USS Hyman G . Rickover ( SSN - 709 ) USS " Hyman G . Rickover " ( SSN - 709 ) , a " Los Angeles " - class submarine , was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Admiral Hyman G . Rickover , pioneer of the nuclear Navy , and the only " Los Angeles " - class submarine not named after a United States city . The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton , Connecticut on 10 December 1973 and her keel was laid down on 24 July 1981 . She was launched on 27 August 1983 sponsored by the Admiral ' s wife , Mrs . Eleonore Ann Bednowicz Rickover ( whose first name is found in a wide variety of spellings , including Eleanore , Elenore , and Eleanor ; Eleonore is used on the Admiral ' s gravestone ) . The " Rickover " was commissioned on 21 July 1984 with Captain Fredrik Spruitenburg in command . A commemorative plaque honoring the ship ' s namesake was placed within the sub after commissioning with the poem " Admiral Rickover , " an eight - line tribute by writer Ronald W . Bell . The poem appears below , provided by the author and with his permission : ADMIRAL RICKOVER < br > Possessed of a purpose < br > He forged a path < br > Across a frontier < br > Untried and new < br > Clinging to his course < br > He met the task < br > Threescore and more < br > He served for you . Service . During the months of January through April 1984 " Rickover " was nearing the completion of her construction . The initial manning was completed in January . Initial criticality of the ship ' s S6G reactor was achieved on 10 March 1984 . Berthing and messing areas were completed in April and , on 23 April 1984 , the crew moved aboard the ship . A special meal of ribeye steaks , baked potatoes , and corn on the cob was served to remember the occasion . The ship was placed into service on 24 April 1984 and initial sea trials began on 16 May 1984 with Admiral Kinnaird R . McKee aboard . Admiral McKee served as Director of the Office of Naval Nuclear Propulsion , U . S . Department of Energy . The sea trials were completed smartly and in the shortest time ever for a 688 - class submarine built at Electric Boat . Admiral McKee complimented the crew on their fine performance prior to his departure . At precisely 12 : 08 , 21 July 1984 USS " Hyman G . Rickover " ( SSN 709 ) was placed in commission by the commissioning officer Vice Admiral Bernard M . Kauderer , Commander Submarine Force , U . S . Atlantic Fleet . The ceremony was held in a downpour at Submarine Base Groton , Conn . , and was well attended despite the weather and the one - hour delay due to the late arrival of U . S . Representative Charles E . Bennett of Florida , the principal speaker . " Rickover " returns from her Final Deployment . " Rickover " was inactivated on 14 December 2006 and will be transported to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery , Maine , in early 2007 for the year - long inactivation process . The " Rickover " was decommissioned in 2007 , with the crew departing for the final time on on 17 December 2007 . While in Bremerton , ex - " Rickover " will go through a dismantling program overseen by the Navy . The submarine will remain moored at the shipyard until it is dry - docked for dismantlement and disposal , which is currently scheduled for 2016 .