USS Ross ( DDG - 71 ) USS " Ross " ( DDG - 71 ) is an " Arleigh Burke " - class guided - missile destroyer in the United States Navy . She was the second Navy ship of that name , and the first named in honor of Captain Donald K . Ross ( 1910 – 1992 ) , who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor . " Ross " ' s keel was laid on 10 April 1995 by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula , Mississippi and her christening was held a year later , sponsored by Helen Ross , widow of Capt . Ross . Her plankowning crew moved aboard in April 1997 and sailed her to Galveston , Texas for the commissioning on 28 June 1997 . She is currently part of Carrier Strike Group Two . 1990s . After commissioning , " Ross " set sailed for a Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial , which lasted six weeks , and then sailed back to Pascagoula for three months for her Post Shakedown Availability ( PSA ) . She was then returned to her homeport of Portsmouth , Virginia and completed the Basic Training Phase : Engineering Certification , CART II , TSTA I , and III , Cruise Missile Tactical Qualification , Final Evaluation Period ( FEP ) , and Logistics Management Assessment . " Ross " completed her Intermediate Training Phase and set sail early in 1999 as part of Carrier Group 8 , led by . The group sortied for a Joint Task Force Exercise to prepare for an upcoming six - month deployment set to commence on 26 March 1999 . During this deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Adriatic Sea " Ross " participated in Operation Allied Force . On 22 September she returned to Naval Station Norfolk . 2000s . On 15 May 2000 she set sail for Northern Europe in order to participate in the Baltic Operations ( BALTOPS ) 2000 . She served as the flagship for the Commander of Carrier Group Eight , and together with the operated with more than 50 ships from the numerous European countries . During these exercises the destroyer visited Stockholm , Sweden and Kiel , Germany before returning to the United States in late June . On 16 October 2001 , " Ross " was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom , and conducting operations in support of the U . N . resolutions against Iraq . During this deployment , " Ross " was again part of the Battle Group . On 6 June 2005 , a . 50 caliber machine gun on her deck fired while leaving a shipyard . The single . 50 caliber bullet struck a nearby barge and two washing machines within the barge . The gun was discharged while performing a check on its firing operation . Later in 2005 , " Ross " participated in UNITAS 47 - 06 in place of the due to the damage to Pascagoula created by Hurricane Katrina . " Ross " enjoyed liberty in Curaçao , St . Maarten , and Rio de Janeiro while participating in the multi - ship exercise with naval forces from Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Spain , and Uruguay . During the return home , " Ross " encountered heavy seas at high speeds resulting in a tear in her hull . The crew isolated her flooding and performed de - watering during the remainder of the journey up the Atlantic coast eventually arriving in Norfolk in time for Thanksgiving . In 2006 , " Ross " returned from a six month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 . She conducted over 850 vessel queries , commanded over 17 different ships from various nations , performed over 40 helicopter landings and takeoffs and 41 port visits to six different countries and 14 different ports . From 1 May 2006 to 7 November 2006 , " Ross " traveled over 64 , 000 nautical miles ( 120 , 000 km ) ) . In Alicante , Spain in August 2006 , " Ross " became the group flagship , embarking the American commander of the standing maritime group . Her mission was to perform as part of Operation Active Endeavour ; deterring terrorism , smuggling and human trafficking in the Mediterranean . Upgrade . On 12 November 2009 , the Missile Defense Agency announced that " Ross " would be upgraded during Fiscal Year 2012 to RIM - 161 Standard Missile 3 ( SM - 3 ) capability in order to function as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System .