USS Ross, the twenty-first Arleigh Burke class destroyer, is named in honor of Captain Donald Kirby Ross, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions aboard USS Nevada (BB 36) on December 7, 1941.

Her keel was laid on April 10, 1995, in Pascagoula, Miss., and her christening was held one year later. Ross' plankowning crew moved aboard in April 1997 and sailed her to Galveston, Texas for the commissioning on June 28, 1997.

After commissioning, DDG 71 sailed on a six-week Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial and then traveled back to Pascagoula for a three-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). The destroyer then returned to its homeport of Portsmouth, Virginia, and completed the Basic Training Phase including Engineering Certification, CART II, TSTA I, II, and III, Cruise Missile Tactical Qualification, Final Evaluation Period (FEP), and Logisitics Management Assessment (LMA).

Following completion of the Intermediate Training Phase, USS Ross participated in a Joint Task Force Exercise with the Theodore Roosevelt Battlegroup, the last event in preparation for a six-month deployment which began on March 26, 1999. Ross's maiden deployment included combat Operations Allied Force and Noble Anvil, the effort to restore peace in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. The guided-missile destroyer returned to its new homeport of Norfolk, Virginia in September 22, 1999.

May 15, 2000 DDG 71 departed Norfolk for northern Europe to participate in Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2000. The ship served as flagship for Commander Carrier Group Eight and together with the USS Peterson (DD 969) operated with more than 50 ships from numerous European countries. During the exercise it visited Stockholm and Kiel before returning to the United States in late June.

September 19, 2001 USS Ross deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and conducting operations in support of UN resolutions against Iraq. During the deployment, she was part of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Battle Group.

January 29, 2002 U.S. 6th Fleet ships, while operating in the eastern Mediterranean, conducted simultaneous compliant boardings of two merchant vessels Jan. 27 in international waters. USS Ross, USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Hayler (DD 997) and USS La Salle (AGF 3) participated in the operations at approximately noon, Central European Time. The merchant vessel, Capten Mohamed, was intercepted and boarded by Ramage crewmembers approximately 26 nautical miles northeast of Cyprus. The merchant vessel, Hajji Rahmeh, was intercepted by Ross, Hayler and La Salle approximately 75 nautical miles northwest of Cyprus. Both of the merchant vessels were operating under Syrian registration. In both cases, the Navy requested and received permission from each merchant vessel's master to board their ships and conduct an inspection of the their cargo, cargo manifest and national registration documents.

May 22, The guided-missile destroyer arrived in New York City to particiapte in the 15th annual Fleet Week.

June 5, 2003 USS Ross pulled to Gdynia Harbor, Poland, to kick off the 31st annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. Components of the exercise are taking place afloat in the Baltic Sea and ashore in Poland, Germany and Denmark from June 7–23. Thirteen nations are participating in this year’s exercise, including more than 3,600 personnel, 36 ships, three submarines, more than 40 aircraft, and six different ground force elements from NATO and Partnership for Peace (PFP) nations, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

April 30, 2004 USS Ross departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

August 31, USS Ross returned to homeport after a four-month underway period. The destroyer has operated with U.S. coalition and NATO warships, and participated in exercises Neo Tapon '04 and Iron Siren‘04. Ross’s first duty on deployment was to support the GWOT by conducting extended maritime interdiction operations throughout the Mediterranean Sea. During the deployment the ship made port calls in Crete, Malta, Italy, Croatia and France. While in Italy, it sailed off the shores of Anzio to commemorate the 60th D-Day anniversary. It also participated in Operation Atlas Shield, which provided maritime protection for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

September 20, 2005 DDG 71 departed Norfolk to participate in UNITAS, the largest multi-national naval exercise conducted with naval forces from U.S., the Carribean Sea and South and Central America. The exercises focus on building multinational coalitions, while promoting hemispheric defense and mutual cooperation.

February 10, 2006 USS Ross, USS Barry (DDG 52), and USS Elrod (FFG 55) departed Norfolk, to participate in a coalition course in the North Atlantic with ships from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Denmark. The U.S. ships participating in Neptune Warrior are expected to deploy in the spring with this being their last complex training event before deployment. Three ships arrived in Faslane, Scotland, Feb. 23.

March 11, The Ross departed Faslane after participation in exercise Neptune Warrior.

June 25, DDG 71 arrived for a brief port visit to Greece's largest island of Crete. The Arleigh Burk-class destroyer recently departed homeport for a scheduled deployment. USS Ross is currently assigned to Standing NATO Response Force (NRF) Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2) and is operating in support of Operation Active Endeavor, NATO's maritime contribution to the fight against terrorism.

October 4, The Ross is currently in the Gulf of Lion participating in NATO Exercise Brilliant Midas 2006, a multinational exercise in the Mediterranean Sea.

November 6, USS Ross returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a six-month underway period in support of Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean Sea as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2).

September 24, 2007 DDG 71 began an Expeditionary Strike Group Integration exercise (ESGINT), as part of the Nassau (LHA 4) ESG, in preparation for the upcoming deployment earlier next year.

December 15, The guided-missile destroyer completed a 17-day Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX).

February 20, 2008 USS Ross departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

May 15, The Ross is currently participating in Exercise Inspired Union 2008 in the North Arabian Sea May 11-21, along with Pakistan and other U.S. Naval forces, focusing on air, surface and anti-submarine training.

June 3, Cmdr. Paul Stader relieved Cmdr. Douglas A. McGoff as CO of DDG 71 during a change-of command ceremony held aboard the ship in Manama, Bahrain.

July 11, USS Ross returned to Norfolk after a nearly five-month underway period in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.

May 21, 2010 USS Ross departed homeport for a scheduled Middle East deployment, as part of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG.

June 10, The Ross arrived in Split, Croatia, for a goodwill port visit.