July 19, 2003 PCU San Antonio was christened, by Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) Avondale Operations in New Orleans. It is the first surface ship ever designed in "virtual reality,” using computer modeling to design most of the ship before any steel was ever cut. It is also the first to feature the Advanced Enclosed Mast/Sensor system that replaces conventional masts, protecting radar and communications antennas from weather and allowing their electronic signals to pass through. The San Antonio class will functionally replace more than 41 ships (LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113 and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships) providing the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms.

January 14, 2006 USS San Antonio (LPD 17) was commissioned at 11 a.m., at Naval Station Ingleside, Texas.

January 24, Cmdr. Bradley Lee relieved Capt. Jon Padfield as commanding officer of USS San Antonio.

January 25, USS San Antonio arrived to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

May 1, LPD 17 pulled to Port Everglades, Fla., in support of South Florida’s Fleet Week USA. Nearly 3,000 Sailors are participating in this year’s fleet week.

May 24, The amphibious transport dock ship arrived in New York City to participate in 19th Navy Fleet Week May 24-May 30. Fleet Week has been sponsored by New York City since 1984 in celebration of the United States sea service.

June 5, USS San Antonio began testing its flight operations capabilities, as part of an overall test of the integration of new aerial technology with the newest maritime advances, using the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey and the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter.

July 19, Participants in the Leaders to Sea program toured the amphibious transport dock to increase their understanding of the Navy’s mission and how Sailors accomplish it. Five civilians from a variety of East Coast companies, including Velocity Capital, Inc., Global Maritime Transportation and the Institute for Defense Analyses took part in the program as part of the Navy’s effort to reach out to community leaders and help them gain a better understanding of how the Navy functions on a day-to-day basis.

August 16, LPD 17 is currently off the East Coast conducting Combat Systems Ship Board Qualifications.

September 11, USS San Antonio arrived in New York City to commemorate those who lost their lives, five years ago during the terrorist attacks on New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa.

December 3, Crew members of USS San Antonio made a daring rescue Dec. 1 in the Atlantic Ocean. With stormy seas and winds upward around 40 nautical miles per hour, fishing vessel “Miss Melissa” was taking on water fast at around 2:30 p.m. when San Antonio sprung into action. The San Antonio answered the distress call immediately deploying a crew of five personnel in a ridged hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to retrieve the crew, later sending a team back to the fishing vessel to assist with dewatering efforts.

December 12, The amphibious transport dock successfully completed the finale of the ship's 10-month Unit Level Training (ULT) with a successful Final Evaluation Period (FEP) off the coast of Virginia.

April 13, 2007 USS San Antonio failed sea trials last month and needs $36 million in repairs. Inspectors found major defects in three critical areas during a review of the ship between March 26-30 at Norfolk Naval Station. Some repairs have already been made to the ship, and the Navy hopes to get the rest completed over the next three months. The failures included a broken electronic circuit card that disabled the starboard steering system and prevented the ship from leaving port; the failure of a ventilation system in the fuel pumping room, which allowed for the build-up of flammable vapors; and momentary loss of radio communications between pilots and landing signal officers on the flight deck, forcing the systems to be reset during take-offs and landings.

December 5, USS San Antonio, commanded by Cmdr. Kurt A. Kastner, went through its Board of Inspection and Survey, or INSURV, inspection Nov. 26-30 at Naval Station Norfolk. This was the ship's third attempt to get past the inspection.

March 9, 2008 USS San Antonio is currently undergoing an operational evaluation with elements of the 26th MEU off the coast of North Carolina.

July 10, The amphibious transport dock is participating in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Virginia.

July 28, LPD 17 is currently participating in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 "Operation Brimstone" off the U.S. eastern seaboard July 21-31.

August 28, USS San Antonio departed Norfolk for its maiden deployment, as part of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Expeditionary Strike Group, following a two-day delay because of a mechanical problem with the stern gate.

September 11, The San Antonio arrived in Naples, Italy, for a scheduled port visit.

September 20, The amphibious transport dock recently arrived in Marmaris, Turkey, for a port call.

November 7, LPD 17 is currently in shipyard in Manama, Bahrain, for repairs due to oil leaks in the lubrication system.

January 23, 2009 Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, consisting of the flagship USS San Antonio, USS Mahan (DDG 72) and HMS Portland (F 79), is currently conducting couter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

February 5, The U.S. Navy has concluded efforts to search for the San Antonio sailor who was thrown into the sea from an inflatable boat as it was being lowered into the water in the Gulf of Aden, about 8 a.m. local time Feb. 4. The boat flipped over when a line and crane cable got hooked, causing the 11-foot boat to flip over and tossing the sailor and two others into the water. The other two sailors were pulled out of the water and weren’t injured.

February 23, LPD 17 recently arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of "The Great White Fleet".

March 4, The amphibious transport dock recently pulled to Santorini, Greece, for a rare port visit.

March 13, The Department of Defense announced the death of a Petty Officer 1st Class Theophilus K. Ansong, 34, of Bristow, Va., who was lost at sea Feb. 4. The cause of death is under investigation.

March 27, USS San Antonio returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a seven-month deployment in the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).