On 5 September 1990 the ship departed San Diego for the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
She was responsible for the first reload of shipboard Tomahawk missiles outside the continental U.S. while pierside in Mina Jebel Ali.
The reload recipient was the guided missile destroyer John Paul Jones.

This was the first wartime deployment of a mixed male-female crew on a U.S. Navy combat vessel.
Just over one third of her crew were women, which caused some controversy when during the course of the mission 1 in 10 of the female crew either became pregnant or discovered they already were.

On 30 October 1990, USS Iwo Jima sustained a catastrophic mechanical failure when a high pressure steam valve burst.
This cost the lives of ten of the crew but repairs kept her fully operational for Desert Storm after six weeks of repairs by Acadia.

On 18 February 1991, the cruiser Princeton struck two influence mines in the Persian Gulf just forward of her after 5-inch (127 mm) gun mount during Operation Desert Storm, resulting in a cracked superstructure, a jammed port rudder and leaking port shaft seal.
Despite severe damage to her stern, her forward weapon systems and Aegis combat system were back online within fifteen minutes.
Princeton remained on station for 30 hours until relieved.
Repairs in the Mina Jebel Ali near Dubai took five weeks, performed by the destroyer tender on duty: Acadia, after which Princeton returned to the United States under her own power for additional repairs.

The ship returned to San Diego from the deployment.
Acadia received the Navy Unit Commendation for her exemplary service during the Gulf War.
On 5 September 1990 the ship departed San Diego for the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. She was responsible for the first reload of shipboard Tomahawk missiles outside the continental U.S. while pierside in Mina Jebel Ali. The reload recipient was the guided missile destroyer John Paul Jones.
This was the first wartime deployment of a mixed male-female crew on a U.S. Navy combat vessel. Just over one third of her crew were women, which caused some controversy when during the course of the mission 1 in 10 of the female crew either became pregnant or discovered they already were.
On 30 October 1990, USS Iwo Jima sustained a catastrophic mechanical failure when a high pressure steam valve burst. This cost the lives of ten of the crew but repairs kept her fully operational for Desert Storm after six weeks of repairs by Acadia.
On 18 February 1991, the cruiser Princeton struck two influence mines in the Persian Gulf just forward of her after 5-inch (127 mm) gun mount during Operation Desert Storm, resulting in a cracked superstructure, a jammed port rudder and leaking port shaft seal. Despite severe damage to her stern, her forward weapon systems and Aegis combat system were back online within fifteen minutes. Princeton remained on station for 30 hours until relieved. Repairs in the Mina Jebel Ali near Dubai took five weeks, performed by the destroyer tender on duty: Acadia, after which Princeton returned to the United States under her own power for additional repairs.
The ship returned to San Diego from the deployment. Acadia received the Navy Unit Commendation for her exemplary service during the Gulf War.
USS Acadia