USS Thomas Jefferson ( SSBN - 618 ) USS " Thomas Jefferson " ( SSBN - 618 ) , an nuclear - powered submarine , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Thomas Jefferson ( 1743 – 1826 ) , the third President of the United States ( 1801 – 1809 ) . She later was reclassified as an attack submarine and redesignated SSN - 618 . Construction and commissioning . " Thomas Jefferson " s keel was laid down on 3 February 1961 at Newport News , Virginia , by the Newport News Shipbuilding sponsored by Mrs . Robert S . McNamara , wife of United States Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ; and commissioned on 4 January 1963 , Commander Leon H . Rathbun commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Charles Priest , Jr . , commanding the Gold Crew . " Thomas Jefferson " was initially a fleet ballistic missile submarine and was later converted to an attack submarine . Ship history . Fleet ballistic missile submarine service , 1963 - 1981 . After shakedown training by both crews and a repair period , " Thomas Jefferson " was assigned to Submarine Squadron 14 in early October 1963 . On 28 October 1963 , the Blue Crew took the submarine on her first deterrent patrol which ended at Holy Loch , Scotland , in December 1963 . " Thomas Jefferson " continued patrols from Holy Loch for the next four years and also acted as flagship for Submarine Squadron 14 . In 1966 , she returned to New London , Connecticut , for two training and rehabilitation periods . She began her 15th deterrent patrol on 12 January 1967 and , upon its completion , returned to Newport News , Virginia , for her first overhaul and refuelling . On 17 June 1968 , " Thomas Jefferson " was ready for sea , and refresher training was held for both crews . Her 16th deterrent patrol began on 29 October and terminated at Rota , Spain , on 5 December 1968 . " Thomas Jefferson " made four deterrent patrols in each of the following years : 1969 , 1970 , 1971 , and 1972 . She also conducted special operations in 1970 and 1971 . On 20 October 1972 , the Gold Crew was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its special operations of the previous year . " Thomas Jefferson " completed two patrols in 1973 before returning to the United States to hold midshipman training from 18 June to 31 August . Her last patrol of the year terminated on 12 December 1973 . Her 36th and final , patrol in the Atlantic lasted from 31 January to 22 March 1974 . After calling at Norfolk , Virginia , and Charleston , South Carolina , the submarine returned to New London 22 May . " Thomas Jefferson " was then reassigned to the Pacific Fleet with her new homeport at Vallejo , California . She stood out of New London on 7 June en route to the United States West Coast and arrived at Mare Island on 27 June . On 1 July 1974 , " Thomas Jefferson " entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul , refueling , and conversion to the Polaris A - 3 missile system . She remained in the shipyard until 17 November 1975 when she got underway for Bremerton , Washington . The submarine remained in Puget Sound for a month and then moved to San Diego , California . During the period January to March 1976 , " Thomas Jefferson " s Blue Crew conducted post - overhaul shakedown operations and then transited the Panama Canal to conduct a Polaris missile firing at Cape Canaveral , Florida . While operating out of San Diego in 1976 , with the Blue Crew aboard , the ship experienced a complete loss of electrical power and propulsion . The only lighting during this event were the battery powered lanterns located throughout the ship . There was fire and flooding which caused a reactor scram during ORSE ( Operational Reactor Safety Exam ) . If not for the training the crew had , this event may have resulted in tragedy . After successful ascent , the boat proceeded under its own power back to San Diego where an investigation resulted in better training for the ORSE Board Examiners . The Gold Crew took over the ship on 4 April and conducted additional post - overhaul shakedown operations which included a missile firing at Cape Canaveral , a transit of the Panama Canal , and a missile loadout at Bangor , Washington , before resuming deterrent patrol operations with the Pacific Fleet on 8 August . " Thomas Jefferson " continued these operations as a unit of Submarine Squadron 15 from 1977 to 1980 , at the end of which she completed her 51st deterrent patrol . Attack submarine service , 1981 - 1985 . In fiscal year 1981 , in compliance with the SALT I treaty , the missile section of " Thomas Jefferson " was disabled . Concrete blocks were placed in the missile tubes , and the missile fire - control system and one of the ship ' s inertial navigation system s were removed . The ship was reclassified as an attack submarine and redesignated SSN - 618 on 11 March 1981 and retained primarily for training , antisubmarine warfare exercises , and other secondary duties . Decommissioning and disposal . Decommissioned on 24 January 1985 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 30 April 1986 , ex - " Thomas Jefferson " started the Navy ' s Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton on 1 October 1996 and ceased to exist upon completion of the recycling process on 6 March 1998 . The sail is preserved in Gosport park adjacent to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth , Virginia .