The ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky is the third U.S. Naval vessel to be named in honor of the Bluegrass state, and the twelfth Trident submarine commissioned.

SSBN 737 was authorized in FY1985; laid down by Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Co., Groton, Conn., October 24, 1987; launched August 11, 1990; sponsored by Mrs. Larry J. Hopkins; and commissioned July 13, 1991 with Capt Michael G. Riegel (Blue); Capt Joseph Henry (Gold) in command.

March 19, 1998 South of Long Island, New York, USS Kentucky collided with San Juan (SSN 751). The Kentucky's rudder was damaged and the San Juan's forward ballast tank was breached, but the ballistic-missile submarine was able to surface and return to port. No personnel suffered any injuries. The two ships were conducting a joint training drill prior to deployment at the time.

November 22, 2002 USS Kentucky, commanded by Cmdr. Ronald W. Melampi (Blue), arrived in her new homeport of Bangor, Washington, for the first time. She is the second Ohio-class sub to change the homeport from Kings Bay, Georgia, after U.S. Navy decided to convert the first four ships to new, guided missile submarine (SSGN), class.

March 19, 2004 Cmdr. Ronald W. Melampy turned over leadership of USS Kentucky (Blue) to Cmdr. Paul Skarpness in a traditional change of command ceremony at Naval Undersea Warfare Museum, Keyport, Wash. Melampy assumed command of the fleet ballistic missile submarine in 2001. During his tour, the Kentucky Blue crew successfully executed two patrols in the Atlantic, a homeport change and two patrols in the Pacific.

April 19, After spending more than nine weeks in an unusually complex refit, SSBN 737 confidently slipped into the open waters of Hood Canal, in preparation for her next patrol. With 100,000 production man-hours executed in the completion of more than 1,000 jobs, the refit was a first-ever demonstration of the new surge maintenance capability in the Pacific Northwest.

August 21, 2008 USS Kentucky completed a drydocking for emergent maintenance at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNSY & IMF), returning to the fleet three days earlier than scheduled.