USS Asheville ( SSN - 758 ) USS " Asheville " ( SSN - 758 ) , is a " Los Angeles " - class submarine . She is the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Asheville , North Carolina . The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News , Virginia on 26 November 1984 and her keel was laid down on 9 January 1987 . She was launched on 24 February 1990 , sponsored by Mrs . Dorothy Helms , and commissioned on 28 September 1991 , with Commander Patrick Casey in command . " Asheville " was fitted with a developmental Advanced Mine Detection System ( AMDS ) high - frequency active sonar array with transmitters and receivers in the sail and in a disc - shaped chin sonar dome beneath the hull at the bow . The system is used for target detection , mine avoidance , and bottom navigation . After a highly successful testing period the system was removed during overhaul in 2003 . " Asheville " is home ported in San Diego , CA where she is assigned to Submarine Squadron 11 . She is currently commanded by CDR Douglas Bradley . The Chief of the Boat is FTCS ( SS ) Roger " Bo " Skeens . Ship ' s history . In December 1996 , " Asheville " served as a trials platform for the Northrop Grumman Sea Ferret reconnaissance drone . After " Asheville " simulated an underwater launch , a Cessna 206 test aircraft flew over the area of operations with the Sea Ferret attached to its underside . Technicians aboard " Asheville " transmitted commands to the Sea Ferret , which were received and responded to by the Cessna pilot . Control of the drone was then passed back and forth among the " Asheville " team , USMC First Force RECON , and an United States Army Aviation team , all three teams continuing to receive a continuous flow of sensor data . In August 1998 " Asheville " returned from a six - month Western Pacific Deployment ( WESTPAC ) . After a 30 - day stand down , she entered an extended maintenance period at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Dry Dock # 4 . On 14 December 1998 , she was floated off the blocks , but remained tied up inside the flooded dock , until after the New Year . Almost immediately after the maintenance period " Asheville " began a work - up for another six - month deployment to the Western Pacific . This work - up included various underway periods , for weekly operations . At the end of May 1999 , " Asheville " conducted two family day cruises . The first left Pearl Harbor and steamed to Lahaina , Maui . " Asheville " anchored a mile off the Maui coast for five days . She returned to Pearl Harbor , at the end of the week , with the second group of family members aboard . In July 1999 , " Asheville " deployed to the Eastern Pacific ( EASTPAC ) for two months , continuing work - ups with the " John C . Stennis " Carrier Strike Group . During this deployment , she visited San Diego , CA , Esquimalt / Victoria , British Columbia , Canada , and Ketchikan , Alaska . While conducting sound testing off the coast of Ketchikan , " Asheville " was suspended at a depth of 400 feet , and held in position by four mooring buoys above . During this 36 hour period , the crew made phone calls with a line rigged though an electrical fitting . After the testing , the boat surfaced . The crew ate hamburgers , and " got some sun " . Some of the crew members swam in the 50 degree waters of Behm Canal . She returned to Pearl Harbor , at the end of August , 1999 . She conducted a six - week upkeep period , after which a Change of Command Ceremony was held on 15 October 1999 , as CDR Grooms was relieved by CDR Ingalls . At the end of October 1999 , " Asheville " returned to San Diego for three weeks where she completed final work - ups with the Stennis Battle Group , including staged attacks on the ship . " Asheville " was the only ship in the Battle Group that was not successfully boarded or attacked . Another part of this final work up included SPEC WAR , off the coast of California , when " Asheville " launched a BGM - 109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile . After the launch , an F - 14 Tomcat pilot took control of the missile . The missile flew to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake , California , hitting the target perfectly . " Asheville " returned to Pearl Harbor at the end of November , 1999 . She completed a six - week upkeep period , and made final preparations for her forthcoming deployment . On 11 