USS Georgia ( SSGN - 729 ) USS " Georgia " ( SSBN - 729 / SSGN - 729 ) , an , is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the fourth state . Construction and commissioning . The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton , Connecticut on 20 February 1976 and her keel was laid down on 7 April 1979 . She was launched on 6 November 1982 sponsored by Mrs . Sheila M . Watkins , and commissioned as a fleet ballistic missile submarine ( SSBN ) on 11 February 1984 , with Captain A . W . Kuester commanding the Blue crew and Captain M . P . Gray commanding the Gold crew . This ship was later converted to a guided missile submarine ( SSGN ) for carrying guided cruise missile s instead of fleet ballistic missile s in its missile compartment . Operational History . From March to April , 1984 she went on her shakedown cruise and test - launched a Trident C - 4 missile in the Eastern Test Range on 7 April 1986 . In November 1984 , she arrived in her home port of Bangor , Washington . In January 1985 she started her first strategic deterrence patrol . As an element of Task Unit 14 . 7 . 1 from September 1983 to May 1986 , she was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation . She was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Commendation for Submarine Operations between February 1986 to August 1986 . On 22 March 1986 , three miles south of Midway Island , had just completed a personnel transfer from " Georgia " , when " Secota " lost power and collided with " Georgia " s stern plane . " Secota " sank within two minutes . Ten people were rescued , including the " Georgia " crewman who had just transferred to " Secota " . Two " Secota " crewmen were lost . " Georgia " was undamaged . Her Gold Crew was awarded the Comsubron Seventeen Battle Efficiency Award for 2001 . On 30 October 2003 , " Georgia " returned from her 65th and last deterrent patrol . On 7 November 2003 , while " Georgia " was docked at Bangor , Washington , her C - 4 Trident I missiles were offloaded . The process proceeded smoothly until tube number 16 . When each tube was opened , a ladder was lowered into the tube so a sailor could climb down and attach a hoist to lift the missile . After attaching the hoist to the missile in tube 16 , the sailor climbed out , and the crew took a break without removing the ladder . When they returned , they began to hoist the missile , pulling against the ladder and cutting a hole in its nose cone . No radioactive material was released . Three enlisted men in the missile handling team faced a court - martial . The Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific was immediately shut down and inspected by the Navy , and failed to pass . SWFPAC ' s commanding officer , Captain Keith Lyles , was relieved of command on 19 December , followed by his executive officer , Commander Phillip Jackson , weapons officer , Commander Marshall Millett , and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Command Steven Perry . SWFPAC reopened after passing inspection under a new commanding officer on 9 January 2004 . " Georgia " s crew was unaffected . Conversion to SSGN . " Georgia " was redesignated to SSGN on 1 March 2004 . In October 2004 she participated as the command node of Exercise Silent Hammer to validate and showcase the new Joint Warfare and ISR capabilities . In March 2005 , " Georgia " entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her scheduled Engineered Refueling Overhaul . The SSGN conversion took place concurrently . The conversion and refitting work was completed in February 2008 . After the refit , " Georgia " moved to her new home port in Kings Bay , Georgia . " Georgia " was officially welcomed home in Kings Bay , Georgia on 28 March 2008 in a return to service ceremony attended by Governor Sonny Perdue . On August 2009 , " Georgia " began first SSGN deployment . On January 2010 , " Georgia " earned Squadron SIXTEEN battle efficiency " E " for 2009 . GEORGIA Blue crew earns Squadron SIXTEEN Engineering Red " E " , Navigation Red and Green " N " . In December 2010 , a bolt inadvertently left in one of the sub ' s engine housings did $ 2 . 2 million in damage and forced the boat into three months of repairs . One officer and several enlisted sailors were disciplined over the mishap .