USS Woodrow Wilson ( SSBN - 624 ) USS " Woodrow Wilson " ( SSBN - 624 ) , a ballistic missile submarine , was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Woodrow Wilson ( 1856 – 1924 ) , the 28th President of the United States ( 1913 – 1921 ) . She later was converted into an attack submarine and redesignated SSN - 624 . Construction and commissioning . The contract to build " Woodrow Wilson " was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo , California , on 9 February 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 13 September 1961 . She was launched on 22 February 1963 sponsored by Miss Eleanor Axson Sayre ( Wilson ' s granddaughter ) , and commissioned on 27 December 1963 , with Commander Cleo N . Mitchell in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Walter N . Dietzen in command of the Gold Crew . Operational history . " Woodrow Wilson " departed Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 9 January 1964 , bound for the United States East Coast . After stopping briefly at San Diego , she proceeded on to the Panama Canal , arriving on 19 January 1964 at its western end . Violent anti - American demonstrations and riots over a recent flag - displaying incident had resulted in an extremely tense atmosphere . As a result , she transited the canal in a record seven hours ten minutes while combat - ready United States Marines and United States Army soldiers guarded the locks . Making port at Charleston , South Carolina , on 5 February 1964 , " Woodrow Wilson " conducted a shakedown cruise off the lower U . S . East Coast into March 1964 and underwent post - shakedown repairs and alterations into April 1964 . She put to sea at the end of May 1964 upon the conclusion of these repairs and alterations and commenced her first deterrent patrol out of Charleston in June 1964 . " Woodrow Wilson " subsequently operated in the Atlantic Ocean until the autumn of 1968 , conducting patrols from forward bases at Rota , Spain and Holy Loch , Scotland . After undergoing a 13 - month overhaul and conversion to the Polaris A3 ballistic missile at Newport News Shipbuilding , she was transferred to the United States Pacific Fleet via Charleston and the Panama Canal , arriving at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , on 19 November 1969 . She then continued on to the western Pacific Ocean , was based at Guam , and conducted deterrent patrols from Apra Harbor through 1972 . In 1972 , " Woodrow Wilson " shifted back to the Atlantic and another overhaul and conversion to the Poseidon C3 missile at Newport News Shipbuilding . She was then home - ported at Charleston for operations with the United States Atlantic Fleet . On 4 June 1979 , " Woodrow Wilson " ran aground in heavy fog at Rock Race while en route to New London , Connecticut . The submarine was able to free itself and proceed to port for inspection of the damage . After several overhauls in Charleston Naval Shipyard at Charleston and 40 more deterrent patrols , " Woodrow Wilson " was converted into an attack submarine and redesignated SSN - 624 in 1990 . Between 1964 and 1987 she had completed 71 successful strategic deterrent patrols . In her new role , between 1990 and 1993 " Woodrow Wilson " completed a series of special operations patrols . Decommissioning and disposal . " Woodrow Wilson " was deactivated in September 1993 . She was decommissioned on 1 September 1994 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day . Ex - " Woodrow Wilson " entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton , Washington , on 26 September 1997 . Recycling of Ex - " Woodrow Wilson " was completed on 27 October 1998 . Commemoration . " Woodrow Wilson " s sail is preserved as part of the Deterrent Park monument at Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor , Washington .