USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79)

• Namesake: USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) is named after Private First Class Oscar P. Austin, USMC, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in 1969. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on August 19, 2000, at Bath, Maine, and is the first ship in the US Navy named for Oscar Austin. • First Flight IIA Arleigh Burke: USS Oscar Austin is notable for being the first Flight IIA variant of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, featuring enhanced capabilities such as a helicopter hangar. • Homeport: The ship is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, a major hub for the US Atlantic Fleet. • Missile Defense Role: As an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, Oscar Austin is equipped with the Aegis Combat System and is capable of ballistic missile defense. • Humanitarian Assistance: In 2010, USS Oscar Austin participated in Operation Unified Response, providing aid after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. • International Exercises: The ship regularly participates in multinational exercises, such as BALTOPS and Joint Warrior, enhancing cooperation with allied navies. • Anti-Piracy Operations: In 2009, Oscar Austin was deployed off the coast of Africa to deter piracy as part of Combined Task Force 151. • First Female Commander: In 2012, USS Oscar Austin made history by being commanded by the first African-American female to command a US Navy warship, CDR Monika W. Stoker. • Technological Upgrades: The ship has undergone several upgrades, including the addition of the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) system, improving fleet-wide targeting and defense.