USS Virginia ( SSN - 774 ) USS " Virginia " ( SSN - 774 ) is a United States Navy attack submarine , the lead boat of her class and the tenth vessel of the Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virginia , as well as the first US Navy attack submarine to be named after a state , a pattern that is common throughout her class . The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton , Connecticut on 30 September 1998 and her keel was laid down on 2 September 1999 . She was launched on 16 August 2003 sponsored by Lynda Johnson Robb , the wife of former Virginia governor and senator Charles Robb , and daughter of President of the United States Lyndon B . Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson . She was the first U . S . Navy submarine to be completely designed on a computer . On 10 and 11 March , the prospective submarine shot 12 dummy torpedoes into the Thames River from each of the boat ' s four tubes . " Virginia " was delivered to the Navy on 12 October 2004 , the 104th anniversary of the commissioning of " Holland " , the Navy ' s second submarine . She was commissioned on 23 October 2004 under the command of David J . Kern . The commissioning ceremony was featured in the 2005 television series " Submarine : Hidden Hunter " on the Discovery Channel . This class of submarine is unique in that it features a Photonics Mast Program ( PMP ) that freed ship designers to place the boat ' s control room in a lower , less geometrically - constrained space than would be required by a standard , optical tube periscope . It is additionally unique in the U . S . Navy for featuring all - digital ship and ballast control systems that are manned by relatively senior watchstanders and a pressure chamber to deploy SEALs , divers or other special forces units while being submerged . On 23 November 2005 , " Virginia " completed her first deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism . On 12 January 2006 , " Virginia " entered Electric Boat ' s shipyard for post - shakedown availability , which was expected to last for most of 2006 . In April 2010 the submarine returned from a six - month deployment having covered 37 , 000 miles . The submarine completed her first 20 - month long overhaul in May 2012 . Ship ' s crest . " Emblazoned on a blue background that symbolizes the mighty deep , " Virginia " is prominently positioned . The forward view of " Virginia " denotes her leading the submarine force into a new century and onto a new and exciting course for the United States Navy . The gold lettering and border around the seal combined with the blue background represent the Navy ’ s colors of blue and gold . The silhouette of the Commonwealth of Virginia represents the state for which the boat is named . Each of the nine stars represents an American warship named " Virginia " . The single point of light at the stern of the boat symbolizes both the nuclear propulsion plant that powers the submarine as well as the boat ’ s data processing system fiber optic backbone . In keeping with the Commonwealth of Virginia ’ s motto , the words “ " Sic Semper Tyrannis " ” ( Latin for “ Thus Always To Tyrants ” ) appear at the bottom , which combined with the symbolism of the Commonwealth ’ s Seal , represents the triumph of Virtue over tyranny . The image of George Washington also looks forward with " Virginia " . George Washington , a Virginia native , has been characterized as the “ indispensable man ” vital to the formation of the American republic . In all of history , few men who possessed unassailable power have used that power so selflessly and wisely for the welfare of their countrymen and all mankind . " Virginia " also stands ready in all her indisputable power to serve the people of America and her allies . " References . This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases . Other information obtained from US Navy ' s official Web site .