History

The contract to build USS Nitze (DDG 94) was awarded to Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine, March 6, 1998, and her keel was laid down, Sept. 20, 2002. She was launched, April 3, 2004, sponsored by Elisabeth Porter, Nitze's wife. Paul Nitze was present at the christening. Nitze was commissioned, March 5, 2005 in Norfolk, Virginia. 

Nitze, conducted her maiden deployment in January 2007 as part of the USS Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group, returning home, July 3, 2007. 
On Sept. 12, 2008, Nitze departed Norfolk for a seven-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group 2, led by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), returning April 18, 2009. In October 2009, Nitze was open to the public for tours in downtown Norfolk as part of the Navy Fleet Week celebration. She was moored at the Nauticus Museum and Half Moone Cruise terminal. 

From July 1-5, 2011, Nitze was docked in Eastport, Maine, for 4th of July celebrations. 

From March 12 to Nov. 4, 2012, Nitze completed her third deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility with the USS Enterprise Battlegroup (CCSG 12). 

Nitze was deployed a fourth time, from Nov. 29, 2013 - July 15, 2014, spending most of her time off the Horn of Africa conducting maritime security operations. 

Nitze was underway for First East Coast Carrier Strike Group SWATT November 2018.

Nitze conducted her fifth deployment from March 1, 2019 - Oct. 4, 2019, the majority of which saw her based in the Arabian Gulf, frequently patrolling over into the Red Sea.

Nitze’s sixth deployment was based in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, engaging in counter-narcotic and freedom of navigation operations from May 8, 2020 - Sept. 14, 2020.