PEARL HARBOR - The guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for an independent deployment to the 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility, Sept. 6, the 16th anniversary of the ship's commissioning in San Francisco.

Commanded by Cmdr. Dave Snee, the ship and its crew of nearly 280 Sailors will conduct integrated operations with allies and partners.

"Hopper-Nation, as the crew is referred to, is ready and excited to deploy and represent our nation and Navy," Snee said. "We appreciate the support of our families here and back on the mainland. Their support helps us operate forward and accomplish the mission."

Hopper will conduct maritime security, interdiction operations and theater security cooperation and will be ready to provide humanitarian assistance, anti-piracy operations and other assistance as needed.

"Hopper is certified, capable and ready to deploy forward to support 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet commanders in protecting strategic maritime crossroads," said Capt. Wallace G. Lovely, Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 31.

"USS Hopper recently underwent an extensive Docking Selected Restricted Availability at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility," Lovely said. "Her namesake, 'Amazing' Grace Hopper, would be proud of the upgraded technologies that USS Hopper brings to the Fleet, but most of all, she would be proud of the motivated, committed and tactically-ready Sailors on board."

Hopper is named after Rear Adm. Grace Hopper, pioneering computer scientist, and recipient of the National Medal of Technology (now known as the National Medal of Technology and Innovation), the highest honor of its type in the United States.

Hopper is homeported in Hawaii, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 31 and part of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.