The John L. Canley is the fourth Montford Point-class expeditionary sea base and the first ship in the U.S. Navy named in honor of Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley (1937-2022), who received the Medal of Honor 50 years after his actions in the Battle of Hue City, South Vietnam, in January and February 1968, while assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

April 30, 2022 The keel authentication ceremony for the ESB 6 was held at the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) shipyard in San Diego, California.

June 25, The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John L. Canley was christened during a 9 a.m. PDT ceremony at NASSCO shipyard. Ms. Patricia Sargent, the daughter of ship's namesake, served as sponsor. Capt. Thomas A. Mays is the prospective commanding officer.

June 27, The John L. Canley was recently launched and moored at Berth 6 on NASSCO shipyard; Underway for Builder's (Alpha) trials from Jan. 11-13, 2023.

March 1, U.S. Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS John L. Canley during a short ceremony aboard the ship.

April 6, PCU John L. Canley moored at Navy Fuel Farm (NFF) on Naval Base Point Loma for a brief stop to refuel before underway for Bravo trials in the SOCAL Op. Area; Moored at Berth 6 in NASSCO shipyard on April 12; Moved to Berth 5, Pier 3 in Naval Base San Diego on May 1; Underway again from June 21-23 and June 26-29.

June 30, Vigor Marine LLC was awarded a $20,2 million contract (N3220523C4083) for a four-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) of the John L. Canley. Work is expected to be completed by Jan. 17, 2024.

July 3, The John L. Canley moored at NFF on Naval Base Point Loma for a brief stop to refuel before underway en route to Hawaii; Moored at Wharf K3/K5 in Pearl Harbor from July 11-24, July 27- Aug. 9 and Aug. 11; Moved to Pier H4 for a brief stop to refuel on Aug. 15; Underway again on Aug. 30; Moored at Wharf K3/K5 from Sept. 1-6.

September 14, PCU John L. Canley moored at Berth 6, Pier 2 on Naval Base San Diego; Underway again on Sept. 15; Moored at Berth 312, Swan Island Ship Repair Yard in Port of Portland, Ore., on Sept. 20; Departed Portland on Feb. 4.

February 9, 2024 PCU John L. Canley moored at Berth M/N, Carrier Wharf on Naval Air Station North Island in preparation for its commissioning ceremony.

February 17, USS John L. Canley was commissioned during a 10 a.m. PST ceremony on NAS North Island in Coronado, San Diego County, California.

March 1, USS John L. Canley moored at Berth M/N on NAS North Island after a four-day underway off the coast of southern California; Underway again on March 19; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 2 in Naval Base San Diego on March 22; Underway again on June 24; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel before returned home on June 27; Underway in support of Operation Polar Dagger in the Bering Sea on July 5.

July 15, The John L. Canley moored at United States Coast Guard (USCG) Terminal in Port of Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Alaska, for a one-day stop to refuel; Transited the Bering Strait northbound on July 24; Transited southbound, west of Nunivak Island, on Aug. 2; Inport Dutch Harbor again from Aug. 5-6.

August 16, USS John L. Canley moored at Berth 6, Pier 2 on Naval Base San Diego; Moved to Berth 5, Pier 3 on Sept. 3.

September 5, USS John L. Canley departed San Diego to be forward-deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

September 16, The John L. Canley conducted operations off the west coast of Oahu, Hawaii; Moored at Wharf K3/K5 in Pearl Harbor from Sept. 17; Moved to Wharf K10/K11 on Sept. ?; Departed Pearl Harbor on Oct. 4; Conducted operations off the west coast of Oahu, in support of exercise Warrior Voyage, from Oct. 4-6; Conducted operations off the south coast of Oahu from Oct. 7-20; Moored at Pier H2 to refuel from Oct. 21-22.

From October 23-24, the John L. Canley conducted operations northeast of Hawaiian Islands; Moored at Wharf K10/K11 in Pearl Harbor again from Oct. 25-29; Moored at Berth 1/2, Akasaki Pier in Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, on Nov. 15; Anchored in Sasebo Harbor for a brief stop before underway on Nov. 21; Transited the Luzon Strait westbound on Nov. 25; Transited eastbound on Nov. 30.

From December 3-5, the John L. Canley conducted operations off the east coast of Okianawa; Transited the Luzon Strait westbound on Dec. 7.