Built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the ship and crew were completely certified and "surge ready" 17 January 2006, nearly a year faster than previous DDGs.

That night, after a party for visiting local Japanese dignitaries, during which on-duty crew were drinking, there was a fire which damaged one of the main reduction gears.

Halsey returned 24 December 2006, having worked with the Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group and taking part in ANNUALEX.

These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

[8] On 25 January 2013 Halsey performed a hull swap with USS Russell and arrived at her new homeport, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam on 14 February 2013.