New Orleans honors the largest city of Louisiana and one of the world's major ports. Three previous ships have borne the name New Orleans in honor of the "Crescent City", including the third New Orleans (LPH 11). USS New Orleans (LPD 18) was built at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Division, New Orleans, LA. The Keel Laying was held on October 14 2002.

The amphibious transport dock was christened on November 20, 2004, sponsored by Carolyn Shelton, wife of General Henry H. Shelton, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. The ship was launched three weeks later, on December 11.

October 23, 2006 PCU New Orleans departed Avondale, Louisiana, and head to the Gulf of Mexico to conduct builder’s trials.

March 5, 2007 LPD 18 departed Avondale Shipyard and transited the Mississippi River toward her namesake city.

March 10, USS New Orleans is commissioned at a ceremony in New Orleans. Cmdr. John B. "Brad" Skillman, of St. Paris, Ohio, is the first commanding officer of the ship.

April 3, The amphibious transport dock ship departed Naval Support Activity New Orleans, following three weeks of ships training, certifications, and maintenance for a maiden cruise to its new homeport of San Diego.

May 3, USS New Orleans arrived in Naval Base San Diego for the first time.

September 11, LPD 18 pulled to Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, to transport military personnel’s privately owned vehicles to the mainland United States.

December 14, USS New Orleans is currently off the coast of southern California conducting routine trainings with the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and the ships of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7.

February 22, 2008 The New Orleans is currently participating in amphibious warfare certification exercise in the Pacific Ocean.

December 6, The amphibious transport dock is currently participating in certification exercise off the coast of southern California, as part of the Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group, in preparation for an upcoming deployment early next year.

January 9, 2009 USS New Orleans departed homeport for a maiden underway period.

February 3, LPD 18 departed Apra Harbor, Guam, after a two-day port visit.

February 24, The New Orleans departed the Maldives following a five-day exercise Exercise Coconut Grove, consisting of military to military training with the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and humanitarian assistance in the form of dental care and medical training.

March 20, USS New Orleans collided with USS Hartford (SSN 768) about 1 a.m. in the strait of Hormuz. The ship suffered a ruptured fuel tank, which resulted in an oil spill of approximately 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Aboard the Hartford fifteen were injured but returned to duty.

March 21, The two naval vessels were brought to the Mina Salman pier at Manama, Bahrain, for further damage assessment.

April 25, LPD 18 entered the dry dock at Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard "ASRY" Shipyards in Manama to continue repair work on the ship's hull. The repair contract, includes planning efforts, material procurement, pre-fabrication and dry dock repair work and is expected to be completed in 10 to 14 days.

May 12, The New Orleans returned to sea and will resume the Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

July 8, The amphibious transport dock arrived in Sasebo, Japan, for a routine port visit.

August 1, USS New Orleans returned to San Diego after a seven-month deployment.

December 3, LPD 18 completed a three-day underway, its first since returning home in August, conducting well deck and aviation readiness (AR) qualifications.

February 13, 2010 The New Orleans is currently off the coast of southern California participating in a three-week-long Exercise Iron Fist, which teamed U.S. Marines and sailors with the Kyushu-based Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force infantrymen. The soldiers arrived in early February to train nearly a month with Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and I Marine Expeditionary Force elements.

June 10, USS New Orleans departed Naval Base San Diego for a three-month deployment in support of Southern Partnership Station.

June 15, The amphibious transport dock arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico, for a scheduled port visit.

July 3, USS New Orleans recently anchored off the coast of Ancon, Peru, to participate in Partnership of the Americas (POA)/Southern Exchange (SE) 2010, a combined amphibious exercise designed to enhance cooperative partnerships with maritime forces from Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia, from July 2-24. LPD 18 will serve as the platform from which Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) 24 will conduct amphibious operations.

July 20, The New Orleans arrived in Callao, Peru, for a scheduled port visit.

July 31, USS New Orleans arrived at Naval Base Bahia Malaga, Colombia, as the third stop in support of this year's annual Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station.

August 20, LPD 18 arrived in Balboa, Panama, as the final stop in support of A-SPS 2010.

September 2, USS New Orleans returned to San Diego after a nearly three-month underway period to South America and the Caribbean.

October 1, The New Orleans is scheduled to enter General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in early November, for a 12-week planned overhaul to fix problems with its diesel engines. The ship departed dry-dock Feb. 4, 2011.

May 4, The amphibious transport dock departed Naval Base San Diego for sea trials.

June 2?, Cmdr. Dennis J. Jacko relieved Cmdr. Jeffrey L. Oakey as CO of the USS New Orleans during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at San Diego.

July 20, LPD 18 departed Naval Base Point Loma after a six-day deperming evolution in preparation for the ship's upcoming deployment, as part of the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

August 10, The New Orleans departed San Diego to participate in a two-week Amphibious Squadron (Phibron)/Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT) off the coast of southern California.

September 1, USS New Orleans departed homeport for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

October 1, LPD 18 is currently off the coast of southern California participating in a two-week certification exercise (CERTEX).

November 14, USS New Orleans departed Naval Base San Diego for a scheduled deployment with the Makin Island ARG.

November 23, The New Orleans departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a two-day port visit to Hawaii.

December 11, The amphibious transport dock arrived off the coast of Cambodia to take part in exchanges of expertise with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

December 17, USS New Orleans pulled into Sihanoukville, Cambodia, for a two-day port visit.

December 27, LPD 18 departed Changi Naval Base after a four-day port visit to Singapore.

January 7, 2012 The New Orleans pulled into Mina Zayed port for a four-day visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.