USS Gridley (DDG-101)

The fourth USS Gridley (DDG-101) is the 51st Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Gridley is named after Captain Charles Gridley, Commander of Admiral George Dewey's flagship USS Olympia (C-6), (Flag Captain) and recipient of Admiral Dewey's famous command, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley" in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War.

Construction and career
In May 2004, the Secretary of the Navy announced the names of five new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including Gridley. Her keel was laid on 30 July 2004 at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. She was christened on 11 February 2006. The Gridley was commissioned at the Port of Miami on Saturday, 10 February 2007.

She has joined the Pacific Fleet and is homeported at Naval Station Everett.

Gridley departed Naval Base San Diego on 19 May 2008 for her maiden deployment and returned on 25 November 2008.

On 22 August 2014 Gridley departed the naval base for a scheduled 10-month deployment, along with USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and USS Carl Vinson, returning on 4 June 2015.

On 9 July 2016 Gridley arrived at her new homeport in Everett, Washington.

In December 2021, Gridley departed Everett, on deployment as part of Destroyer Squadron 21, along with Carrier Strike Group 3 led by the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on a scheduled deployment.

Gridley participated in RIMPAC 2022.

Awards

 * Secretary of the Navy Safety Excellence Award, Afloat - (2022)