2002
September 13 – The contract to build DDG-104 is awarded to Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine. An Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer, it becomes the fourth ship of the United States to be named in honor of Master Commandant Andrew Sterett, a naval officer who served during the Quasi-War and Barbary Wars.
2005
November 17 – DDG-104’s keel is laid down at Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine.
2007
May 18 – Stepping the Mast ceremony is held for DDG-104, which was attended by several members of the USS STERETT Association.
May 19 – DDG-104 is christened by Michelle Sterett Bernson (Ship’s Sponsor), Diana Sterett (Matron of Honor and Michelle’s mother), and Dr. Le T. Phung (Matron of Honor).
May 20 – DDG-104 is launched and enters the water for the first time.
2008
January 9 – DDG-104 begins Alpha Trails to test the ship’s operational capability of key communication, damage control, navigation and propulsion systems.
February 6 – DDG-104 begins Bravo Trails which is the acceptance trial conducted by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
April 25 – DDG-104 delivery-move aboard date, which is the official custody turnover of the ship from the building yard to the U.S. Navy. CDR Brian P. Eckerle signs responsibility for the ship, becoming its first Commanding Officer.
June 26 – DDG-104’s final departure from the construction yard (Bath Iron Works) for her commissioning in Baltimore, Maryland, the birthplace of Master Commandant Andrew Sterett. It signified the end of the new construction period and the beginning of her life as an operational asset for our nation.
August 9 – DDG-104 is commissioned during a 7 p.m. EST ceremony in Baltimore, MD, at the South Locust Point Marine Terminal.
September 23 – DDG-104 arrives at her new homeport San Diego, CA.
2009
July 2 – CDR Brian P. Eckerle is relieved by CDR Darren G. McPherson becoming DDG-104’s second Commanding Officer.
August 4 – CAPT Jay Kadowaki, commanding officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, talks about the installation of the Metrology Bench Top (MetBench) calibration management system aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104). With Kadowaki are Sterett Commanding Officer CDR Darren McPherson, left, Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Thanh Nguyen and Electronics Technician 2nd Class Ryan Otian. Sterett is the 100th ship installation for the Navy’s metrology and calibration agent.
September 25 – The USS STERETT Association holds its 6th reunion in San Diego, California (25 – 27 September) – the first homeport of the new Sterett DDG-104, which offered the opportunity for the active-duty DDG-104 crew to join the reunion, and Sterett Shipmates and guests to tour the ship.
2010
October 22 – DDG-104 departs San Diego for its maiden voyage as part of the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group (CSG). HSM-77 Saber Hawks detachment is embarked.
November 25 – The rescue of M/V ESPERANZA (“hope” in Portuguese) by DDG-104 (25 Nov – 05 Dec).
2011
February 22 – DDG-104 is attacked without warning by Somali pirates using rocket-propelled grenades during negotiations with the pirates for the release of four U.S. hostages, who were eventually killed.
March 9 – CDR Darren G. McPherson is relieved by CDR Richard C. McDaniel becoming DDG-104’s third Commanding Officer.
April 27 – DDG-104 returns to homeport after a six-month maiden deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibilities (AoR).
August 19 – Rear Admiral Troy Shoemaker, Commander Carrier Strike Group NINE (CSG 9), presents DDG-104 with the 2010 Spokane Trophy as the best surface combat ship in the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
September 25 – DDG-104 participates in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), off the coast of southern California, as part of USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
December 6 – DDG-104 departs San Diego for its second deployment as part of the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
2012
February 5 – DDG-104 participates in an annual exercise Stakenet, in the Arabian Gulf, along with USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53), USS TYPHOON (PC 5), USS CHINOOK (PC 9), HMS Argyll (F231), KNS Al Nokhetna and KNS Maskan (February 5-9).
March 13 – DDG-104 arrives at Khalifa Bin Salman Port at Hidd for a four-day visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
April 22 – DDG-104 participates in a multinational exercise Arabian Shark, in the Arabian Sea, with the navies from Great Britain, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
July 5 – DDG-104 returns to homeport after a seventh-month deployment that included port visits to Port Klang Malaysia, Bahrain, and Yokosuka Japan.
