USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, is the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. In 1906, Congress established Mesa Verde as the first cultural park in the National Park Systems.

The contract to build her was awarded on February 29 2000 to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingals Operations of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and her keel was laid down on February 25, 2003. She was launched on November 19, 2004, and christened on January 15, 2005 with Linda Price Campbell, wife of former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, serving as the ship’s sponsor. The ceremony also included a Native American blessing provided by Peter Pino, tribal administrator of Pueblo Zia.

December 15, 2007 USS Mesa Verde is officialy commissioned at a ceremony in Panama City, Fla. Linda Price Campbell, wife of former U.S. Senator from Colorado, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, served as sponsor of the ship. She is under command of Cmdr. Shawn W. Lobree and will be stationed in Norfolk, Va.

May 21, 2008 LPD 19 departed Naval Station Norfolk for a four-day port visit to Quebec City, Canada, to participate in the Naval Rendezvous in celebration of the city's 400th anniversary.

August 16, The amphibious transport dock is currently conducting shock trials off the coast of Florida.

September 13, The Mesa Verde completed its third and final shock trial event off the coast of Mayport, Fla. During shock trials, ships experience the effects of 10,000-pound explosive charge detonations which occur successively closer to the ship.

April 23, 2009 USS Mesa Verde, commanded by Cmdr. Larry LeGree, departed Naval Station Mayport to participate in annual multinational maritime exercise UNITAS Gold off the coast of Florida. The two-week exercise includes realistic scenario-driven training opportunities such as live-fire exercises, shipboard operations, maritime interdiction operations and special warfare involving the nations of Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Germany, Canada, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile.

September 11, LPD 19 recently arrived in Colon, Panama, to participate in multinational training exercise PANAMAX 2009.

October 31, USS Mesa Verde is currently participating in Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) 10-2, as part of the Nassau (LHA 4) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in preparation for the upcoming deployment earlier next year. USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and USS Boone (FFG 28) are also participating in the exercise.

January 18, 2010 The Mesa Verde departed Norfolk for a maiden six-month deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

January 23, LPD 19 arrived off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in support of Operation Unified Response.

February 18, USS Mesa Verde pulled to Rota, Spain, for a routine port visit. This is the first time an amphibious transport dock ship has visited Rota.