Developed under the DD(X) destroyer program, DDG 1000 Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers tailored for land attack and littoral dominance. DDG 1000 will provide forward presence and deterrence, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces.

The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr. Then-President Bill Clinton announced that the DD 21 class would be named for Zumwalt in a ceremony onboard USS John F. Kennedy on July 4, 2000. Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter designated Zumwalt as DDG 1000 on April 7, 2006.

DDG 1000 Zumwalt is a key component of the surface combatant ‘family of ships’ currently being developed by the Navy to serve as the backbone of tomorrow’s surface Fleet. In addition to the DDG 1000 multi-mission destroyer, the family of ships will consist of the focused mission Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and an air-dominance cruiser, CG(X). These ships, together with in-service Aegis combatants, present an affordable balance between force size and capabilities to meet current and project threats.

DDG 1000 Zumwalt provides a broad range of capabilities that are vital both to supporting the Global War on Terror and to fighting and winning major combatant operations. Zumwalt’s multi-mission warfighting capabilities are designed to counter not only the threats of today, but threats projected over the next decade as well.

DDG 1000 Zumwalt received Milestone B approval on 23 November 2005 , clearing the way for the Navy to commence detail design and construction of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt class .