USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine and the third U.S. Navy ship to be named for West Virginia, the 35th state.

The contract to build West Virginia was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Conn., on November 21, 1983, and her keel was laid down on December 24, 1987. She was launched October 14, 1989, sponsored by Mrs. Erma Byrd, wife of United States Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, and commissioned October 20, 1990, with Capt. J. R. Harvey in command of the Blue Crew and Capt. Donald McDermott in command of the Gold Crew.

November 28, 1990 USS West Virginia Blue Crew successfully conducted a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation.

September 29, 1991 SSBN 736 completed its strategic loadout at Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic, Kings Bay, Ga. First patrol began Dec. 3.

April 15, 1991 The Gold Crew of the SSBN 736 successfully launched a Trident II (D5) DASO missile on the Eastern Test Range (ETR) off Cape Canaveral, Fla. This was the 37th Trident II test missile flown and the 18th missile to be launched from a Trident submarine.

February 21, 1992 USS West Virginia (Blue) successfully launched four Trident II missiles during a CINC Evaluation Test.

June 18, The Blue Crew of the West Virginia successfully launched four Trident II missiles during a CINC Evaluation Test.

March 17, 1996 SSBN 736 successfully launched two D5 missiles during a Follow-on CINC Evaluation Test.

March 10, 1998 USS West Virginia successfully launched four (two Mk 4 and two Mk 5) Trident II missiles during a Follow-on CINC Evaluation Test.

September 17, 2010 Cmdr. Mike Katahara, commanding officer of the West Virginia (Blue), was relieved by Cmdr. Steven K. Hall, commanding officer of the Gold Crew. Hall will remain in command of the submarine and the combined "green" crew. The approximate 300 Sailors assigned to the two crews merge into one crew of about 110 sailors during the two-year overhaul and refueling, which will be done at the Norfolk Navy Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, Va., beginning in early 2011.

December 16, SSBN 736 returned to Kings Bay after a two-day routine operations.

January 11, 2011 USS West Virginia departed homeport for a three-year Engineered Refueling Overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

September 9, Cmdr. Adam D. Palmer relieved Cmdr. Steven K. Hall as CO of the West Virginia (Green) during a change-of-command ceremony at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth.