USS Dubuque was commissioned on September 1, 1967, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. In November 1967, the ship arrived at its first homeport of San Diego, California, after transiting the Panama Canal. From 1968 to 1975, she made five western Pacific deployments that saw extensive duty in Vietnam. In a highly publicized event in October 1968, the ship returned 14 repatriated prisoners of war to North Vietnam. From 1969 to 1971, the ship conducted ten Keystone Cardinal troop lifts to Okinawa as part of the "Vietnamization" of the war. From February to June 1973, the ship operated helicopters that conducted mine clearance operations in Haiphong Harbor. In April 1975, the Dubuque participated in the evacuation of Saigon and the rescue of refugees fleeing South Vietnam.

On August 15, 1985, LPD 8 departed San Diego for its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan. The ship arrived in Sasebo on September 4, 1985 to join the U. S. Seventh Fleet Overseas Family Residency Program. Since joining the Seventh Fleet, the primary mission of the ship has been the support of U. S. Marines stationed in the western Pacific.

In May 1988, USS Dubuque deployed to the Arabian Gulf and served as the control ship for mine sweeping operations to protect U.S.-flagged tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. For its participation in this operation, the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. In 1989, the amphibious transport dock ship participated in the contingency operation to evacuate U. S. personnel from the Philippines during a failed coup attempt.

Immediately following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the amphibious transport dock ship received tasking in the Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. The ship functioned as the leading element of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, which transported Marine Regimental Landing Team Four to Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia during the critical early stages of the multi-national buildup.

July 30, 1999 The Navy’s first hull swap was conducted in Sasebo, Japan, when USS Juneau (LPD 10) replaced the USS Dubuque.

January 17, 2003 LPD 8 departed San Diego, as part of Amphibious Task Force West (ATF-W), for an unscheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 26, USS Dubuque returned to homeport after more than six-month underway period in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The ATF-W made port visits to Manama, Bahrain; the Australian cities of Sydney, Cairns, Townsville, and Brisbane; the island nation of Tonga, and Pearl Harbor.

July 8, 2004 USS Dubuque is currently participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2004, as control and command ship.

April 4, 2006 USS Dubuque hosted 18 Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) members. Sailors explained the ship’s mission, their training and how the ship overcomes challenges at sea to the CFR members. The CFR is a nonprofit U.S. organization dedicated to producing and disseminating ideas so that members, as well as policymakers, journalists, students and interested citizens, can better understand the world and foreign policy choices facing the United States and other governments.

April 27, LPD 8 is currently off the coast of southern California conducting routine trainings.

June 24, 2006 The amphibious transport dock ship is currently in Port Hueneme, Calif., as part of of Seabee Days. This year's celebration will mark the 20th annual Seabee Days where the community is invited aboard for a first-hand look at the Navy's construction engineers.

July 22, USS Dubuque and the 15th MEU are currently participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), off the coast of southern California, in preparation for the upcoming deployment with the USS Boxer (LHD 4) ESG.

September 13, LPD 8 departed Naval Station San Diego for a six-month deployment, with the ESG-5 and the 15th MEU, in support of the Global War on Terrorism in western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Expeditionary Strike Group Five, pulled to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 22d.

October 12, The "Mighty 8" pulled to Changi Naval Base, Singapore, for a scheduled port visit.

November 8, The Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group entered U.S. 5th Fleet's area of operation during a deployment in support of maritime security operations (MSO).

November 30, The amphibious transport dock recently departed Manama, Bahrain, after a scheduled port call.

March 30, 2007 USS Dubuque, commanded by Capt. William C. Hamilton, pulled to Visakhapatnam, India, to conduct training and familiarize Indian sailors with an amphibious transport dock ship, in anticipation of the arrival of their recently purchased USS Trenton (INS Jalashwa). LPD 8 visited Mumbai, India, from March 31 through April 4.

May 31, USS Dubuque returned to San Diego after nearly nine-month extended deployment.

January 25, 2008 the "Mighty 8" hosted California business and community leaders, who were participating in the Navy's Leaders to Sea (LTS) program, Jan. 15-18. The amphibious transport dock is currently preparing for deployment later this year as part of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group.

May 4, LPD 8 departed homeport for a scheduled underway period in support of the global war on terrorism.

June 24, The Dubuque recently departed Doha, Qatar, after a scheduled port visit.

September 30, Capt. Thomas E. Nosenzo relieved Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey as commanding officer of the Dubuque during at-sea change of command ceremony.

November 4, USS Dubuque returned to San Diego after a six-month deployment.

May 5, 2009 U.S. Navy canceled the Dubuque planned four-month deployment, in support of Pacific Partnership 2009, cause the possible outbreak of the so-called swine flu. The amphibious transport dock was previously scheduled to deploy on June 1 and make a port visits to Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Tonga.