The Construction of the third nuclear-powered and second Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), was authorized by Congress in fiscal year 1970.

The carrier, named after the nation's 34th president, was christened at 11:11 a.m., October 11, 1975, by Mrs. Mamie Doud-Eisenhower, the ship's sponsor and widow of the late president. The CVN-69 was commissioned on October 18, 1977, under the command of Captain William E. Ramsey, USN, and assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. After 14 months of fleet training, IKE set sail for her first deployment. Since that time, IKE has completed nine deployments. In 1980, IKE's second extended deployment tallied 254 days at sea with only a five-day port visit in Singapore.

In October 1985 after her fourth deployment, IKE sailed into the Newport News Shipbuilding drydock for a complex overhaul. The 18-month shipyard period included the addition of the Close-in Weapons System, NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System, Navy Tactical Data System, Anti-Submarine Warfare module, communications upgrades and refurbishments of 1,831 berths in 25 compartments. IKE re-joined the fleet in April 1987.

In 1990, IKE completed its sixth deployment. The deployment became a commemorative event in the worldwide 'Dwight D. Eisenhower Centennial,' celebrating the 100th anniversary of the late president's birth. During D-Day anniversary ceremonies off the coast of Normandy, IKE's son, John Eisenhower, and D-Day veterans embarked in the ship while Carrier Air Wing Seven conducted a memorial flyover of the American cemetery at Omaha Beach.

In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, IKE became the second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the Suez Canal and the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the Red Sea. IKE served as a ready striking force in the event Iraq invaded Saudi Arabia, and participated in maritime interception operations in support of a United Nations embargo against Iraq.

After completion of an extensive shipyard and training period, IKE deployed on September 26, 1991 to the Arabian Gulf to continue multi-national operations in support of Operation Desert Storm. IKE returned to Norfolk on April 2, 1992. On January 6, 1993, IKE entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul and conversion, and returned to the fleet on November 12, 1993.

In September 1994, IKE and the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division again made history with the concept of "adaptive force packaging." The division's soldiers and equipment were loaded on board, and the IKE Army and Navy team headed for Port-au-Prince to spearhead Operation Uphold Democracy, the U.S.-led effort to restore the democratically elected government of Haiti.

One month later, in October 1994, IKE departed for a six-month deployment which included flying missions in support of Operations Southern Watch and Deny Flight. This deployment marked the first time that women deployed as crew members of a U.S. Navy combatant ship, the IKE/Carrier Wing Three/COMCRUDESGRU Eight team included more than 400 women.

IKE returned to Newport News Shipbuilding on July 17, 1995, for an 18-month complex overhaul which was completed on January 27, 1997. The ship departed on its 10th deployment on June 10,1998 and returned in December. In February 1999, IKE returned to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a six-month refitting and returned to the fleet in June.

In February 2000, IKE departed Norfolk for its "Millennium Cruise" to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf. After six months at sea and a variety of port calls including Haifa, Bahrain and Lisbon, IKE returned to Norfolk in August 2000. This deployment marked a milestone in the ship's history when the embarked air wing made its first combat ordnance delivery while operating in support of Operation Southern Watch in Iraq.

On May 24, 2001, IKE entered the Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) shipyard for her mid-life Refueling Complex Overhaul where nearly every space and system on board was upgraded or refurbished.

After almost four years at NGNN, IKE returned to her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on January 25, 2005. The ship completed Sea Trials on March 25, 2005 and after several months of operations, IKE finished a four-month Post Shakedown Availability and Selected Restricted Availability in October 2005. Carrier Strike Group Eight moved aboard in November 2005, and Carrier Air Wing Seven returned to begin the Fleet Readiness Training Plan with the ship in February 2006.

IKE departed Norfolk on October 3, 2006, for her first deployment since 2000 and returned home May 23, 2007 after successfully completing an extended deployment of almost eight months.

IKE completed a routine six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf, returning home in July 2009.

Eisenhower departed Norfolk, Va., Jan. 2, for a scheduled deployment supporting 6th Fleet and 5th Fleet areas of operation.