In January 1998, Shuford assumed command of the guided-missile cruiser , deploying to the operating areas of the Fifth and Sixth Fleets with the Carrier Battle Group. While he was her commanding officer, "Gettysburg" played a prominent role in operations in the Adriatic Sea during the Kosovo crisis and in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Fox in December 1998, acting as Air Warfare Commander for dual carrier battle group operations by the and USS "Enterprise" (CVN-65) Carrier Battle Groups and successfully firing all 69 of the Tomahawk cruise missiles she was tasked to fire during strike operations. "Gettysburg" was awarded the Battle Efficiency "E" for Cruiser-Destroyer Group 12.