USS Santa Fe ( SSN - 763 ) USS " Santa Fe " ( SSN - 763 ) , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Santa Fe , New Mexico . The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton , Connecticut on 21 March 1986 and her keel was laid down on 9 July 1991 . She was launched on 12 December 1992 sponsored by Mrs . Joy Johnson , and commissioned on 8 January 1994 , with Commander Rodger P . Krull in command . Operational history . " Santa Fe " ' s maiden deployment was in 1997 to the Persian Gulf and Western Pacific . In 1998 , she completed a Selected Rectricted Avialability in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard . In 1999 , she was again deployed to the Persian Gulf and Western Pacific earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation and Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation . In 2001 , she deployed to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf earning two Meritorius Unit Commendations as well as earning her first coveted CSS - 7 Battle E . " Santa Fe " deployed to the Western Pacific in September 2003 until March 2004 . For this deployment she participated in ANNUALEX ' 03 with the Japanese Maritime Defense Force . The ship made port calls in Singapore , Guam , multiple times in Sasebo , Japan , and in Yokosuka , Japan in which she rode out a typhoon while in port . " Santa Fe " was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation , the second highest award given to a submarine , for actions completed on this deployment . She underwent a three - month Interim drydocking in October 2004 . After the ship completed sea trials and other various workups she then completed a two - month Eastern Pacific Deployment that started in May 2005 . After returning to her homeport of Pearl Harbor in June 2005 , she again deployed to the Western Pacific on 9 August 2005 . During this deployment she participated in Exercise Malabar with the Indian Navy . " Santa Fe " was the second U . S . nuclear submarine to participate in the exercise and also to port in Goa , India . After Malabar , the ship made a brief stop in Phuket , Thailand . She was the first U . S . submarine to visit Phuket since 2001 . The ship returned to Pearl Harbor in February 2006 . She made the transit to the East Coast in July 2006 , surfacing near the North Pole on the way . USS " Santa Fe " completed a major repair period lasting 18 months at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery , Maine . After undergoing sea trials at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay , Georgia and transiting through the Panama Canal , she has returned to her homeport of Pearl Harbor , HI . After shipyard she completed a six - month Western Pacific deployment from May – November 2009 , after stops in Singapore , Saipan , Guam , Okinawa , JP , and Yokosuka , JP . She received the Battle " E " Award in January 2010 . " Santa Fe " returned 24 August 2011 to Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam after successfully completing a six - month deployment to the western Pacific region . During this deployment " Santa Fe " skillfully conducted four operations of great importance to national security by safely operating in a demanding and challenging undersea environment , directly enhancing fleet , theater and national objectives . The crew displayed exceptional tactical skill , tenacity and perseverance while operating under extremely challenging conditions to prepare the battle space for future operations . " Santa Fe " ' s tactical acumen was further displayed by their highly successful participation in Exercise Malabar , a bilateral exercise with the Indian navy . Port calls included Sasebo , Japan ( x3 ) , Chinhae , South Korea ; Yokosuka , Japan ; Guam , and Subic Bay , Philippines . In recognition of their outstanding performance , " Santa Fe " received the COMSUBRON 7 Battle " E " Award and was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation by the Secretary of the Navy .