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USS MILIUS (DDG-69)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NPLM


"Alii Prae Me
(Others Besides Myself)"

CLASS - BURKE Flight I As Built.
Displacement 8373 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 504' 7" (oa) x 66' 11" x 20' (Max)
Armament 1 x 5"/54 RF, 2 Phalanx 20mm Guns, 90 VLS Cells,
8 Harpoon Missiles, 6 x 12.75" TT.
Machinery, 100,000 SHP; 4 GE LM-2500 Gas Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 30+ Knots, Range 4400 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 370.
Operational and Building Data
Built by Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS (YN 5269)
Contract awarded 16 January 1991
Laid down 08 August 1994
Launched 01 August 1995
Christened 28 October 1995
Commissioned 23 November 1996
Active unit of the US Navy
Homeported at San Diego.

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By
Namesake
Milius 73kCaptain Paul Lloyd Milius, USN. At 1157 hours local time on 27 February 1968, Captain Milius and crew were on an operational surveillance mission over Laos in an OP-2E aircraft. The aircraft was hit by a 37-mm anti-aircraft projectile. Captain Milius took control of the aircraft and gave the order to bail out. All of the eight surviving crew members were rescued, except Captain Milius. He was declared Missing in Action in 1968. He was declared Presumed Killed in Action and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross in 1978.Robert M. Cieri
USS Milius (DDG 69)
Milius 105kArtist rendering of USS Milius DDG-69.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 24kImmediately after launching, August 1 1995.LCDR Brian Cebrian USN
Milius 104kChristening Coin for Milius DDG-69 on 28 October 1995.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 52kChristening Program for Milius DDG-69. The event was held at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS on 28 October 1995.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 163kChristening of USS Milius DDG-69 by the Ship's Sponsor, Ms. Annette Milius, daughter of Captain Paul Lloyd Milius on 28 October 1995.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 165kUSS Milius (DDG-69) underway, probably during builders sea trials in June 1996. Photograph by Ingalls Shipbuilding. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 106842-KN.Robert Hurst
Milius 97kUSS Milius DDG-69 on Builders Sea Trials, 5 June 1996.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 71kUSS Milius DDG-69 on Builders Sea Trials, 5 June 1996.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 102kCommissioning Program for the USS Milius DDG-69. The event was held at Ingalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, MS on 23 November 1996.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 97kCommissioning poster.Bill Gonyo
Milius 158kSan Diego, CA June 22 2000 sailors man the rails aboard USS Milius (DDG 69), as the guided missile destroyer heads to sea from San Diego to begin a scheduled five-month deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's mate 1st Class Chuck Cavanaugh. [000622-N-1144C-010] June 22, 2000.Fred Weiss
Milius 47kFremantle, Australia November 23 2000.Marc Piché
Milius 58kFremantle, Australia November 23 2000.Marc Piché
Milius 66kFremantle, Australia November 23 2000.Marc Piché
Milius 99kFremantle, Australia November 27 2000.Marc Piché
Milius 30kSydney, Australia November 2000.Marc Piché
Milius 83kSan Diego, CA December 22 2000 sailors aboard USS Milius (DDG 69) man the rails as they return home to San Diego for the holidays following a scheduled six-month deployment to the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Chuck Cavanaugh. [001222-N-1144C-002] Dec. 22, 2000.Fred Weiss
Milius 147k001222-N-1144C-004. Naval Station San Diego, CA, December 22 2000, sailors aboard the destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) "man the rails" as the ship arrives home in time for the Christmas holidays, following a scheduled five-month deployment to the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. U.S. Navy Photo by Chuck Cavanaugh.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 40kPhoto taken on April 5, 2002 at San Diego, CA.JO2(SW) Jason Heavner, ComNavSurfPac Public Affairs
Milius 67kCrew members aboard the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Milius "Man the Rails" as they transit San Diego Bay. June 22, 2000.Steven A. Cardali
Milius 67kSan Diego, Calif. , Aug. 8, 2002, the guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) steams past the San Diego skyline after completing local operations off the California coast. Technological advances have improved the capability of modern destroyers culminating in the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class of which Milius is one. Named for the Navy's most famous destroyer squadron combat commander and three-time Chief of Naval Operations, the this class of destroyers are the most powerful surface combatants ever put to sea. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Andrew Betting. [020808-N-8590B-001]Fabio Peña
Milius 106k021025-N-8629M-001. At sea aboard USS Milius (DDG 69), October 25 2002, with the flight deck crew standing by, an SH-3 “Sea King” from Helicopter Support Squadron One One (HC-11) prepares to land aboard the guided missile destroyer. Milius is part of the USS Constellation (CV 64) Battle Group, which is conducting operations in support of a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) prior to its regularly scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo.Bill Gonyo
Milius 75kSingapore Nov 30 2002, the guided missile destroyers USS Milius (DDG 69) (left) and USS Higgins (DDG 76) sit moored along the pier inport Singapore. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer’s Mate Casullo.Fred Weiss
Milius 100kJanuary 5 2003, location unknown.Denys Petrina
Milius 108k030117-N-2383B-837. The Arabian Gulf, January 17 2003, Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), speaks to the crew of USS Milius (DDG 69). The CNO is traveling with Rear Adm. Barry Black, Chief of Chaplains and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Terry Scott on a visit with Sailors, Marines, and the joint coalition leadership community in the Persian Gulf region. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera.Bill Gonyo
Milius 52kCentral Command Area of Operation, March 22 2003, the guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) launches a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) toward Iraq during the initial stages of the Operation Iraqi Freedom.Fred Weiss
Milius 30kCentral Command Area of Operation, March 22 2003, the guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) launches a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) toward Iraq during the initial stages of the Operation Iraqi Freedom.Fred Weiss
Milius 114k030520-N-0295M-008. At sea with USS Milius (DDG 69), May 20 2003, the guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) proudly displays her large American flag during a practice sea power demonstration for USS Constellation's upcoming "Tiger Cruise." USS Constellation (CV 64) Carrier Strike Group is returning home from deployment in which it supported Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain.Bill Gonyo
Milius 52k040507-N-5362A-394, Pacific Ocean, May 7 2004, ships assigned to "The Golden Arrows" of Commander Destroyer Squadron Seven (COMDESRON-7), assemble in a formation off the coast of San Diego, Calif. Pictured are the guided missile destroyers USS Benfold (DDG 65), left, USS Milius (DDG 69), center bottom, USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), center top, and the guided missile frigate, USS Thach (FFG 43), right. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Arlo K. Abrahamson.Tony Cowart
