USS Simpson (FFG 56) is named for Rear Admiral Rodger W. Simpson, who distinguished himself during World War II as a Destroyer commanding officer and Flotilla Commander. The Simpson was built by Bath Iron Works, Maine, and commissioned on November 9, 1985.

On Simpson's first overseas deployment in Jan. 1988, the ship was assigned as an escort to U.S.-flagged merchant vessels in the Arabian Gulf. On April 18, she was a principle unit of Operation Praying Mantis responding to the Iranian mine attack on USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58). Operating in conjunction with two other Navy ships, USS Simpson was responsible for the destruction of an Iranian oil platform and sinking the Iranian Navy missile patrol combatant, Joshan.

The Simpson's second overseas deployment in October 1990 saw her again operating in the Arabian Gulf, escorting U.S.-flagged and other neutral shipping in the Arabian Gulf.

FFG 56 Departed on its third deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and a third visit to the Arabian Gulf in Dec. 1991. In the Mediterranean Sea, it rendezvoused with two CIS warships and conducted ship maneuvering exercises, the first such between U.S. and CIS forces. It then proceeded to the Red Sea to participate in the United Nations embargo against Iraq.

In August 1993, USS Simpson sailed with USS America BG on her fourth overseas deployment. She participated in Operations Deny Flight and Provide Promise in the Adriatic Sea and U.N. Operation Continue Hope off the coast of Somalia. After a brief assignment in the Red Sea supporting U.N. sanctions against Iraq, the Simpson returned to homeport in Feb. 1994. Shortly after that, the guided-missile frigate was called upon to participate in Operations Support Democracy and Able Manner off the coast of Haiti in support of the U.N. embargo against Haiti. After returning to Newport, R.I., for three weeks, she shifted homeports to Norfolk, Virginia, in May. Enroute, the ship was tasked to return to the Caribbean Sea to participate in Operation Restore Democracy, finally arriving in Naval Station Norfolk in June.

Upon completion of post-deployment maintenance, USS Simpson returned to the Caribbean to participate in Counter Drug Operations with the Coast Guard. She returned to homeport in December and deployed again to the Caribbean in Feb. 1995, to continue counter-drug operations.

After a summer at home, FFG 56 deployed for the fifth time in Nov. 1995. This trip was to the Mediterranean as part of NATO's Standing Naval Forces Atlantic. During the underway period, it primarily operated in the Adriatic Sea in support of NATO Operation Sharp Guard, enforcing the U.N. Security Council's arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

USS Simpson celebrated the arrival of 1996 while inport Barcelona, Spain, as part of the Standing Naval Forces, Atlantic (SNFL). The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate operated with the forces of Operation Sharp Guard enforcing the arms embargo against Croatia, throughout the 1996 deployment. She also enjoyed port visits in Augusta Bay, Sicily; Valencia and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Trieste, Italy; Corfu, Greece; Napels, Italy; Toulon, France; Genoa, Italy; and Gibraltar, United Kingdom.

USS Simpson arrived in Bermuda on May 5, where she picked up family members for the remainder of her transit home. The ship returned to Norfolk on May 8.

February 26, 1998 FFG 56 departed homeport for the Mediterranean deployment to participate in Standing Naval Force Mediterranean 98-1. Conducting a group sail with USS Caron, USS Laboon, and USNS Santa Barbara, she arrived at the Strait of Gibraltar ready to rendezvous with USS Underwood for turnover and inchop to STANAVFORMED. After participating in Exercise Strong Reselvo '98, USS Simson pulled to Portsmouth, England, for a scheduled port visit. The guided-missile frigate then underway enroute Amsterdam, Holland and after two days of maintenance, she departed for Hamburg, Germany. This continuous, fast paced, cycle of underway exercises and inport maintenance continued during Simpson's entire stay with STANAVFORMED including visits to Antwerp, Belgium; Malaga and Cadiz, Spain; Taranto, Italy and Koper, Slovenia. USS Simpson completed her highly successful operation Standing Naval Force Mediterranean and proceeded to Rhodes, Greece.

