SHIELD
Per chevron Azure (Dark Blue) and Or, a tiger's head erased Gules, garnished Argent, within a palm wreath Vert, the whole between two chevronels of the second; on a chief wavy of the fourth, a fess couped of the first bearing four mullets of the fourth.
CREST
Issuant from a wreath Or and Azure (Dark Blue), a demi-trident of the first surmounted by two naval swords Proper in saltire, points up, within eighteen mullets enarched of the second.
MOTTO
DYNAMIS EX CARDIAS (translates to THE WILL TO FIGHT FROM THE HEART').
Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy, representing the sea and excellence. The chevron denotes the prow of the ship; the chevronels commemorate the previous two ships named for Admiral Dewey. The tiger, the symbol of fierceness, valor and dangerous when enraged to combat, signifies his bravery as he commanded the Asiatic Squadron to sail to Manila and destroy the Spanish fleet, without a single loss of American life. The palm fronds indicate the Pacific combined with the tiger's head, symbolizing Admiral Dewey being renowned as the HERO OF MANILA'. The wavy chief represents the Admiral's authority, when he assisted in the capturing of Manila. The fess and stars highlight the highest promotion created by Congress for Admiral Dewey, awarded the rank ADMIRAL OF THE NAVY' and honors his distinguished service to his country.
CREST
The trident denotes sea prowess and the modern warfare capabilities of the USS DEWEY. The crossed naval swords symbolize Admiral Dewey's long military career that extended past the legal retirement age. The stars represent the 18 battlestars earned by the previous ships, for service that stretched the length of World War II to Vietnam.
MOTTO
The colors of the scroll allude to the ribbon of the Dewey Medal, established by Congress to commemorate the Battle of Manila Bay. The inscription "DYNAMIS EX CARDIAS' denotes that heart and the will to fight drive the warrior, nothing else matters.