Overview
- The destroyer pulled into Joint Base Pearl Harbor‑Hickam on Sept. 28, 2026, ending about a 300‑ to 301‑day deployment that began Dec. 1, 2025.
- Ship leadership says the Petersen served as the Abraham Lincoln strike group's integrated air‑and‑missile defense commander and defended ships from more than 100 missile and drone attacks during Operation Epic Fury.
- Reporting indicates the Petersen took part in initial strikes on Feb. 28, 2026, firing Tomahawk missiles at land targets, a detail described in Defense One and attributed to ship actions.
- The deployment involved heavy at‑sea sustainment: the ship logged roughly 85,000 nautical miles, completed 45 replenishments at sea, transferred millions of gallons of fuel, and made port calls in Guam, Duqm, Diego Garcia, and Sriracha.
- Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed that eight service members across the Abraham Lincoln strike group attempted suicide during the deployment, while the Petersen's commander reported no suicidal ideation among his crew and said the Navy is addressing force sustainment and mental‑health concerns for follow‑on deployments.