USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) was commissioned May 27, 1995 at Naval Station, Charleston, South Carolina. The guided-missile destroyer was named after Paul Hamilton, the third United States Secretary of the Navy.

USS Paul Hamilton returned from Pearl Harbor from a six-month western Pacific deployment in February 2001.

January 7, 2002 USS Paul Hamilton departed homeport for a Composite Training Unit exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of southern California, as part of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Battle Group.

August 2, 2002 DDG 60 departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

August 28, USS Paul Hamilton arrived at the Royal Thai Naval Base in Sattahip, Thailand, for liberty and relaxation. In September the guided-missile destroyer also visited Singapore and Phuket, Thailand.

October 26, Executive Officer of USS Paul Hamilton Lt. Cmdr. Thomas L. Robinson, 38, was found dead in his stateroom Wednesday (Oct. 23) of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident is under investigation by local Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents. The ship was making a port call in Bahrain at the time of the incident.

December 6, While conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations, USS Paul Hamilton and an unidentified vessel collided in the North Arabian Gulf at approximately 8:24 p.m. local time (12:24 EST). No personnel were injured aboard the Hamilton. The ship suffered a non-threatening hole in the side of the ship above the waterline and was continued with its mission.

January 2003, After departing from their New Year’s Eve stop in Darwin, Australia, DDG 60 pulled to Brisbane, Australia, for their first major port visit in four months.

March 21, Thirty U.S. Navy and coalition warships currently assigned to Naval Forces Central Command launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) during military operations to disarm Iraq. The U.S. ships which launched Tomahawks were USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USS Briscoe (DD 977), USS Deyo (DD 989), USS Fletcher (DD 992), USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS Paul Hamilton, USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS O’Kane (DDG 77), USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS Augusta (SSN 710), USS Providence (SSN 719), USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720), USS Key West (SSN 722), USS Louisville (SSN 724), USS Newport News (SSN 750), USS San Juan (SSN 751), USS Montpelier (SSN 765), USS Toledo (SSN 769), USS Columbia (SSN 771), USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) and two Royal Navy submarines, HMS Splendid and HMS Turbulent.

April 26, USS Paul Hamilton returned to homeport after a nine-month extended deployment.

July 25, Cmdr. William C. Johnson became the seventh commanding officer of USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), relieving Cmdr. Frederick W. Pfirrmann in a ceremony aboard Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

November 11, DDG 60 conducted operations with the Russian Navy vessels Marshall Shaposhnikov and Pechenga, Oct. 28-29. During the two-day event, the three ships conducted multiple exercises, including a simulated search and rescue operation, flag hoist drills and formation maneuvers. This marked the first time in nearly a decade the two countries conducted joint maritime operations in the Hawaiian operating area.

June 22, 2004 USS Paul Hamilton, along with USS O’Kane (DDG 77), USS Reuben James (FFG 57), USS Key West (SSN 722) and HMAS Farncomb (SSG 74), participated in the multinational training exercise “Silent Fury” with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) diesel submarine HMAS Rankin, as it transited from Australia to Hawaii June 4-8.

May 9, 2005 USS Paul Hamilton, commanded by Cmdr. Werner Julinka, departed Pearl Harbor for a four-month deployment to Southeast Asia in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). While deployed, the crew will train with numerous Southeast Asian navies to foster relations in support of the global war on terrorism.

August 23, The annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise series ended with the closing of the Philippines phase. CARAT Singapore was conducted May 30-June 13, while CARAT Thailand took place June 17-26. The nine-day CARAT Malaysia phase began July 8 and ended July 18. CARAT Indonesia was from July 25-29. CARAT Brunei took place Aug. 4-12. The Task Group ships arrived in the Philippines Aug. 15 for the final phase of the exercise.

November 8, USS Paul Hamilton returned to homeport after four-and-a-half month deployment in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise.

December 23, 2005 DDG 60 participated in the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 06-2 off the coast of southern California Dec. 7-15 with the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, but will not deploy with it next month.

August 4, 2006 The Paul Hamilton returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after participating in Rim of the Pacific 2006. Eight nations participated in RIMPAC, the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. Conducted in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC brought together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

September 19, USS Paul Hamilton is currently off the coast of southern California participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), as part of the John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group Three.

November 9, DDG 60 is currently participating in the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) off the West Coast.

February 3, 2007 USS Paul Hamilton departed Pearl Harbor for a surge deployment with the Reagan CSG. The guided-missile destroyer first departed Jan. 26, but returned home several days later and was reassigned to the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group.

March 7, USS Paul Hamilton arrived in Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit.

May 2, The Paul Hamilton recently departed Busan, Republic of Korea, after a port call.

June 10, DDG 60 departed Brisbane, Australia, to participate in Exercise Talisman Saber 2007. TS07 is a joint and combined exercise demonstrating and improving on the U.S.-Australian military alliance that will feature crisis action planning and the execution of contingency response operations in land, sea and air maneuvers. More than 20,000 U.S. and 12,000 Australian personnel will participate in the military training exercise set to enhance interoperability and regional stability.

August 10, USS Paul Hamilton is currently participating in Exercise Valiant Shiled 2007, as part of the Stennis Carrier Strike Group, off the coast of Guam.

August 20, DDG 60 returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after six-and-a-half month underway period.

May 2, 2008 Cmdr. Brent E. Smith relieved Cmdr. Christopher J. Bushnell as commanding officer of the Paul Hamilton during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

July 12, The guided-missile destroyer is currently participating in RIMPAC 2008 off the Hawaiian coast.

November 1, A SM-3 missile, launched from USS Paul Hamilton, successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target over an open ocean area northwest of Kauai, Hawaii, as part of Pacific Blitz 08.

January 13, 2009 DDG 60 departed homeport to participate in the Middle Pacific (MIDPAC) Surface Combatant Group Sail.

January 20, USS Paul Hamilton departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, as part of the Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment program.

July 31, The guided-missile destroyer pulled to Hong Kong for a goodwill port visit.

August 21, The Paul Hamilton returned to home after a seven-month underway period. While in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR) the ship participated in exercises Arabian Gauntlet and Nautical Union.

May 7, 2010 USS Paul Hamilton departed dry-dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF). The $20 million worth Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) is scheduled for completion on May 21.