The guided-missile destroyer is the first to be named after Admiral Robert Carney, who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration.

On 13 August 2004 Carney put to sea from Naval Station Mayport in order to avoid the effects of Hurricane Charley.

[7] In March and April 2007, Carney visited St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Lucia, and Barbados to show the U.S.'s commitment to stability to its regional partners.

[8] On 1 August 2011, Carney departed Naval Station Mayport for a scheduled deployment as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1).

On 25 May 2014, Carney returned to Naval Station Mayport after a seven-month Persian Gulf deployment in support of Maritime Intercept Operations (MIO).

On 29 July 2016, Carney was called on to support the rescue of 97 migrants whose small inflatable watercraft was adrift in the water.

Carney also fired illumination rounds from her 5-inch gun to help U.S.-backed Libyan ground forces fighting ISIS in Sirte.

[16] On 17 February 2018, Carney joined USS Ross (DDG-71) in the Black Sea near Russia for an "unspecified regional proactive presence mission".

The move followed increased tensions between Russia and the U.S. after American federal prosecutors announced indictments against 13 Russian citizens for their alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.

[18] On 8 October 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response.

[22] It was subsequently reported that Carney actually encountered a larger and more sustained barrage than was previously known on that day, shooting down four cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of nine hours.

"[28][29] On 16 December 2023 while operating in the Red Sea, Carney successfully shot down a barrage of 14 unmanned aerial system (UAS) one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

[30][31] Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. 5th Fleet, subsequently visited the ship and presented combat medals to five sailors for their "exceptional performance" in the engagement.

[20] On 13 January 2024, Carney conducted follow-on action by firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Houthi rebels in Yemen a day after the main strike package.

[32] Later, Carney and other coalition ships responded to a strike by the Houthis on the British oil tanker MV Marlin Luanda on 26 January 2024.

[36] On 5 March 2024, Carney shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile and three one-way attack unmanned aerial systems launched by the Houthis in the Red Sea.

The two spears form a "V" alluding to Admiral Carney's Legion of Merit with a "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device) for exceptionally meritorious conduct...in action against enemy Japanese forces... 5 March 1943 – 6 March 1943 and the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" for operations in the Solomon Islands area on the night of 29 July 1943.