About

1) MISSION/VISION STATEMENT 

· USS WAYNE E. MEYER is a multi-mission guided missile destroyer designed to operate independently or with an associated Strike Group. A crew of 331 men and women utilize the ship’s technologically advanced radars and sensors, weapons, communications systems, navigational equipment, and two helicopters. This same crew handles all the chores that occur daily in any small city, providing utilities, food and countless other services. These items are necessary to sustain the crew in order to operate at sea as long as the task at hand requires. We, the officers and enlisted, embrace this treasured opportunity to welcome you on board our ship. We join with our fellow citizens in a daily remembrance of our fellow service members who are at home and abroad. These men and women defend vital U.S. interests. Wayne E. Meyer will be ready when called upon to control the high seas, defeat the enemy, and provide humanitarian support when required. 

(2) LOGO OR CREST MEANING AND SYMBOLISM 

· The Shield: The shape of the arms enclosure, derived from the cover of the Aegis array assembly, represents Aegis engineering and refers to the mythological shield of Zeus. The left supporting Talos missile refers to the Admiral’s early career and his duties in USS GALVESTON (CLG 3) where he served as Fire Control and Gunnery Officer at the birth of modern missilery in the United States. The right supporting SM2/3 missile refers to the evolution from Talos to the modern Standard Missile. The eagle and swords recall the firepower of the ship. The Medusa escutcheon recalls the mythology of Zeus and the power of the Aegis system to effectively petrify an enemy. The orle of gold stars refers to Admiral Meyer’s thirteen years of leadership, vision and commitment as founding project manager of Aegis Shipbuilding. The larger fourteenth star refers to his rise to the ranks of Admiralty. The Navy Blue book binding and scarlet bordure of the Medusa escutcheon denote unity, purpose and courage: values of the greatest generation epitomized by RADM Meyer. Dark blue represents the US Navy, gold signifies excellence. 

· The Crest: The mullet and anchor record Rear Admiral Meyer’s award of the Distinguished Service Medal, the compass rose denotes worldwide achievement; the color scarlet signifies sacrifice and courage. The wreath and sprig of Hawthorn Blossom at the base denote distinctive honor and Meyer’s heritage and origins in the fertile gumbo region of the great state of Missouri. The opened technical book and slide rule represent the engineering rigor required in shipbuilding, and recall RADM Meyer’s disciplined approach to engineering excellence as well as the solid engineering foundation gained through schooling. 

(3) SHIP AND UNIT HISTORY 

· USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) was laid down on 18 MAY 2007, christened in a ceremony at Bath Iron Works on October 18th, 2008 and commissioned on October 10th 2009. 

· In July 2011 USS Wayne E. Meyer departed Naval Base San Diego for her maiden deployment, as part of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) CSG. 

· In October 2011, USS Wayne E. Meyer attached to USS George Washington (CVN 73) CSG. 

· In February 2012 USS Wayne E. Meyer returned to homeport after her seven-month deployment in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 

· In March 2014, USS Wayne E. Meyer departed San Diego for an independent deployment conducting various underway mission stops in French Polynesia, South Korea, Japan, Guam, Singapore, and Hong Kong. She returned to homeport in October 2014. 

· In January 2017, USS Wayne E. Meyer and her sister ship USS Michael Murphy, were part of Destroyer Squadron 1, and joined USS Carl Vinson during a deployment to the western Pacific. 

· In 2018 USS Wayne E. Meyer shifted her homeport from Naval Base San Diego in California to Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. 

· In May 2019, USS Wayne E. Meyer deployed to 7th Fleet on an independent deployment conducting multiple Freedom of Navigation Operations. 

· In December 2022, USS Wayne E. Meyer deployed once again to 7th fleet with the Nimitz Strike Group.