The squadron is based in NAS Point Mugu and deploys as part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) on board USS Abraham Lincoln.

[check quotation syntax] Established at NAS North Island, California on 1 July 1974, as part of Fighter Early Warning Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, VAW-117 received its first E-2B aircraft (Buno: 151713) on 15 October 1974.

[2] In 1978, the squadron was assigned to the operational control of Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) on board USS Ranger (CV-61), and in February 1979 began its first deployment to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC).

[8] On 16 September 1989 VAW-117 embarked on USS Enterprise for the start of a world cruise, participating in Cope Thunder, Valiant Blitz, and Operation Classic Resolve returning home in March 1990.

[10] Now attached to Carrier Air Wing Eleven and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), the squadron deployed as part of the ship’s maiden WESTPAC voyage in May 1991 and also participated in Operation Desert Storm.

[15] 1998 brought another swap for CWW-11, this time to embark aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and deploying in support of several excursuses and Operation Desert Fox.

The extensive radar and communication equipment on board the E-2C Hawkeye allowed the squadron to continuously provided battle space management over Pakistan and southern Afghanistan, ensuring the safety of all airborne assets and clearance from commercial air routes.

The squadron's Hawkeyes served as an information-clearing house, providing a communications relay between command authorities on the ground and tactical aircraft airborne.

The Nimitz while on deployment visited Hong Kong; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Guam; Manama, Bahrain; Dubai, UAE; Perth, Australia; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, twice.