From May through July 2000, the squadron flew missions in support of Operation Northern Watch on station at Incirlik Air Base while supporting in a Joint Expeditionary role for Commander Electronic Attack Wing U.S. Pacific Fleet.
In March 2001, the squadron deployed to the Western Pacific in support of Operation Southern Watch.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, USS Carl Vinson and CVW-11 took station off of the coast of Pakistan and conducted air strikes in support of coalition air and ground forces in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
The squadron returned home in January 2002 and received the Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" Award, Battle Efficiency Award and the Old Crows Award as the most tactically proficient Prowler squadron.

In March 2003, they deployed aboard USS Nimitz and participated in the initial air strikes of the Iraq War.
Following an extended eight-month deployment, supporting two separate contingency operations, the squadron returned home in November 2003.

In July 2004, the squadron participated in Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX) at Nellis Air Force Base, the first of five 2004 detachments in preparation for the 2005 WESTPAC deployment.
The squadron completed 2004 with a two-month detachment aboard Nimitz for TSTA/Computex and received the CVW-11 Golden Wrench for maintenance excellence.
In 2005, they continued their high-tempo operations in preparation for their WESTPAC deployment with detachments to NAS Fallon, NAS Lemoore, NAS North Island, and several exercises aboard USS Nimitz.

On May 7, 2005, the squadron deployed aboard USS Nimitz as part of Carrier Strike Group 11.
During the 2005 deployment, VAQ-135 conducted operations in the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf, again participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom from the Persian Gulf and Al Asad Air BaseIinraq, providing support to coalition forces in Iraq.
The squadron received the CVW-11 /USS Nimitz Teamwork Award twice during the deployment, initially for the first line period and again at the end of the deployment.
Additionally, VAQ-135 received the CVW-11 Golden Wrench Award for deployment, as the finest Maintenance Department in CVW-11.

The squadron departed in April 2007, for a six-month WESTPAC deployment to include supporting both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, returning in early October 2007.

The squadron returned from a subsequent Pacific deployment in June 2008 after a four-and-a-half-month deployment aboard USS Nimitz.

The squadron departed July 2009, for an eight-month WESTPAC deployment, aboard USS Nimitz, in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
From May through July 2000, the squadron flew missions in support of Operation Northern Watch on station at Incirlik Air Base while supporting in a Joint Expeditionary role for Commander Electronic Attack Wing U.S. Pacific Fleet. In March 2001, the squadron deployed to the Western Pacific in support of Operation Southern Watch. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, USS Carl Vinson and CVW-11 took station off of the coast of Pakistan and conducted air strikes in support of coalition air and ground forces in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The squadron returned home in January 2002 and received the Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" Award, Battle Efficiency Award and the Old Crows Award as the most tactically proficient Prowler squadron.
In March 2003, they deployed aboard USS Nimitz and participated in the initial air strikes of the Iraq War. Following an extended eight-month deployment, supporting two separate contingency operations, the squadron returned home in November 2003.
In July 2004, the squadron participated in Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX) at Nellis Air Force Base, the first of five 2004 detachments in preparation for the 2005 WESTPAC deployment. The squadron completed 2004 with a two-month detachment aboard Nimitz for TSTA/Computex and received the CVW-11 Golden Wrench for maintenance excellence. In 2005, they continued their high-tempo operations in preparation for their WESTPAC deployment with detachments to NAS Fallon, NAS Lemoore, NAS North Island, and several exercises aboard USS Nimitz.
On May 7, 2005, the squadron deployed aboard USS Nimitz as part of Carrier Strike Group 11. During the 2005 deployment, VAQ-135 conducted operations in the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf, again participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom from the Persian Gulf and Al Asad Air BaseIinraq, providing support to coalition forces in Iraq. The squadron received the CVW-11 /USS Nimitz Teamwork Award twice during the deployment, initially for the first line period and again at the end of the deployment. Additionally, VAQ-135 received the CVW-11 Golden Wrench Award for deployment, as the finest Maintenance Department in CVW-11.
The squadron departed in April 2007, for a six-month WESTPAC deployment to include supporting both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, returning in early October 2007.
The squadron returned from a subsequent Pacific deployment in June 2008 after a four-and-a-half-month deployment aboard USS Nimitz.
The squadron departed July 2009, for an eight-month WESTPAC deployment, aboard USS Nimitz, in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
VAQ-135