Milius 80k041201-N-0685S-003. San Diego, CA, December 1 2004, Sonar Technician 2nd Class Christopher A. Gentleman of Mesa, Ariz., performs maintenance on a MK-32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tube aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69). Milius is preparing for a scheduled deployment in the support of Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Jo A. Wilbourn Sims.Bill Gonyo
Milius 205k051118-N-9866B-003. Pacific Ocean, November 18 2005, the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) steams in the Pacific Ocean enroute to her homeport of Naval Station San Diego, after an underway period off the coast of Southern California. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Zack Baddorf.Bill Gonyo
Milius 130k051118-N-9866B-225. San Diego Bay, November 18 2005, the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) and the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) sail under the Coronado Bridge toward their homeport of Naval Station San Diego, after an underway period off the coast of Southern California. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Zack Baddorf.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 109kDN-SD-07-10844, 060803-N-1003P-002. August 3 2006, Petty Officer 2nd Class Elvis Acosta, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class aboard the USN Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer (Aegis) USS MILIUS (DDG 69) shows local educators the anchor chain along with other demonstrations during the ships tour and part of Seattle, Washington's (WA) Seafair fleet week. The Seafair honors past and present sacrifices and contributions made by Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mary Popejoy.Bill Gonyo
Milius 108k060725-N-8629M-219. Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, July 25 2006, the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) sails in formation with 28 ships and six submarines from the participating nations at the end of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006. Eight nations are participating in RIMPAC, the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. Conducted in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rebecca J. Moat.Bill Gonyo
Milius 156k070501-N-5822P-104. PACIFIC OCEAN, May 1 2007, guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) steams in formation during a photo exercise near Guam. Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group consists of Amphibious Squadron 7, amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9), dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), USS Milius, guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), guided missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), and 2,200 combat ready Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mark Patterson II.Bill Gonyo
Milius 54kSan Diego, October 8 2007, the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) prepares to pull into her berth at Naval Base San Diego. The ship completed a six-month deployment with the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group. While deployed, the ship supported maritime operations in the Persian Gulf including interdiction patrols and presence activities. U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Jane Campbell, ID# 071008-N-9909C-003.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 230k080110-N-8273J-344. San Diego, Calif., January 10 2008, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead talks with Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) during an all-hands call. Roughead spoke about individual augmentee assignments and thanked the crew for their hard work while touring major public and private shipbuilding sites to deepen his understanding of shipbuilding, develop the Navy's relationship with industry and hear perspectives from various shipbuilders. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 166kUSS Milius departing CFB Esquimalt (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) July 28 2008.Lt(N) Neil A. Mayers, Logistics Officer, Canadian Naval Reserve, CFB Esquimalt
Milius 186k080801-N-4774B-036. San Diego, August 1 2008, the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) passes by the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) in San Diego Harbor as Tarawa departs to deploy for the Fuerzas Alidas PANAMAX 2008, an annual multi-national exercise to train to defend the Panama Canal. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel A. Barker.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 149k080801-N-4774B-085. San Diego, August 1 2008, sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) prepare to render honors to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) in San Diego Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel A. Barker.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 165kThree U.S. Navy ships sharing the same hull number, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), the guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG-69), and the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG-69), sail in formation in the Arabian Sea, 28 April 2009. The three ships were underway supporting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rafael Figueroa Medina (#090428-N-9988F-815).Chester Morris
Milius 179kBahrain, May 11 2009, a USS Milius (DDG 69) officer describes the capabilities of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Mark E. Ferguson III. Adm. Ferguson visited Sailors in Bahrain May 10 – 11, to discuss current Navy personnel issues and thank them for their service. Milius is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements 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. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer. 090511-N-0803S-005.Bill Gonyo
Milius 139kJuly 2009 at Naval Station San Diego.BMCS Richard Miller USNR (Ret.)
Milius 134kAs above.BMCS Richard Miller USNR (Ret.)
Milius 133kNaval Station San Diego, October 2009.BMCS Richard Miller USNR (Ret.)
Milius 134kNaval Station San Diego, December 2010.BMCS Richard Miller USNR (Ret.)
Milius 145k110208-N-ZC343-007. San Diego, February 8 2011, tugboats help maneuver guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) into a shipyard. US Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joe Kane.Robert M. Cieri
Milius 111kUSS Milius (DDG-69) returns to homeport Naval Base San Diego after an eight-month independent deployment to the western Pacific and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility in 2012. US Navy Photo.Tommy Trampp
Milius 112kSeptember 30 2012 at San Diego.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Milius 131kCDR Steve Shedd, commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69), discusses blueprints for the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program with Space and Naval Warfare Systems (SPAWAR) engineers in January 2013. US Navy photo.Tommy Trampp
Milius 164kAMSEC contractors remove ventilation in the radio room onboard the Navy guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) in March 2013. US Navy photo.Tommy Trampp
Milius 807k180503-N-YW024-0045. Pearl Harbor, May 5, 2018, The Arleight Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) arrives in Pearl Harbor. Milius recently departed San Diego, officially begins its transition to Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Japan in Yokosuka, Japan. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/ReleasedDave Wright
Milius 807k 180720-N-OY799-0326. Philippine Sea, July 20, 2018. The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) steams alongside the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during a transit of the Philippine Sea. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)Dave Wright
Milius 41kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Milius 20kShip's patch.Gerd Matthes
Milius 142kShip's patch.Robert M. Cieri

