The ship is named after First lieutenant Baldomero López, a US Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War.

[1] The ship was laid down in March 1984 and launched in October 1985 at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts.

William R. Button (AK-3012) and USNS Charlton (T-AKR-314) transported into the Port of Philadelphia 400,000 square feet of combat gear for U.S. forces deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[citation needed] During Exercise Trident Juncture 2018, she unloaded, inspected and transported supplies to designated areas on 12 October 2018.

[3] Baldomero Lopez carried and unloaded equipments and supplies as part of Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise (MPFEX) 2020 while off the coast of Florida at Naval Station Mayport, on 14 February 2020.