She reported to Norfolk, Virginia, 11 September 1961 for duty with the Service Force, Atlantic Fleet, and shortly thereafter conducted shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Oxford was designed to conduct research in the reception of electromagnetic propagations, an open secret phrase for gathering electronic signals military intelligence (SIGINT).

Equipped with the latest antenna systems and measuring devices, she was a highly sophisticated and mobile station which could steam to various parts of the world to participate in the Navy's "comprehensive program of research and development projects in communications" (electronic spying).

On 27 October 1962, "Black Saturday", the Oxford discovered a breakthrough in the Soviet defenses on the island when it detected radar signals from SAM missile sites near Mariel.

This discovery would soon alter both low flying RF-8 Crusader and RF-101 Voodoo photo missions and high altitude U-2 spy plane reconnaissance flights over the island.

January 1964 brought refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, and from 22 February until 10 June 1964 Oxford conducted further "research operations" in South Atlantic and Pacific Ocean waters.

She stood out of Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, 16 June for a one-month deployment to the South China Sea, and thus set the pattern for her operations into 1969.