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USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108)

Photo by Thoralf Doehring

USS WAYNE E. MEYER is one of the ARLEIGH BURKE Flight IIA guided missile destroyers and the first ship in the Navy named after Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS WAYNE E. MEYER. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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• Click here to see which USS WAYNE E. MEYER memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

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 world wide 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.

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About the Ship's Name:

Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer, retired in 1985 as the Deputy Commander for Weapons and Combat systems, Naval Sea Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command and Ordnance Officer of the Navy.

Rear Admiral Meyer, a native of Brunswick, Missouri, graduated from the University of Kansas in 1946 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He held a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Astronautics and Aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. His career began in 1943 as an apprentice seaman. He was commissioned Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve, in 1946 and was transferred to Regular Navy in 1948. After several years at sea, he returned to school in 1951 and attended the Joint Guided Missile School in Fort Bliss, Texas, the Naval Line School in Monterey, California, eventually serving as an instructor at the Special (atomic) Weapons School, Norfolk, Virginia.

He returned to sea as Executive Officer in STRICKLAND (DER 333), followed by service on the Staff, Commander, Destroyer Force, Atlantic. He was then ordered to the TALOS cruiser GALVESTON (CLG 3) and from there to the Secretary of the Navy's Special Task Force for Surface Missile Systems in Washington, D.C. He transferred to the Naval Ordnance Engineering Corps in 1966.

In 1967, he reported as Director of Engineering at the Naval Ship Missile Systems Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, California and three years later to the Naval Ordnance Systems Command, as Manager, AEGIS Weapons System. He was named Project Manager for Surface Missile Systems in 1972 and in July 1974, he was named the first Director of Surface Warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command.

He was selected for Admiral in January 1975. In July 1975, he assumed duties as the founding Project Manager, AEGIS Shipbuilding. In September 1983, he was reassigned as Deputy Commander, Weapons and Combat Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command.

Even after retiring from the Navy, Rear Admiral Meyer never ceased serving his country. He operated a consultancy in Crystal City, Virginia, chaired and served on numerous Panels and Committees chartered by various DOD civil and military officials. He also served on the National Ballistic Missile Defense Advisory Committee, delivered numerous speeches, reviewed and edited articles, essays, and books.

Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer passed on September 1, 2009, and was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

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USS WAYNE E. MEYER History:

USS WAYNE E. MEYER (DDG 108) was ordered on September 13, 2002, laid down at Bath Iron Works in Maine on May 17, 2007, christened at Bath on October 18, 2008, and launched on October 19, 2008. After completing trials in mid-2009 and delivery that July, she was commissioned on the Delaware River at Philadelphia on October 10, 2009, honoring her namesake, Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer, often called the "father of AEGIS".

Following commissioning, the ship transited to the Pacific and arrived at her initial homeport of San Diego on December 4, 2009, beginning the post-commissioning shakedown period and fleet integration with the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

WAYNE E. MEYER's first overseas deployment began in late July 2011, with the JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group (CSG-3), operating across the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas. After entering 7th Fleet in August, she shifted in October to operate temporarily with the GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group during a Singapore port period from October 13-17, 2011, amid regional monsoon flooding that saw the strike group posture for potential humanitarian support to Thailand. The destroyer's WestPac itinerary included port calls in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, high-tempo air-defense and maritime security operations with JOHN C. STENNIS and escorts - including USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53), USS DEWEY (DDG 105), USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91), and USS KIDD (DDG 100) - and a liberty visit to Phuket in November. On January 29, 2012, she arrived at Manila for a scheduled port visit during the homeward leg, and she completed the seven-month maiden deployment when the strike group returned to the West Coast at the end of February.

After post-deployment maintenance and training, the destroyer sailed independently for the Western Pacific on an extended 2014 patrol. She called at Papeete in French Polynesia en route to 7th Fleet, then arrived at Busan on April 24, 2014, for a scheduled visit supporting U.S.-ROK naval engagement. On May 31, 2014, operating off Korea, WAYNE E. MEYER conducted a trilateral interoperability exercise with the French light frigate FS PRAIRIAL (F 731) and the Republic of Korea Navy frigate ROKS BUSAN (FF 959). She later participated in the Singapore phase of the CARAT 2014 series, arriving at Changi on July 28, 2014, and conducting boarding-team training ashore with the Singapore Police Coast Guard on July 31, before continuing through the region, including a September anchorage off Hong Kong, and returning to San Diego in October 2014.

