LSD 51 Is the second U.S. Navy ship to be named for Oak Hill, the home of President James Monroe in Loudoun County, Virginia.

February 18, 2000 USS Oak Hill departed Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Wasp (LHD 1) Amphibious Ready Group, in Mediterranean Sea. The dock landing ship returned to homeport in July after participating in exercises Dynamic Response 2000, Dynamic Mix and Noble Shirley.

February 22, 2002 LSD 51 again deployed with the Wasp ARG and the 22nd MEU, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Since relieving the USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) on station, the Oak Hill Sailors and Marines have participated in several exercises keeping the “Blue/Green team” sharp and mission ready. After visiting Split, Croatia, she returned home Aug. 23, following the successful completion of a six-month combat deployment.

October 1, 2004 Cmdr. Curtis J. Gilbert relieved Cmdr. John L. Bryant as commanding officer of USS Oak Hill, during a change of command ceremony held on the flight deck.

January 19, 2005 USS Oak Hill deployed for approximately two months to the Caribbean, as part of the Saipan Expeditionary Strike Group, in support of a humanitarian assistance exercise in Haiti, entitled New Horizons.

March 9, LSD 51 returned to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek after supporting humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti.

January 24, 2006 USS Oak Hill departed Little Creek for approximately three-month underway period to conduct maritime security operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Along with USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Vicksburg (CG 69), she will work with allies to detect, disrupt, and deny international terrorist organizations the use of the maritime environment.

February 9, The dock landing ship pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, for a routine port visit.

March 26, Cmdr. Ray A. Staff relieved Cmdr. Curtis J. Gilbert as CO of USS Oak Hill during a change of command ceremony on the ship's flight deck, in Manama, Bahrain.

March 30, USS Oak Hill provided assistance to a vessel in distress approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, while conducting maritime security operations (MSO), as part of the Dutch-led Coalition Task Force (CTF) 150, in the area.

May 31, USS Oak Hill returned to homeport after a four-month surge deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. During her transit home through the Mediterranean Sea, she conducted engineering certification before enjoying a port visit to Cittivecchia, Italy.

August 19, The docl landing ship is currently in the Atlantic Ocean, conducting an Expeditionary Strike Group Integration (ESGINT) with USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Shreveport (LPD 12), embarked elements of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Two and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

October 21, LSD 51 is currently underway off the East Coast conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

January 4, 2007 USS Oak Hill departed NAB Little Creek for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Bataan ESG-2, in support of the global war on terrorism.

February 14, The dock landing ship and Marines from the 26th MEU began a two-week Operation Image Nautilus 2007 on Feb. 5 by successfully offloading the Marine Expeditionary Unit and their supplies in Djibouti on the northeast coast of Africa. The Marines will participate in community service project and live-fire exercises. In addition, Oak Hill's boarding team is conducting training with boarding officers from the Djiboutian Coast Guard.

April 14, USS Oak Hill is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf.

July 3, LSD 51 returned to homeport after a six-month underway period in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

May 28, 2008 The Oak Hill along with ships from Bahrain, New Zealand, and U.K. concluded a three-day operation Stake Net, focused on protecting key economic infrastructure in the Central and Southern Persian Gulf.

October 18, USS Oak Hill, commanded by Cmdr. Heidi Agle, returned home after a seven-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

June 3, 2009 LSD 51 departed Little Creek for a three-month underway period in support of Southern Partnership Station '09. The Oak Hill will also support U.S Marine Corps Forces South multinational amphibious exercise Southern Exchange 2009.

June 9, The dock landing ship pulled to Castries, St. Lucia, for a goodwill port visit.

July 1, USS Oak Hill, commanded by Cmdr. Daniel Blackburn, departed Puerto Belgrano, Argentina, after a scheduled port call.

July 4, The Oak Hill recently arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day.

July 12, LSD 51 pulled to Rio de Janeiro to participate in a two-week training exercise in Brazil.

August 21, USS Oak Hill returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story after a scheduled deployment.