September 20, 2002 Former Secretary of the U.S. Navy Paul Nitze authenticated the keel of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named in his honor during a keel laying ceremony held at Bath Iron Works here. Nitze served as Secretary of the Navy from 1963-1967. In addition, he has served as Deputy Secretary of Defense, and President Reagan's chief negotiator of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty (1981-1984). In 1984, he was named special advisor to the president and secretary of State on Arms Control. For more than 40 years, Nitze was one of the chief architects of U.S. policy toward the Soviet Union.

April 17, 2004 PCU Nitze was christened at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. Leezee Porter served as sponsor of the ship named for her husband.

March 5, 2005 U.S. Navy commissioned USS Nitze (DDG 94) at Naval Station Norfolk. Cmdr. Michael Hegarty is a commanding officer.

May 24, 2006 The guided-missile destroyer arrived in New York City to participate in 19th Navy Fleet Week May 24-May 30. Fleet Week has been sponsored by New York City since 1984 in celebration of the United States sea service.

June 5, USS Nitze departed Boston, Mass., after a three-day port visit.

October 27, The Nitze is currently underway conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the USS Bataan (LHD 5) Expeditionary Strike Group Two.

January 5, 2007 DDG 94 departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled underway period in support of the ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces.

July 3, USS Nitze returned to homeport after a maiden deployment in the Central Command AoR.

March 29, 2008 The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in a tailored ship's training availability, as part of the Roosevelt CSG, off the coast of Florida.

May 2, DDG 94 is currently in the Atlantic Ocean participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), in preparation for the upcoming deployment later this year.

September 12, USS Nitze, commanded by Cmdr. Kenneth S. Long, departed Norfolk for a scheduled underway period with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group.

April 18, 2009 USS Nitze returned to Norfolk Naval Station after a seven-month Middle-East deployment.

October 9, The Nitze arrived pierside at the Nauticus pier in downtown Norfolk for Fleet Week Hampton Roads. The last ship to be moored in downtown was USS Mason (DDG 87) in April 2003.

September 21, 2010 USS Nitze departed Norfolk, along with USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), to participate in a two-week multinational exercise Joint Warrior 10-2, off the coast of Scotland.

April 1, 2011 USS Nitze departed homeport to participate in the 52nd multinational UNITAS Exercise off the coast of Brazil.

April 15, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Salvador, Brazil, for a scheduled port visit.

April 26, USS Nitze, along with USS Boone (FFG 28), USS Thach (FFG 43) and USCGC Escanaba (WMEC 907), pulled into Rio de Janeiro for a six-day port call after completing the first half of the Atlantic (LANT) phase of UNITAS 52.

May 1, Cmdr. Christopher Nerad relieved Cmdr. Richard D. Brawley as CO of the Nitze during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

May 8, DDG 94 arrived in Rio Grande, Brazil, for a scheduled port visit.

July 1, USS Nitze arrived in Eastport, Maine, to participate in the Independence Day celebrations.

August 1, The Nitze is currently participating in a passing exercise (PASSEX), with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ships, off the East Coast.

December 12, The guided-missile destroyer is currently underway conducting preparation for deployment next year, with the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) CSG.

January 11, 2012 DDG 94 departed Norfolk for Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).

January 17, USS Nitze pulled into Naval Station Mayport, Fla., for a routine port call.