On May 7, 2015, the crew received the Spokane Trophy for outstanding combat readiness among Pacific Fleet surface ships, reflecting sustained readiness through the post-2014 cycle.

In January 2017, WAYNE E. MEYER deployed with the CARL VINSON (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group (CSG-1), sailing west under U.S. 3rd Fleet forward command and control. She made a first-in-theater port visit to Guam on February 3, 2017, and arrived at Busan, Republic of Korea, on March 15, 2017, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Operations emphasized air-defense commander duties, sea control, and allied integration with ships including USS CARL VINSON, USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57), and USS MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112). The group completed the deployment that spring.

In early 2018, still with CSG-1, the destroyer again operated in the Western Pacific. The strike group visited Guam from January 30-31, 2018. Later in February the force completed a Manila port call during presence operations in the South China Sea and Philippine Sea, and the group returned to the United States in April after a three-month cruise. On September 13, 2018, WAYNE E. MEYER shifted homeport to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in a one-for-one swap with USS O'KANE (DDG 77), marking her transition to a Hawaii-based destroyer.

From May 2019, WAYNE E. MEYER executed an independent Indo-Pacific deployment from Pearl Harbor. Operations in 7th Fleet included several freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) and United Nations sanctions-enforcement patrols, reflecting the maritime order and North Korea sanctions context. On August 28, 2019, she conducted a FONOP challenging excessive maritime claims near Fiery Cross Reef and Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. During the same deployment, the ship supported a first-of-its-kind expeditionary Vertical Launch System rearm demonstration while moored to an anchored ship at Guam, underlining evolving logistics concepts for forward sustainment. She returned to Pearl Harbor on December 23, 2019.

The ship entered a maintenance phase at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, successfully undocking from Dry Dock 4 on November 5, 2020, and resumed underway operations and allied engagement in 2021. On October 4, 2021, she conducted a cooperative deployment off Hawaii with USS PORT ROYAL (CG 73) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force training ship JS KASHIMA (TV 3508), focusing on formation maneuvering, communications, and tactical integration.

WAYNE E. MEYER deployed again with Carrier Strike Group 11 in late 2022, operating through early- and mid-2023 primarily in the Philippine Sea and neighboring waters with routine replenishments, gunnery and air-defense exercises, and allied interoperability events. She returned to Pearl Harbor on June 25, 2023, culminating about seven months away. She then entered a Selected Restricted Availability at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Project teams completed the SRA ahead of schedule in early March 2024, returning the destroyer to full operational status.

In 2025, the ship deployed with the NIMITZ (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) for another Indo-Pacific patrol. She moored at Guam on March 21, 2025, and entered Singapore for a port visit on March 26, 2025, before continuing across the eastern Indian Ocean. On April 5, 2025, she made a scheduled port visit to U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia. On April 8, she was photographed conducting routine operations in the Indian Ocean as the strike group continued presence and partnership activities. During the summer, the destroyer operated in the U.S. Central Command theater as part of NIMITZ CSG, reflecting the period's regional maritime-security focus, before continuing 7th Fleet operations into late summer.

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Homeports of USS WAYNE E. MEYER:

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USS WAYNE E. MEYER Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken by me and show the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 23, 2010.

The photos below were taken by me and show the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on May 10, 2012.

The photos below were taken by me and show the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on October 3, 2012. Note the remark "FOA" [Father of AEGIS] below the ship's name on the stern.

The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 27, 2014.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on October 2, 2015.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the WAYNE E. MEYER arriving at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., and a short time later moored at the Naval Base. All photos were taken on October 6, 2016.

The photo below was taken by Sebastian Thoma and shows the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 20, 2016.

The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hi., on June 8, 2019.

The photos below were taken by Sebastian Thoma and show the WAYNE E. MEYER at Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hi., on March 18, 2022.

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