July 31 – CDR Richard C. McDaniel is relieved by CDR Stewart L. Bateshansky becoming DDG-104’s fourth Commanding Officer aboard the ship at Naval Base San Diego.
November 28 – DDG-104 conducts a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) Operational Test Launch (OTL), the first since 2010, from the Pacific Missile Range, off the coast of San Nicolas Island.
2013
February 13 – DDG-104 commences a three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at the Huntington Ingalls Industries Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard.
May 14 – After a three-month Selected Restrictive Availability (SRA) at the Huntington Ingalls Industries Continental Maritime of San Diego shipyard, DDG-104 returns from sea trials in the local operation areas.
December 13 – DDG-104 is underway in the Southern California Coast for the Navy’s Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) Cruise (December 13-23).
2014
February 19 – DDG-104 conducts a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) Block IV Operational Test Launch (OTL) at the Pacific Missile Test Range off the Coast of Port Hueneme, California.
March 28 – CDR Stewart L. Bateshansky is relieved by CDR Theodore J. Nunamaker becoming DDG-104’s fifth Commanding Officer aboard the ship at Naval Base San Diego.
August 22 – DDG-104 departs San Diego for its third deployment with the CARL VINSON (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group (CSG). HSM-73 Battle Cats detachment is embarked embarked.
September 16 – DDG-104 participates in biennial exercise Valiant Shield 2014, off the coast of Guam and Saipan (September 16-23).
October 31 – DDG-104 participates in International Mine-countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) with the mine countermeasures ships USS Devastator (MCM 6) and USS Dextrous (MCM 13) and the Royal Navy mine-countermeasure vessels HMS Penzance (M 106), top, and HMS Chiddingfold (M 37). Sterett is deployed as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
December 11 – DDG-104 commences a counter-piracy exercise, with the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA(N)) ships Yun Chang (FFG 571) and Chao Hu (AOR 890), in the Gulf of Aden; and then transits the Strait of Hormuz northbound.
2015
April 1 – DDG-104 conducts Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the Gulf of Aden with a primary focus to intercept strategic arms bound for Houthi rebels in Yemen.
April 30 – DDG-104 crosses the equator for the first time.
June 4 – DDG-104 returns to homeport after a nine-and-a-half-month deployment, which included port visits to Singapore, Jebel Ali U.A.E., Bahrain, Abu Dhabi U.A.E., Muscat Oman, Phuket Thailand, Bali Indonesia, and Pearl Harbor to embark “Tigers.”
August 10 – DDG-104 is moored at BAE Systems shipyard for a six-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).
September 10 – CDR Theodore J. Nunamaker is relieved by CDR Matthew W. Cieslukowski becoming DDG-104’s sixth Commanding Officer aboard the ship at BAE Systems, San Diego.
2016
January 2 – After a six-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at BAE Systems shipyard, DDG 104 moved “dead-stick” to Berth 6, Pier 8 on Naval Base San Diego.
June 3 – After a two-day underway for Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) summer cruise, DDG-104 is moored at Berth 2, Pier 3 on Naval Base San Diego.
August 12 – DDG-104 marks a milestone as the first operational use of the newly constructed pier, the project awarded in September 2011 for $102.5 million.
September 10 – DDG-104 participates in San Diego Fleet Week Sea and Air Parade while moored to Berth 1, Pier 3.
2017
March 2 – CDR Matthew W. Cieslukowski is relieved by CDR Claudine E. Calouri becoming DDG-104’s seventh Commanding Officer at Pier 10, Naval Base, San Diego.
March 31 – After embarking DESRON 31 and HSM 49, DDG-104 departs San Diego for a scheduled Western Pacific deployment (4th) as part of a Surface Action Group (SAG) with USS DEWEY (DDG 105).
April 29 – DDG-104 moors at China Merchants Wharf in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong Island, for a four-day liberty port visit.
May 10 – DDG-104 is anchored off the coast of Songhla, Thailand, for a brief stop before participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, along with the USS CORONADO (LCS 4), RSS Intrepid (69) and HTMS Naresuan (FFG 421).
May 12 – DDG-104 is anchored off Changi Naval Base in Singapore to participate in International Maritime Review (IMR); Participated in pass-in review on May 15.