January 2000 , " Asheville " departed Pearl Harbor for a six - month Western Pacific Deployment ( WESTPAC ) . She was part of the " John C . Stennis " Carrier Strike Group . This Battle Group included the carrier USS " John C . Stennis " , USS " Lake Champlain " , USS " Port Royal " , USS " Elliot " , USS " Russell " , USS " Denver " , USS " Pearl Harbor " , " USS Thach " , USNS " Bridge " , and partner fast - attack submarine USS " Jefferson City " . " Asheville " arrived in Yokosuka , Japan on 27 January 2000 , in time for the crew to watch USS " The Sullivans " . " Asheville " departed Bahrain on 3 April to head back to the Pacific , turning over Battle Group responsibilities to USS " Jefferson City " . Prior to leaving the area , " Asheville " completed a second , secret mission . While in transit to a port call in Australia , the crew received word that three sailors from the USS " Blue Ridge " had assaulted a taxi driver in Cebu , Philippines . In an effort to smooth tensions with the Philippine Government , " Asheville " was directed to make way for Subic Bay , Philippines . Prior to pulling into Subic Bay , the captain took " Asheville " to a location a few miles south of the Equator for crew members to become Shellbacks . The next day while steaming north , " Asheville " stopped off the coast of Borneo where the captain allowed a swim call . On 28 April 2000 , " Asheville " pulled into Subic Bay , and became the second US Navy submarine to port in Subic Bay Freeport in four years . While there , " Asheville " sailors assisted in renovating a school , and conducted a VIP tour and cruise for top members of the Philippine government . The day was cut short due to a suspected coup attempt , with the emergence of Abu Sayyaf . " Asheville " returned to port , returning the VIP ' s and taking on crew members previously left ashore . " Asheville " departed Subic Bay on 3 May , returning to Yokosuka , Japan , on 8 May to complete an upkeep period . On 15 May , " Asheville " departed Yokosuka , Japan to complete a third , secret mission . On 15 June 2000 , " Asheville " arrived in Sasebo , Japan , and tied up alongside the USS " Frank Cable " for weapons exchange . After an eight - day stay in Sasebo , " Asheville " departed , for home on 22 June . On the way home " Asheville " conducted an Operational Reactor Safeguard Examination ( ORSE ) . The ORSE team was brought on board 1 July . After a night of highly successful " Drilling and Spilling " , the ORSE Board gave " Asheville " a high score . " Asheville " returned to Pearl Harbor in time for Fourth of July celebrations , to the sound of the submarine and surface ship whistles , on 2 July . During this deployment , " Asheville " reported to the following organizations , COMSUBRON III , COMSUBGRU 7 , CTF - 74 , CTF - 54 , as well as the Commander of the " John C . Stennis " Battle Group . On 1 April 2005 " Asheville " returned to San Diego , California , after a six - month deployment to the Western Pacific . While deployed she performed National Security Missions , and took part in two international exercises . During the deployment , she made port calls at Guam , Singapore , Japan , Saipan , and Hawaii . On 1 August 2006 , " Asheville " departed San Diego to return to the Western Pacific , for another six - month Deployment . While deployed , she made port calls at Yokosuka , Japan , Hong Kong , Saipan , & Guam . She returned to her home port of San Diego , California , on 3 February 2007 . On 27 April 2007 , " Asheville " entered Floating Dry Dock USS Arco ( ARDM - 5 ) , at Naval Base Point Loma , for a scheduled maintenance period . On 16 August 2007 " Asheville " , exited USS " Arco " , having completed a highly successful upkeep . In 2009 Asheville completed pre - deployment preparations and returned to the Western Pacific . She deployed from 3 Feb 2010 until 3 Aug and made multiple port calls in Guam and Sasebo . Having completed a Western Pacific deployment she commenced preparations for further operations by returning to the floating drydock , ARCO . This maintenance period prepared her for a Southern Command area of responsibility deployment . She was deployed from mid - August 2011 to 16 Dec 2011 , and visited Panama City , Panama , twice . Awards . USS " Asheville " has received many awards during her Naval Career . Below is a list of known awards she has received since her commissioning in 1991 .