USS Nitze (DDG-94)

USS Nitze (DDG-94) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Paul Nitze, who served as Secretary of the Navy under president Lyndon B. Johnson and as chief arms control adviser in the administration of president Ronald Reagan.

Overview
The contract to build her was awarded to Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine on 6 March 1998 and her keel was laid down on 20 September 2002. She was launched on 3 April 2004 sponsored by Elisabeth Porter, Nitze's wife. Nitze, 97 years old, was present at the christening, thus adding the destroyer to the rapidly growing list of military vessels named after living Americans (although Nitze died 6½ months later). Nitze was commissioned on 5 March 2005, with CDR Michael A. Hegarty in command. While in command, Hegarty saw port visits in NYC for Fleet Week, Mobile, AL for Mardi Gras, and several other high visibility ports. The current CO is CDR John Bub. The XO is CDR Michelle Nakamura. The ship is known as the "Cold Warriors" in reference to Paul Nitze's involvement in shaping US Cold War policy. Nitze, homeported in Norfolk, VA, went on its maiden deployment in January 2007 as part of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group, returning home on 3 July 2007.

On 12 September 2008, Nitze departed Norfolk for a seven-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group Two, led by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), returning on 18 April 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 1–5 July 2011, Nitze was docked in Eastport, Maine, for 4 July Celebration.

From 12 March to 4 November 2012, Nitze completed her third successful deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility with the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) Battlegroup (CCSG 12).