005 USS Chafee, commanded by Cmdr. John M. Klausen, departed Pearl Harbor for its maiden deployment, with the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

August 13, USS Chafee assumed its role as part of Coalition Task Group (CTG) 58.1 to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf. In addition to Chafee, U.S. Coast Guard, British, Australian and Iraqi vessels patrol the area as part of CTG 58.

October 3, The Chafee pulled to Goa, India, at the conclusion of the second at-sea phase of the Malabar exercise.

November 9, USS Chafee returned to homeport after a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 5, 2006 DDG 90 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.

October 7, USS Chafee entered the San Francisco Bay during the Parade of Ships, a key event during San Francisco Fleet Week 2006. Since 1981, San Francisco Fleet Week has been an annual opportunity for Northern Californians to honor the men and women serving in the United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marines.

December 8, The guided-missile destroyer is currently conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of southern California, with the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

March 8, 2007 The Nimitz CSG 11, including USS Chafee, took their final steps toward deployment as they completed the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) March 2.

April 9, USS Chafee departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor in support of operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

April 21, The Chafee pulled to Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port visit.

August 14, DDG 90 concluded its participation in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 off the coast of Guam, during the joint photo exercise.

September 22, USS Chafee returned to Pearl Harbor after a scheduled deployment with the Nimitz (CVN 68) CSG. During the underway period the ship visited several ports including Bahrain, Singapore and Hongkong.

January 30, 2008 USS Chafee departed homeport for a surge western Pacific deployment, as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

February 28, DDG 90 pulled to Donghae, Republic of Korea, for a scheduled port visit.

April 13, Cmdr. Heedong Choi relieved Cmdr. Robert P. Tortora as commanding officer of USS Chafee, during a change of command ceremony in Osaka, Japan.

June 7, USS Chafee returned to Pearl Harbor after a four-month underway period. The guided-missile destroyer steamed 13,000 miles and made five ports of call.

January 12, 2009 The Chafee departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor to conduct pre-deployment exercises in the Hawaiian operating area.

February 24, DDG 90 departed homeport for a scheduled underway period to the western Pacific.

March 12, USS Chafee recently arrived in Donghae, Republic of Korea, to participate in Foal Eagle 2009, an annual joint exercise involving forces from the United States and the Republic of Korea.

April 23, Ships, aircraft and submarines from the United States, Japan and India will take part in Exercise Malabar 09, off the coast of Okinawa April 26-May 3. USS Chafee, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and USS Seawolf (SSN 21) will participate in exercise.

May 11, The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit.

May 24, The Chafee recently arrived in Cebu, Republic of the Philippines, to participate in the first phase of CARAT exercise.

August 24, USS Chafee returned to Pearl Harbor after a seven-month deployment as part of the Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment program. The ship visited 14 ports in 10 countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei.

November 26, Capt. Richard Clemmons, commander of Destroyer Squadron 31, relieved Cmdr. Larry Gonzales of his duty as executive officer of USS Chafee because of a "loss of confidence in his ability to command." He was fired Nov. 20, the same day he was supposed to move up and become CO.

March 12, 2010 DDG 90 departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hicham for a friends and family day cruise.

April 5, USS Chafee departed homeport for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

April 23, USS Chafee, USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USS Curts (FFG 38) and USS Annapolis (SSN 760) arrived in Goa, India, to participate in a week-long bilateral Exercise Malabar 2010.

April 24, Cmdr. Chase D. Patrick relieved Cmdr. Heedong Choi as CO of the Chafee.

May 10, The guided-missile destroyer departed Singapore after a routine port visit.

May 31, USS Chafee arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, for a four-day port call.

June 26, DDG 90 recently pulled into White Beach Naval Facility for a routine port call. The ship conducted Firing Exercise (FIREX) in the vicinity of Oki Daito-Jima Island June 30 and departed Okinawa July 2.

July 12, USS Chafee returned to Pearl Harbor after a three-month underway period in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

July 20, The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in the biennial, multinational Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010, off the coast of Hawaii.

December 3, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF) completed USS Chafee's 14-week selected restricted availability. The SRA upgraded the ship's multifunctional towed sonar array, replaced a gas turbine engine, refurbished an anti-missile defense system and tested a cargo handling system.

April 7, 2011 The Chafee participated in integrated training exercise "Koa Kai 11-2" off the coast of Hawaii, March 31 to April 5, along with USS Russell (DDG 59), USS O'Kane (DDG 77), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Lake Erie (CG 70), USS Port Royal (CG 73) and USS Tucson (SSN 770). French navy frigate FS Prairial (F 731) also joined the ship-maneuvering portion of the exercise.

July 28, USS Chafee pulled into Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro, Calif., for a two-day visit to participate in L.A. Navy Week.

August 3, The Chafee arrived pierside at downtown Seattle, Wash., for 62nd annual Seafair celebration.

October 5, Cmdr. Justin A. Kubu relieved Cmdr. Chase D. Patrick as CO of the Chafee during a change-of-command ceremony at Pearl Harbor.

November 17, USS Chafee, along with USS O'Kane, USS Crommelin (FFG 37), USS Hawaii (SSN 776) and JS Kurama (DDH 144), participated in integrated training exercise "Koa Kai 12-1", off the coast of Hawaii, Nov. 10-17.

November 29, USS Chafee departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for an independent deployment as part of the Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment program.

December 11, The guided-missile destroyer recently pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port call.

December 27, The Chafee arrived in Hong Kong for a three-day port visit.

January 28, 2012 USS Chafee anchored off the coast of Talisay City for a four-day visit to Cebu, Philippines, to pick fuel and supplies.