The contract to build her was awarded to Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine, on 6 March 1998, and her keel was laid down on 20 September 2002.
She was launched on 3 April 2004, sponsored by Elisabeth Porter, Nitze's wife.
Nitze, who was 97 years old at the time, was present at the christening, thus adding the destroyer to the  list of U.S. military vessels named after living Americans.
Nitze was commissioned on 5 March 2005 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Nitze, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, went on her maiden deployment in January 2007 as part of the USS Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group, returning home on 3 July 2007.

On 12 September 2008, Nitze departed Norfolk for a seven-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group Two, led by USS Theodore Roosevelt, returning on 18 April 2009.
In October 2009, Nitze was open to the public for tours in downtown Norfolk as part of the Navy Fleet Week celebration.
She was moored at the Nauticus Museum and Half Moone Cruise terminal.

During 1-5 July 2011, Nitze was docked in Eastport, Maine, for 4th of July celebrations.

From 12 March to 4 November 2012, Nitze completed her third deployment to the Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility with the USS Enterprise Battlegroup (CCSG 12).

Nitze was deployed a fourth time, from 29 November 2013, to 15 July 2014, spending most of their time off the Horn of Africa conducting maritime security operations.

Nitze was underway for First East Coast Carrier Strike Group SWATT November 2018.
The contract to build her was awarded to Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine, on 6 March 1998, and her keel was laid down on 20 September 2002. She was launched on 3 April 2004, sponsored by Elisabeth Porter, Nitze's wife. Nitze, who was 97 years old at the time, was present at the christening, thus adding the destroyer to the  list of U.S. military vessels named after living Americans. Nitze was commissioned on 5 March 2005 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Nitze, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, went on her maiden deployment in January 2007 as part of the USS Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group, returning home on 3 July 2007.
On 12 September 2008, Nitze departed Norfolk for a seven-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group Two, led by USS Theodore Roosevelt, returning on 18 April 2009. In October 2009, Nitze was open to the public for tours in downtown Norfolk as part of the Navy Fleet Week celebration. She was moored at the Nauticus Museum and Half Moone Cruise terminal.
During 1-5 July 2011, Nitze was docked in Eastport, Maine, for 4th of July celebrations.
From 12 March to 4 November 2012, Nitze completed her third deployment to the Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility with the USS Enterprise Battlegroup (CCSG 12).
Nitze was deployed a fourth time, from 29 November 2013, to 15 July 2014, spending most of their time off the Horn of Africa conducting maritime security operations.
Nitze was underway for First East Coast Carrier Strike Group SWATT November 2018.
USS Nitze