June 12 – DDG-104 is moored at South Sea Fleet Naval Base in Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China, for a four-day port visit; Participated in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the PLA(N) Huangshan (FFG 570) on June 16.
June 18 – DDG-104 is moored at Alava Pier in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, for a routine port call (18 – 22 June). Subic Bay was CG-31’s homeport for almost 10 years (19 August 1981 – 10 May 1991).
July 22 – DDG-104 participates is a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) along with the USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) Expeditionary Strike Group and the Royal Australian Navy ships, while underway off the coast of Queensland, Australia, at the conclusion of a biennial joint exercise Talisman Sabre 2017.
August 28 – DDG-104 returns to San Diego after a five-month deployment to the 7th Fleet AoR that included port visits to Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, Singapore, Phuket, Zhanjiang People’s Republic of China, Subic Bay, and Brisbane Australia. She operated with the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG).
December 4 – DDG-104 is moored at Wharf 4 in Port Hueneme, California, for a three-day port call to conduct combat systems groom with the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) returning home on December 11.
2018
February 6 – DDG-104 departs San Diego with USS DEWEY (DDG 105) for a scheduled Western Pacific deployment (5th) as part of a Surface Action Group (SAG). HSM-49 detachment is embarked.
February 16 – DDG-104 arrives in Pearl Harbor, HI, for a routine port visit. STERETT and USS DEWEY (DDG 105) are part of a Surface Action Group (SAG) scheduled to conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific region and will support the WASP Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) to advance U.S. Pacific Fleet’s “Up-Gunned” concept.
May 11 – DDG-104 returns to San Diego after a three-month deployment to the 7th Fleet AoR that included port visits to Pearl Harbor, Guam, and Hong Kong while operating with the USS WASP (LHD 1) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7. Wasp successfully embarked, maintained, and supported near-daily flight operations of the F-35B Lightning II in that span, part of a first-ever operational deployment of the U.S. Marine Corp’s fifth-generation stealth jet.
June 25 – DDG-104 arrives in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is moored outboard to USS CHUNG-HOON (DDG 93) to participate in a biennial multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2018) that includes 26 Nations, 47 ships, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel, plus five submarines.
July 9 – DDG-104 gets underway for the at-sea portion of the biennial multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2018).
August 15 – CDR Claudine E. Calouri is relieved by CDR Sean P. Lewis becoming DDG-104’s eighth Commanding Officer at Naval Base, San Diego.
October 18 – DDG-104 enters the Pride of California Dry Dock in BAE Systems shipyard.
2019
March 19 – DDG-104 completes dry dock and shipyard work at BAE Systems, San Diego.
October 18 – CDR Sean P. Lewis is relieved by CDR Andrew B. Koy becoming DDG-104’s ninth Commanding Officer while the ship is at pierside at Naval Base, San Diego.
2020
January 13 – DDG-104 is underway for Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training and NIMITZ Strike Group Exercises.
May 10 – After beginning a restriction-of-movement (ROM) period on 1 April to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19 on ships, DDG-104 departs on a scheduled deployment (6th) in the 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibilities (AoR) with the USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) and Carrier Strike Group ELEVEN. HSM-35 Magicians Det 4 is embarked.
July 14 – In the Sulu Sea, DDG-104 unveils the new battle flag in C7F. This 30×40 foot flag pays homage to the fighting spirit of DD 407 and the ability to get back into the fight, no matter the damage taken. The torch with flames refers to our warship’s call sign, “Battle Torch.”
August 16 – DDG-104 transits the Suez Canal Northbound and Southbound on August 17th escorting the USS GEOGIA (SSGN 729).
October 8 – DDG-104 participates in a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with HMS Montrose (F236) while underway in the Gulf of Oman.
November 17 – While underway in the Arabian Sea, DDG-104 participates in the annual exercise Malabar 2020 (17 – 20 November).
November 21 – DDG-104 crosses the equator for the second time.
December 21 – DDG-104 arrives off the northeast coast of Somalia, in support of Operation Octave Quartz.
2021
January 16 – By a unanimous vote, the USS STERETT Association Board of Directors establishes the Stephen P. Hayes Memorial Award. The award recognizes DDG-104’s four Sailors of the Year who embody the spirit that Master Chief Hayes lived by during his lifetime and their names are inscribed on the perpetual plaque located in the ship’s messdecks.