USS MILIUS DDG-69 History
View This Vessel's Command Operations Report entry
located at the Naval History & Heritage Command website
[This ship was built too late to be covered by the DANFS project]

Commanding Officers
01CDR Daine Edward Eisold 23 November 1996 - 27 February 1998
02CDR James Patrick McManamon 27 February 1998 - 29 October 1999
03CDR Thomas Sumner Rowden (USNA 1982) 29 October 1999 - 11 May 2001
04CDR Jeffrey Allan Harley 11 May 2001 - 15 April 2003
05CDR John Stewart Mitchell III 15 April 2003 - 12 May 2005
06CDR David James Sheridan (USNA 1986) 12 May 2005 - 07 November 2006
07CDR Edmund Burguillos Hernandez 07 November 2006 - 30 May 2008
08CDR Kendall Gennick 30 May 2008 - 05 November 2009
09CDR Robert Trevor King (USNA 1991) 05 November 2009 - 15 April 2011
10CDR Nicholie Tanya Bufkin 15 April 2011 - 02 November 2012
11CDR Stephen Fletcher Shedd (USNA 1995) 02 November 2012 - 02 May 2014
12CDR Michael John Rak 02 May 2014 - 20 November 2015
13CDR Gilbert Ayan 20 November 2015 - 21 July 2017
14CDR Jennifer Marie Pontius 21 July 2017 - 15 February 2019
15CDR Jonathan A. Hopkins 15 February 2019 - 17 July 2020
16CDR Robert William Niemayer (USNA 2002) 17 July 2020 - 17 September 2021
17CDR Matthew G. Hays 17 September 2021 - 01 May 2023
18CDR Leif Edward Gunderson 01 May 2023 - present

Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Milius (DDG-69) website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 12 july 2024