USS VINCENNES (CG 49) was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her christening was 14 April 1984, and it was commissioned on 6 July 1985 by Mrs. Marilyn Quayle, wife of former Vice President of the United States, Dan Quayle.

Commanded by Captain G. GEE, the Vincennes was the first of the United States Navy's AEGIS Cruisers of the Ticonderoga Class to enter the Pacific Fleet.  Upon commissioning in 1985, Vincennes entered the Pacific Fleet via the Panama Canal and participated in the testing and development of the SM-2 Block II surface-to-air missile. In May 1986, Vincennes participated in the multinational exercise RIMPAC 86, coordinating the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) efforts of two aircraft carriers and over forty ships from five nations.

Vincennes deployed in August 1986 to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the "first ever" Pacific Deployment of an Aegis cruiser, Vincennes served as AAW Commander with both USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) and USS NEW JERSEY (BB 62) Battle Groups. She also operated jointly with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy. Vincennes steamed over 46,000 miles in waters from the Bering Sea to the Indian Ocean.

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