February 9 – As part of the NIMITZ Carrier Strike Group (CSG), DDG-104 participates the first dual carrier operation of the year with the THEODORE ROOSEVELT CSG in the South China Sea.
February 26 – DDG-104, part of NIMITZ Carrier Strike Group, returned to Naval Base San Diego after a more than 10-month deployment to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet, which included freedom of navigation operations and participation in Operations Freedom’s Sentinel, Inherent Resolve and Octave Quartz.
March 1 – The crew of DDG-104 is notified that have won the 2020 Battle “E” for an unprecedented 7th time in her short 12 year history.
March 12 – CDR Andrew B. Koy is relieved by CDR Shaun Dennis becoming DDG-104’s tenth Commanding Officer while the ship is at pierside at Naval Base, San Diego.
May 17 – DDG-104 is moved “dead-stick” to Continental Marine of San Diego (CMSD) shipyard.
September 7 – The USS STERETT Association presents DDG-104 with the Stephen P. Hayes Memorial Award perpetual plaque at the Bali Hai in San Diego.
October 15 – DDG-104 makes her way back to Naval Station San Diego after a much needed 6-month Selected Restricted Availability period at Continental Marine of San Diego (CMSD) shipyard.
2022
January 15 – After years of being assigned to Commander Destroyer Squadron NINE (CDS 9) homeported at Naval Station Everett, WA, DDG-104 is assigned to Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE (CDS 1) homeported at Naval Station San Diego, CA.
May 26 – DDG-104 is moved “dead-stick” to Pride of California Dry Dock, in BAE Systems shipyard, for dry-dock.
July 12 – The USS STERETT Association Board of Directors gather in San Diego at the Island Club, NAS North Island. They host the USS STERETT (DDG 104) Command Triad and Shipmates, and attend the ship’s 10th Change of Command (14 July).
2023
March 13 – At Naval Submarine Base Point Loma, California, DDG-104 hosts the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations in addition to serving as the backdrop for a historic trilateral security pact between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
July 5 – CDR Christopher M. Descovich is relieved by CDR Jason M. Garfield becoming DDG-104’s twelfth and current Commanding Officer while the ship is at pierside at Naval Base, San Diego.
October 10 – With an HSM-78 Detachment embarked, DDG-104 departs San Diego on her 7th deployment with the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group that includes DESRON ONE, USS PRINCETON (CG 59), USS HOPPER (DDG 70), USS KIDD (DDG 100), and USS WILLIAM P LAWRENCE (DDG 110).
November 4 – A part of the CARL VINSON Carrier Strike Group (CSG), DDG-104 participates in a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) in the Philippine Sea (4-8 November) alongside the RONALD REAGAN CSG and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) flagship Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181).
November 11 – DDG-104 participates in ANNUALEX 2023, a multilateral exercise consisting of naval forces from Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States in the Philippine Sea.
November 26 – DDG-104 completes a 4-day port visit to Sasebo, Japan, after celebrating Thanksgiving Day.
December 3 – In the Philippine Sea, DDG-104 honors Sailor’s grandfather during a burial-at-sea ceremony.
December 17 – DDG-104 pulls into Singapore with the CARL VINSON Carrier Stike Group (CSG) for a 4-day port visit.
2024
January 5 – DDG-104 moors at berth 3, Pier 15 in Manila South Harbor, Republic of the Philippines, for a scheduled 4-day port visit.
January 8 – Captain Craig M. Trent relieves Captain Thomas G. Chekouras as Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1 during a change of command ceremony onboard DDG-104 in Manila, Republic of the Philippines.
February 21 – A part of the CARL VINSON Carrier Strike Group, DDG-104 returns to Naval Base San Diego after a deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations immensely contributing to our nation’s security, which included port visits to Pearl Harbor twice; Sasebo, Japan; Changi, Singapore; and Manila, Philippines.
February 27 – The crew of DDG-104 is notified that have won the 2023 Battle “E” for an unprecedented 8th time in her short 15-year history.
Maintaining the objective of the Association by educating the public on the maritime heritage of all ships named STERETT as to the roles these ships played in the United States history, and the importance of preserving the ship’s historic data for future generations (2013 Bylaws, Article II).
