The third USS Reuben James (FFG 57) keel was laid on November 19, 1983, at Todd Shipyard, San Pedro, California, and she was launched on February 8, 1985. One of the newest of Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile fast frigates was commissioned on March 22, 1986.

August 2, 2002 USS Reuben James departed Pearl Harbor for a western Pacific deployment, with the Lincoln Battle Group, in support of Maritime Intercept Operations (MIO), and Operation Enduring Freedom.

April 27, 2003 USS Reuben James, commanded by Cmdr. Edward J. Lester, returned to Pearl Harbor following over nine months at sea, the ship’s longest deployment in 30 years. The Reuben James deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein.

June 18, USS Reuben James and USS Hopper (DDG 70) pulled to Honolulu, Hawaii, for a short port visit to The Aloha Tower Marketplace in support of this Year's Navy League Convention.

October 14, In early October, USS Reuben James and the French frigate FS Prarial (F 371) conducted a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) together in the Hawaii operational area. With Oahu serving as a backdrop, the two ships performed a variety of drills together. For the Reuben James, this was the first multi-national exercise conducted since working with the Pakistani, Qatari and British navies in September 2002. The Prarial arrived in Honolulu Sept. 26 from her home port of Tahiti, French Polynesia.

February 12, 2004 USS Reuben James departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor en route to Central and South America to perform counter-drug operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

April 23, USS Reuben James (FFG 57) returned to her homeport after spending three months in eastern Pacific Ocean to monitor, detect and counter drug activities. During the deployment, she rescued 149 Ecuadorian men, women and children from the sinking motor vessel (MV) Margyl Margarita March 30, returning them safely to Ecuador. An SH-60B helicopter from the Kaneohe-based Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 37, Det. 4 was also embarked aboard Reuben James.

February 1, 2005 USS Reuben James and USS Crommelin (FFG 37) were the first two Pearl Harbor-based ships to be fitted with Man Overboard Identification (MOBI) Systems Jan. 25. The two Pearl Harbor-based frigates will next deploy with the new system, which is intended to provide immediate notification and rapid recovery of a Sailor or Marine who has fallen overboard.

February 27, 2006 USS Reuben James, commanded by Cmdr. Logan Jones, departed Pearl Harbor for a six-month Western Pacific deployment with the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) Expeditionary Strike Group Three (ESG-3), in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The strike group completed their last training work-up, Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), Jan. 26 and its two other required exercises, ESG Integration Exercise (ESGINT) and Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), late last year. Collectively, these exercises prepared the group for the difficult challenges that a deployment presents.

March 10, USS Reuben James pulled to Noumea, New Caledonia, a small French Pacific island approximately 800 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia, for a scheduled port visit to offer the ship and crew the opportunity to conduct routine maintenance, replenish supplies, and enjoy some rest and relaxation. This marks FFG 57 first visit to a foreign country in more than two years following a major overhaul and work-up schedule.

June 23, The guided-missile frigate rendered assistance to a distressed dhow with two Kenyans aboard while operating in the Arabian Sea. USS Reuben James is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO), as part of the Pakistani-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150.

July 9, Six ships and nearly 5,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group concluded operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of operations.

July 20, Cmdr. Richard E. Haidvogel relieved Cmdr. Logan Jones as commanding officer of USS Reuben James, during a change of command ceremony held abord the ship in Hong Kong.

August 5, FFG 57 returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after completing a six-month deployment to the western Pacific and 5th Fleet area of operation.

August 24, 2007 USS Reuben James departed homeport for a western Pacific deployment.

October 9, USS Reuben James arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, for a scheduled port call.

December 30, The guided-missile frigate pulled to Penang, Malaysia, for a holiday port visit.

February 7, 2008 FFG 57 recently arrived in Honiara, Guadalcanal, for a scheduled port visit. Upon arrival to the Islands, as a tribute to those service members and local Solomon Islanders who lost their lives during the Guadalcanal Campaign, Reuben James conducted several traditional ship-handling maneuvers across Iron Bottom Sound, so named for the many military aircraft, ships, and submarines at rest on the ocean floor.

