USS Ohio ( SSGN - 726 ) USS " Ohio " ( SSBN - 726 / SSGN - 726 ) , the lead boat of her class of nuclear - powered fleet ballistic missile submarine s , was the fourth vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the 17th state . She was commissioned with the hull designation of SSBN - 726 , and with her conversion to a guided missile submarine she was re - designated SSGN - 726 . Construction and commissioning . The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton , Connecticut on 1 July 1974 and her keel was laid down on 10 April 1976 by Mrs . Robert Taft , wife of Senator Taft . On 2 February 1978 , the Precommissioning Unit was formed with Commander A . K . Thompson as its Commanding Officer . " Ohio " was launched on 7 April 1979 sponsored by Mrs . Annie Glenn , wife of Senator John H . Glenn . Operational History . In the summer of 1981 , sea trials were held to test the equipment and systems , and the submarine was delivered to the U . S . Navy on 28 October 1981 . On 11 November 1981 , " Ohio " was commissioned . The principal speaker , Vice President George H . W . Bush , remarked to the 8000 assembled guests that the ship introduced a " new dimension in our nation ' s strategic deterrence , " and Admiral Hyman G . Rickover noted that " Ohio " should " strike fear in the hearts of our enemies . " On that day , command of the two crews ( designated Blue and Gold ) of the USS " Ohio " was assumed by Captain A . K . Thompson ( Blue ) and Captain A . F . Campbell ( Gold ) . Following Post Shakedown Availability at Electric Boat Division , " Ohio " left the Atlantic and transited to her new home port , Bangor , Washington , by way of Cape Canaveral - where she tested her missile launch systems - and the Panama Canal , arriving on 12 August 1982 . During August and September 1982 , the first loadout of Trident C - 4 missiles and a predeployment refit were conducted . " Ohio " and her Blue Crew departed on the first Trident Submarine Strategic Deterrent Patrol in October 1982 . From June 1993 to June 1994 " Ohio " underwent overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard , Bremerton , Washington , receiving extensive upgrades to sonar , fire control , and navigation systems . " Ohio " resumed strategic deterrent patrols in January 1995 as part of Submarine Squadron Seventeen , Submarine Group Nine , Pacific Submarine Force . Conversion to SSGN . Original plans called for " Ohio " to be retired in 2002 . Instead , " Ohio " and three sister ships were modified and remain in service as conventional missile submarines ( SSGN s ) . ( See the discussion of the entire for details . ) In November 2003 " Ohio " entered drydock , beginning a 36 - month refueling and conversion overhaul . Electric Boat announced on 9 January 2006 that the conversion had been completed . " Ohio " rejoined the fleet on 7 February 2006 . Ballistic submarines of " Ohio " s class employ two crews , " Blue " and " Gold " , in order to facilitate continuous operation at sea , called " forward - presence " in USN parlance . On 21 January 2007 , the Gold Crew departed Naval Base Kitsap for Hawaii to conduct a forward - deployed crew exchange , the first such forward - deployed swap in approximately 20 years . " Ohio " left for her first mission on 15 October 2007 . The Blue crew underwent several tests and inspections before completing a mission some time in December . " Ohio " is also the first one of the class to complete a mission . Miscellaneous . In November 2011 , Lt . Britta Christianson became the first woman ( supply officer ) to qualify for service on a US Navy submarine being assigned to " Ohio " s Gold Crew .