Hopper's keel was laid on 23 February 1995, she was christened 6 January 1996, and in June 1997 she sailed from her construction yard at Bath Iron Works in Maine, to San Francisco, California. There, she was commissioned on 6 September 1997 as the 20th Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyer.

In twelve plus years of commissioned service to the United States HOPPER has participated in numerous fleet and allied exercises and has completed seven deployments to the FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleet areas of operation.

Hopper is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 31 and routinely deploy to the 5th and 7th Fleet area of responsibility.