[1] Spruance served in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 24 and operating out of Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

Spruance's first operational deployment was in October 1979 to the Mediterranean Sea, as a member of the USS Saratoga Carrier Battle Group.

[citation needed] Spruance, being the first gas-turbine powered ship in the U.S. fleet, had an underway replenishment breakaway flag (flown while pulling away from receiving supplies and fuel from a logistics ship at sea) that was a replication of the large yellow warning seen on the side of aircraft carriers, with red block letters saying "BEWARE JET BLAST" on a large yellow background.

Upon "breaking" (unfurling) the flag on the halyards, they would play the theme song from the 1976 film Rocky as they increased speed and sailed ahead of the logistics vessel.

[citation needed] Spruance deployed for a six-month period in January 1983 to the Persian Gulf where she spent four and one-half months conducting observations in company with USS Oliver Hazard Perry during the Iraq-Iran War.

She deployed for a six-month period on 26 May 1993 to the Red Sea where she spent over three and a half months conducting visit and board and search operations in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

[citation needed] On 26 January 1989, Spruance ran aground on a reef while traveling at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) near Andros Island in the Bahamas.

Navy tugs and the USS Boone re-floated the ship, which suffered $1.8 million in damage to the hull, propellers, sonar dome, and forward mast.

[citation needed] In July 1994, as part of Operation Restore Democracy, U.S. Navy ships were assigned to helping to enforce the United Nations embargo of Haiti.

[citation needed] Spruance steamed in the Mediterranean from April through October 1997 with the carrier battle group supporting USS John F. Kennedy.

Serving as the flagstaff of Destroyer Squadron 24, Spruance made significant contributions throughout the deployment including: visiting thirteen foreign ports; participating in five multinational naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea; serving as Presidential Support Ship in Rotterdam, Netherlands; representing the U.S. Navy in Thoule Sur Mer, France, in commemorating the fifty-second anniversary of the Allied landings in southern France; and hosting Ukrainian military and diplomatic distinguished visitors during the 1997 Ukrainian Independence Day celebration.

Sea Breeze 97 trained military forces on how to provide humanitarian relief for victims of a simulated earthquake in Southern Ukraine.

[citation needed] In the fall of 1999, Spruance detached from the John F. Kennedy carrier group to relieve USS Peterson as the U.S. representative to the Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED).

On 24 September 2001, as part of the John F. Kennedy Carrier Battle Group, Spruance commenced use of the Vieques Island inner range in conjunction with their Composite Unit Training Exercises (COMPTUEX).

The JTFEX is designed to meet the requirement for quality, realistic training to prepare U.S. forces for joint and combined operations and also provides the opportunity to certify the CVBG for deployment.

[citation needed] Deploying with the John F. Kennedy carrier group in June 2004, Spruance returned to Mayport on 7 December 2004.