USS Hawes is named for Rear Admiral Richard E. Hawes (1894–1968) who was twice decorated with the Navy Cross for submarine salvage operations.

December 5, 2002 USS Hawes departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

May 23, 2003 FFG 53 returned to homeport after a nearly six-month underway period, supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in the Mediterranean.

August 20, The Hawes departed Norfolk 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.

May 16, 2005 FFG 53 departed homeport for a scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

June 25, The guided-missile frigate is currently participating in Exercise Inspired Siren, in the Persian Gulf, a bilateral joint exercise between the United Stetes and Pakistan Navies.

November 15, USS Hawes returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a six-month underway period in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Assigned to U.S. 5th Fleet, Task Force 150, she worked independently, performing Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) off the Horn of Africa and in the Arabian Sea.

October 27, 2006 FFG 53 is currently conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the USS Bataan (LHD 5) Expeditionary Strike Group but will not deploy with it.

January 27, 2007 USS Hawes, commanded by Cmdr. Chuck Marks, departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment to the U.S. European Command and Central Command areas of operation.

February 19, USS Hawes assisted a Yemeni-flagged merchant vessel in distress call while conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

March 30, The guided-missile frigate provided medical assistance to a Liberian cargo vessel MV Harmony in the southern Persian Gulf.

June 2, U.S. and Saudi Arabian forces concluded exercise Nautical Union 2007 in the Persian Gulf. USS Hawes along with USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Gladiator (MCM 11) and USS Ardent (MCM 12) trained with Saudi Arabian forces during the eight-day exercise, which focused on improving regional cooperation and efficiency in maintaining stability in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

August 18, The Hawes returned to homeport after a nearly seven-month underway period. The ship participated in Operation Sea Dragon IV, Exercise AMAN 2007 and Exercise Nautical Union 2007.

December 1, FFG 53 is currently in the Atlantic Ocean as part of simulated opposition forces to USS Nassau ESG Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) from Nov. 29 through Dec. 17.

September 19, 2008 USS Hawes departed Naval Station Norfolk, along with USS Mitscher (DDG 57), for a two-month underway period to participate in a multi-national exercise Joint Warrior Course (JWC) in the North Atlantic.

November 1, The Hawes recently pulled into Stockholm, Sweden, for a scheduled port visit.

November 9, USS Hawes recently moored outboard the USS Doyle (FFG 39) at HMNB Portsmouth, England, for a routine port call. Returned home on Nov. 22.

April 3, 2009 USS Hawes, commanded by Cmdr. Kristen E. Jacobsen, departed Norfolk for counter-narcotics deployment.

April 28, The Hawes pulled into Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles, for a three-day port visit to Curacao.

August 24, The guided-missile frigate recently pulled to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for a goodwill port visit. Inport Oranjestad, Aruba, from Sept. 20-24.

October 7, USS Hawes returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a six-month underway period in the Caribbean and western Atlantic Ocean supporting Operation Carib Venture. The ship sailed more than 34,000 miles and visited six countries.

June 30, 2010 USS Hawes pulled into Charlestown Navy Yard to participate in Navy Week Boston 2010, June 29-July 5.

December 10, USS Hawes is decommissioned, after a 25 years of servise, during a ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station. The ship will be towed to the Inactive Ships Maintenance Office in Philadelphia and made available for parts for the next few years.