On June 16, with less than twenty four hours notice, FFG 56 was tasked to go to the Adriatic Sea to assume duties as Undersea and Surface Warfare Commander for the USS Wasp (LHD 1) Amphibious Ready Group.

July 2, USS Simpson returned to Naval Station Norfolk after more than a four-month underway period in the 6th Fleet AoR.

September 4, Cmdr. Gerald F. DeConto relieved Cmdr. Roland J. Mulligan as CO of USS Simpson.

April 28, 2004 The guided-missile frigate pulled to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to participate in Fleet Week 2004.

November 18, Six ships from NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), including USS Simpson, pulled to Norfolk Naval Station.

December 20, USS Simpson, commanded by Cmdr. R. L. Williamson, returned to Mayport after a three-month deployment to the western Atlantic. FFG 56 departed Sept. 22 as part of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces Atlantic and was the U.S. Navy’s representative during its deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. During the underway period, the ship participated in numerous exercises with NATO and U.S. naval forces, and visited 10 cities in the United States, Canada and Bermuda.

June 1, 2006 USS Simson, along with USS Saipan (LHA 2), will spend the next two weeks training with the foreign naval ships as they strive to improve interoperability in tactical operations, including maritime interdiction operations, aviation operations, firefighting, medical training, search and rescue, ship handling, towing, and underway replenishment. Two ships departed East Coast May 18, to participate in the multinational exercise Phoenix Express, in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR), and will include ships from Algeria, France, Morocco, Spain and the United States.

April 20, 2007 The guided-missile frigate arrived in Faslane, Scotland, to participate in Exercise Neptune Warrior.

July 27, FFG 56 is currently participating in Operation Bold Step as part of HMS Illustrious CSG. More than 15,000 service members from three countries and 23 U.S. Navy ships will participate in a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 07-2 "OBS", July 26-31 off the coast of Virginia to Florida.

April 6, 2008 USS Simson returned to homeport after a six-month counter-narco terrorism deployment to the eastern Pacific. Since departed Naval Station Mayport Oct. 5, 2007, the ship seized approximately 16 metric tons of cocaine. Port visits included Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cartagena, Guantanamo Bay and numerous visits to Panama City and Aruba. During the final port visit in March, Cmdr. Edwin D. Kaiser relieved Cmdr. Luis A. Maldonado as commanding officer of the Simpson.

July 2, USS Simson recently pulled to Castries, St. Lucia, for a six-day port visit.

April 9, 2009 FFG 56 arrived in Cartagena, Columbia, in support of the theater security cooperation (TSC) mission. The Simpson is currently deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of responsibility conducting counterdrug operations.

June 2, USS Simpson provided assistance to Ecuadorian-flagged fishing vessel "Maley", in the eastern Pacific Ocean, that had been stranded at sea for 18 days, five days without food, and one day without water.

August 4, The guided-missile frigate conducted theater security cooperation (TSC) events in Panama during the ship's mid-deployment repair period July 8-19.

October 5, USS Simpson returned to Naval Station Mayport after a six-month Counter-Illicit Trafficking (CIT) deployment to the eastern Pacific. The ship visited several ports including Panama City, Panama; Salaverry and Lima, Peru; Guatemala.

May 30, 2010 FFG 56 arrived in Portsmouth, England, for a brief port visit.

June 2, USS Simpson, along with USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), arrived in Kiel, Germany, for a Kiel Week.

June 7, The Simpson departed Gdynia, Poland, after a three-day port call to take part in exercise BALTOPS 2010.

May 6, 2011 Cmdr. Leonard H. Milliken relieved Cmdr. Jason R. Haen as CO of the USS Simpson during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Mayport.

January 17, 2012 USS Simpson departed Mayport for a scheduled deployment in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West.

February 2, The guided-missile frigate departed Casablanca, Morocco, after a three-day port visit.

February 7, FFG 56 pulled into Dakar, Senegal, for a routine port call to pick up fuel and supplies.