USS Florida ( SSGN - 728 ) USS " Florida " ( SSBN - 728 / SSGN - 728 ) , an ballistic missile submarine , is the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 27th state . She was commissioned with the hull designation of SSBN - 728 ; with her conversion to a cruise missile submarine , she was re - designated SSGN - 728 . Construction and commissioning . The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton , Connecticut on 28 February 1975 and her keel was laid down on the bicentennial of the United States ' s independence , 4 July 1976 . The boat was unnamed at the keel - laying ceremony . The initial ship ' s crew formed the precommissioning unit on 8 July 1980 . The first shipboard watches were stationed on 14 February 1981 to support the operational control transfer of engineering systems to ship ' s force control . The Secretary of the Navy finally named her on 19 January 1981 . " Florida " was launched on 14 November 1981 sponsored by Mrs . Marcia M . Carlucci . Her reactor was initially taken critical on 13 November 1982 and she went into service and the crew moved onboard on 21 January 1983 . " Florida " commenced initial builders ' sea trials on 21 February 1983 and was subsequently delivered to the Navy on 17 May 1983 – 43 days ahead of schedule . She was commissioned on 18 June 1983 , with Captain William L . Powell in command of the Blue Crew and Captain George R . Sterner in command of the Gold Crew . Operational History . Both crews successfully completed the demonstration and shakedown operations , each culminated by the successful launch of a Trident C - 4 missile . " Florida " transited the Panama Canal in February and arrived in Bangor , Washington on 25 March 1984 . She completed her first strategic deterrent patrol on 25 July 1984 . As of November 2002 , " Florida " had successfully completed 61 strategic deterrent patrols . She won the Battle E in 1989 , 1991 , 1994 , 1999 , and 2002 . In 1991 , she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award . In 1997 , " Florida " s skipper , Commander Michael J . Alfonso , was relieved of command for " browbeating his crew , ignoring his executive officer and chief of the boat , and acting as a tyrant . " " Florida " s command history for 1997 states : Conversion to SSGN . " Florida " entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard in July 2003 to undergo a refueling and conversion from an SSBN to an SSGN . " Florida " completed her conversion in April 2006 and is homeported in Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay , Georgia . On 25 May 2006 she had a return to service ceremony at Naval Station Mayport , Florida . Ms . Carlucci was the ship ' s sponsor for her recommissioning in Mayport , Florida in May 2006 . See the article on the for more information regarding the conversion . Operation Odyssey Dawn . On 19 March 2011 , in conjunction with other U . S . Navy and Royal Navy warship s , " Florida " fired scores of " Tomahawk " missiles at Libyan air defense targets as part of " Operation Odyssey Dawn " . The " Tomahawk " missile strikes allowed British , French , and allied warplanes to begin enforcing a no - fly zone over Libya , preventing Muammar Gaddafi from using his air force to attack rebels in his country . This was the first combat action for the " Florida " or any other " Ohio " - class submarine . During " Operation Odyssey Dawn " , " Florida " launched 93 " Tomahawk " missiles , with 90 effective , out of her total magazine of about 160 missiles . Of the four " Ohio " - class SSGNs in the U . S . Navy , " Florida " was the only one that was available for use in " Operation Odyssey Dawn " since she was the only one that had been assigned to cruise the Mediterranean Sea . Some other " Tomahawk " missiles were fired by American surface ships and by a few Royal Navy nuclear submarine s . On February 15 , 2013 , the crew of the USS Florida were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation having " distinguished itself in action against the enemy " during Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011 .