USS Paul F . Foster ( DD - 964 ) USS " Paul F . Foster " ( DD - 964 ) , named for Vice Admiral Paul F . Foster USN ( 1889 – 1972 ) , was a built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula , Mississippi . She commissioned on 21 February 1976 and decommissioned on 27 March 2003 . She now serves as the Navy ' s test ship for experimental weapons and sensors . History . As the initial " Spruance " - class destroyer assigned to the Pacific Fleet , " Paul F . Foster " had many milestone firsts , including successfully firing a NATO Sea Sparrow missile , demonstrating the feasibility of landing H - 46 helicopters , and determining the operational limits of the SH - 3 helicopter . Operating out of San Diego , " Paul F . Foster " became the first " Spruance " - class destroyer to deploy to the Western Pacific in March 1978 . The ship deployed again in 1979 and 1982 , serving in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific . " Paul F . Foster " joined Destroyer Squadron Nine and moved to its new home port of Long Beach , California , in August 1983 . She became the Navy ' s first " all electric destroyer " after major modifications at Long Beach Naval Shipyard , which included the addition of a fourth ship ' s service gas turbine generator . On 29 August 1984 , " Paul F . Foster " began its fourth Western Pacific deployment as Destroyer Squadron Nine ' s flagship , with then DESRON NINE Commodore , T . O . GABRIEL and his staff embarked aboard , leading a five - ship surface action group and participating in several major allied fleet exercises . During a fifth deployment beginning in August 1986 with DESRON NINE as part of the Battle Group , " Paul F . Foster " was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her performance in Operation Kernel Potlatch in the North Pacific and Bering Sea . From July 1987 through July 1988 , " Paul F . Foster " completed a regular overhaul at Northwest Marine Iron Works in Portland , Oregon . During the overhaul the ship received over 55 major ship alterations , including installation of the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System for Tomahawk cruise missiles , the AN / SQQ - 89 Anti - Submarine Warfare Detection System , and facilities to employ the Navy ' s most sophisticated submarine helicopter , the LAMPS MkIII . " Paul F . Foster " departed on its sixth Western Pacific / Indian Ocean deployment on 24 February 1989 in company with the Battle Group . Conducting North Arabian Sea operations , the ship was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal . On 8 December 1990 , " Paul F . Foster " departed Long Beach on its seventh overseas deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of " Operations Desert Shield " and " Desert Storm . " The first ship to fire Tomahawk missiles against Iraqi targets , she was instrumental in the liberation of Kuwait and in winning the campaign . Deploying for the eighth time on 20 July 1992 , she returned to the Arabian Sea , where she operated in support of Persian Gulf Operations - Southern Watch while participating in numerous bilateral exercises with Persian Gulf Nations . During the ship ' s ninth deployment , " Paul F . Foster " again served with " Carl Vinson " Battle Group and was the first ship on the scene to provide assistance to a burning ocean going tug , " Glorious City " , putting out the fire and saving its crew of seven . Upon returning from deployment on 20 October 1994 , " Paul F . Foster " entered into a regular overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard where several of the latest technological weapons , sensors and engineering systems were added . A major change implemented during this overhaul was a retrofit of a berthing , to accommodate her first female crew members . After completion of overhaul , she moved to her new home port of Everett , Washington arriving November 22 , 1995 , the day before Thanksgiving . During the ship ' s tenth deployment which began 21 February 1997 , " Paul F . Foster " was a part of the multinational force during Persian Gulf Operations , enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq . " Paul F . Foster " departed for her eleventh deployment on 27 January 1999 . While serving as part of the Pacific Middle East Force , she participated in Operation Iron Siren , Eager Sentry , and Arabian Gauntlet . In addition , the ship conducted boarding ' s in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq . Shortly before departure , two children were baptized in the ship ' s bell . " Paul F . Foster " departed for her twelfth deployment on 11 January 2001 , where the ship once again conducted numerous boarding operations in support of the United Nations sanctions against Iraq . Her thirteenth and final deployment began on 18 June 2002 . " Paul F . Foster " was decommissioned on 27 March 2003 . In 2004 , " Paul F . Foster " was designated to replace ex - as the Navy ' s Self Defense Test Ship , a role she assumed in 2005 . In support of this new role , she is assigned to Naval Surface Warfare Center , Port Hueneme Division . In 2008 , " Paul F . Foster " was used in an episode of NCIS " ( Road Kill ) " portraying " USS Rubicon " , a ship about to be decommissioned . As of 2011 , " Paul F . Foster " is the last surviving example of the " Spruance " Class . On 8 April 2011 , Wired . com reported that " Paul F . Foster " had successfully used the Maritime Laser Demonstrator for the first time in a sea - to - sea target test , sinking a small inflatable motorboat at a range of one mile in rough seas . On 17 November 2011 , " Paul F . Foster " demonstrated the use of shipboard alternative fuel , while underway in the Pacific Ocean on a 50 – 50 blend of an algae - derived , hydro - processed algal oil and petroleum F - 76 . The ship arrived Thursday morning to the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Port Hueneme in Southern California after traveling for 17 hours on a maiden trip from San Diego . Association . A link to the USS Paul F . Foster Association Reunion 26 – 29 April 2012 Las Vegas Nevada