February 22, USS Reuben James, commanded by Cmdr. Joseph Naman, returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month underway period. While underway, she performed various missions in support of the war on terrorism and conducted community relation projects in Guadalcanal, Tonga and Samoa.

April 9, The guided-missile frigate visited Hilo, Hawaii, April 3-5, during the 45th annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

April 18, USS Reuben James departed homeport to join the Nimitz (CVN 68) CSG, for a surge deployment in the western Pacific.

June 8, The Reuben James returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after a nearly two-month underway period.

September 23, FFG 57 departed for a one day Friends and Family Day Cruise off the coast of Oahu.

September 25, USS Reuben James departed Pearl Harbor for a Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment.

December 19, USS Reuben James returned to homeport after supporting Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment. The program calls for nine of the 11 Hawaii-based surface combatants to focus on the western Pacific by conducting intermediate/advanced training and regular deployments and is designed to improve the U.S. Pacific Fleet's war fighting readiness and effectiveness. The frigate also participated in Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines and multi-national exercises ANNUALEX 20G and SHAREM 159.

April 17, 2009 The guided-missile frigate returned to Pearl Harbor after a routine training exercises in the Pacific Ocean.

January 15, 2010 USS Reuben James departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a fisheries patrols and humanitarian aid missions in the western Pacific.

February 1, FFG 57 visited the Republic of Nauru on Jan. 24, the world’s smallest sovereign nation located on an island with an area of about 21 square miles.

February 14, The Reuben James anchored off the coast of Cebu, Republic of the Philippines, for a goodwill port call. The ship was originally scheduled to arrive on Saturday; however, the arrival was delayed as the ship stopped to render assistance to two fishermen from Mindanao who had become stranded when their engine stopped running the night before.

February 21, USS Reuben James anchored off the coast of Dili, East Timor, for a scheduled port visit.

March 16, The guided-missile frigate recently pulled to Yokosuka, Japan, for a routine port call.

April 19, The Reuben James recently participated in a semiannual exercise Multi-Sail, near the island of Okinawa, along with several ships assigned to the forward deployed naval forces (FDNF) Japan.

June 1, FFG 57 returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after four-and-a-half month independent deployment.

July 8, USS Reuben James is currently off the coast of Hawaii participating in a multinational Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010.

November 19, The Reuben James returned to Pearl Harbor after a 24-hour Friends and Family Cruise to Maui.

February 1, 2011 USS Reuben James departed homeport for a western Pacific deployment.

February 9, The guided-missile frigate arrived in Ebeye, Kwajalein Atoll, for a goodwill port visit to Republic of the Marshall Islands. FFG 57 is conducting Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrols in the western and Coastal Pacific Ocean (WCPO) in support of U.S. Coast Guard’s law enforcement operations.

February 21, USS Reuben James pulled into port of Tanjung Priok for a three-day visit to Jakarta, Indonesia.

March 4, The Reuben James arrived in Muara, Brunei, for a scheduled port visit.

April 1, USS Reuben James recently pulled into White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa for a routine port call before participating in exercise Malabar 2011, April 3-10. Indian Navy participants include INS Dehli (D61), INS Ranvijay (D55), INS Ranvir (D54), INS Jyoti (A58) and INS Kirch (P62).

May 11, FFG 57 pulled into Sattahip, Thailand, to participate in the first phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.

May 25, The Reuben James arrived in Jakarta to begin the 17th annual CARAT Indonesia.

June 20, USS Reuben James returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a five-month underway period.

July 27, Cmdr. Daniel W. Valascho relieved Cmdr. David E. Miller as CO of the Reuben James during a change-of-command ceremony at Pearl Harbor.

July 30, The guided-missile frigate is currently participating in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), off the coast of Hawaii. Gregorio del Pilar is a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter and is the newest addition to the Philippine navy.

March 30, 2012 USS Reuben James is currently participating in integrated training exercise "Koa Kai 12-2", off the coast of Hawaii.