"Mahan" was commissioned at 1100 on 14 February 1998 at Tampa, Florida by the Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, Vice Admiral Henry C. Griffin, III, USN with Commander Michael L. James, USN, commanding. Distinguished guests included Mr. Allen Cameron, President of Bath Iron Works, the Hon. Charles T. Canady, Congressman from Florida’s 12th District, and the Hon. George Nethercutt, Congressman from Washington’s 5th District. "Mahan" stayed in Tampa until 17 February, returning to Norfolk on 21 February. "Mahan" briefly left at the end of the month to conduct Combat Direction Finding System testing at sea.