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. During shock trials, ships experience the effects of 10,000-pound explosive charge detonations which occur successively closer to the ship.

March 6, 2009 Cmdr. Larry LeGree relieved Cmdr. Shawn W. Lobree as CO of the LPD 19 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

April 23, USS Mesa Verde 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 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.

March 29, The amphibious transport dock recently arrived in Doha, Qatar, to take partcipation in the second Doha International Maritime and Defence Exhibition (DIMDEX).

April 28, The Mesa Verde recently arrived in Manama, Bahrain, for a scheduled port visit.

May 14, USS Mesa Verde assisted six stranded Iranian mariners early Friday morning while conducting routine maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf. LPD 19 is currently assigned to Combined Task Force (CTF) 152, part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

July 23, The amphibious transport dock departed Rhodes, Greece, after a three-day port call.

July 29, The Mesa Verde departed Split, Croatia, after a goodwill port visit.

August 15, USS Mesa Verde returned to Norfolk Naval Station after a seven-month underway period in the 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.

January ?, 2011 Cmdr. John K. Reilley relieved Cmdr. Larry LeGree as commanding officer of the Mesa Verde.

March 23, USS Mesa Verde departed Norfolk for a surge Mediterranean deployment as part of the Bataan (LHD 5) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

June 14, The amphibious transport dock departed Souda Bay, Greece, after an eight-day port call.

July 4, LPD 19 recently pulled into Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a routine port visit and to celebrate the Fourth of July.

July 25, The Mesa Verde arrived again recently at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay for a routine port call.

September 1, USS Mesa Verde is currently supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the Mediterranean Sea.

October 22, The amphibious transport dock recently pulled into Augusta Bay, Italy, for a routine port call.

October 30, The Mesa Verde anchored off the coast of Corfu, Greece, for a two-day port visit.

November 7, USS Mesa Verde recently transited Suez Canal to rejoin the Bataan ARG in the U.S. 5th Fleet AoR.

January 15, 2012 LPD 19 pulled into Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a routine port call.

January 23, The Mesa Verde departed Barcelona, Spain, after a three-day port visit.

January 24, The amphibious transport dock provided assistance to ten Morrocan mariners whose vessel had capsized three days earlier in the Mediterranean Sea. They were later transferred to the Spanish coast guard.

February 7, USS Mesa Verde returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a ten-and-a-half month deployment.