On January 19, 2006, the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship team signified the ship's transition from concept to reality with a keel laying ceremony in Mobile, Ala.

April 6, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter named the Navy's newest Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), built by General Dynamics, Independence.

April 26, 2008 The Independence entered the water for the first time, after a complex operation in Mobile, Ala.

October 4, PCU Independence (LCS 2) was christened at 10:00 a.m., during a ceremony at Austal USA Shipyard, Mobile, Alabama. Doreen Scott, wife of the former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry Scott, served as ship's sponsor. The prospective commanding officer of the Blue crew is Cmdr. Curt A. Renshaw and Cmdr. Michael B. Riley is CO of the Gold crew.

July 2, 2009 The litoral combat ship departed Mobile for builder’s trials three days later than scheduled after the shipyard crew aboard the Independence noticed an unusual noise in one of the two main diesel engines just after the ship had pushed off from its dock on Monday.

October 21, The Independence successfully completed its builder’s trials in the Gulf of Mexico after three-and-a-half month delay. In July the ship’s jet drive room flooded, and it had vibration and temperature problems with its propulsion systems.

November 16, The Pre-Commissioning Unit Independence departed for acceptance trials.

December 18, LCS 2 was officially delivered to U.S. Navy during a short ceremony in Mobile, Ala.

January 16, 2010 USS Independence was commissioned during an 11 a.m. CST ceremony at Cooper Riverside Park in Mobile, Ala.

March 26, The Independence (Blue) departed Mobile for its maiden voyage to Norfolk.

March 29, The litoral combat ship arrived in Naval Air Station Key West for a brief port call.

April 2, LCS 2 pulled into Mayport Naval Station, Fla., for a port visit.

April 14, USS Independence arrived in Naval Station Norfolk for a year of additional testing and specialized crew trainings before homeported in San Diego. During the transit she conducted tests of the ship's capabilities and extensive training with the SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense weapon system.

April ?, Cmdr. Kenneth M. Coleman relieved Cmdr. Curt A. Renshaw as CO of the Independence (Blue).

April 26, USS Independence pulled into Port Everglades, Fla., for the start of the annual Broward Navy Days Fleet Week. The ship departed Norfolk April 17.

May 6, LCS 2 entered the BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair facility for a three-month industrial post-delivery availability (IPDA).

October 22, The Independence (Gold) departed Naval Station Newport, R.I., after a week port call.

February 15, 2011 The litoral combat ship departed BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards after a month of maintenance period and pulled into Mayport Naval Station.

April 13, Cmdr. Gerald R. Olin relieved Cmdr. Michael B. Riley as CO of the USS Independence (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Mayport.

July 6, In a statement by the Navy on June 23, it was revealed that diver inspections and ultrasonic tests conducted on LCS 2, "revealed aggressive galvanic corrosion pitting within all four of the water jet tunnels and water jet cone assemblies." Temporary repairs will allow the ship to operate safely until it can be drydocked.

September 2, USS Independence (Blue) pulled into St. Petersburg, Fla., for a Labour Day weekend. This is the first time that a U.S. Navy warship arrived for a port visit to this city. Tampa Bay’s shallow waters have not allowed it to host a large ship before. The visit by the Independence is possible because the ship was designed for navigating close to shore.

September 12, The litoral combat ship arrived at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., where it will begin a weeks-long series of onboard combat systems in-port and sea tests.

October 1, Cmdr. Matthew J. Jerby relieved Cmdr. Kenneth M. Coleman as CO of the Independence (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at NAS Pensacola.

October 17, USS Independence pulled into Naval Station Newport, R.I., for a five-day port call in conjuction with the 20th Chief of Naval Operation's International Seapower Symposium, hosted by the Naval War College.

March 15, 2012 The Independence (Gold) completed a ten-week Phase II of Mine Countermeasures Misson testing. Sailors from Independence and embarked MCM Det. 1 conducted operations off the coast of Florida, training with organic assets including the Remote Minehunting Vehicle (RMV) and MH-60S helicopters especially configured to tow the Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS).

April 15, USS Independence (Gold) pulled into Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base, after transiting Panama Canal, for a brief port call to take on fuel and supplies.

April 23, The litoral combat ship arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico, for a five-day port visit.

May 2, USS Independence (LCS 2) arrived at its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego, Calif., after a 23-day transit from Naval Station Mayport, Fla.