USS Jimmy Carter, the third and last Seawolf-class submarine honors the 39th president of the United States who is the only submarine-qualified man that went on to become the nation's chief executive. He was the nuclear engineer officer on the Pre-Commissioning Unit Seawolf (SSN 575) in the 1950s.

The contract to build SSN 23 was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on June 29, 1996, and her keel was laid down on December 5, 1998. She was scheduled to be commissioned in late 2001 or early 2002, but on December 10, 1999, Electric Boat was awarded an 887 million dolars extension to contract to modify the boat for highly classified missions and testing of new submarine systems.

Differentiating the Jimmy Carter from all other undersea vessels is its Multi-Mission Platform (MMP), which includes a 100-foot hull extension that enhances payload capability, enabling it to accommodate advanced technology required to develop and test an entirely new generation of weapons, sensors and undersea vehicles. The MMP provides the submarine with a wealth of capabilities. It has an ocean interface that allows for the operation of a Remotely Operated Vehicle, which will be able to retrieve and deploy weapons, countermeasures and sensors. It’s also Special Operations-friendly. The Jimmy Carter can accommodate a Dry Deck Shelter or an Advanced SEAL Delivery System for Special Operations Forces (SOF). She has a Reconfigurable Cargo Area, which allows for stowage of SOF supplies, and it features a Command Center Suite for mission planning. The ship can also berth up to 50 SOF personnel.

January 24, 2004 Cmdr. David Bartholomew, Jr., CO of Pre-Commissioned Unit Jimmy Carter was relieved of command because of a "loss of confidence" in his ability "pending further administrative or disciplinary action as appropriate." Capt. Robert D. Kelso, deputy chief of staff of Submarine Development Squadron 12 in New London, took temporary command of the ship until a new commanding officer could be named.

June 5, Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter christened the PCU Jimmy Carter at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard.

November 19, SSN 23 returned to General Dynamics’ Electric Boat (EB) Shipyard after successfully completing its Alpha Sea Trial (AST). AST is the first underway period designated for propulsion-plant and tightness-dive testing.

February 19, 2005 USS Jimmy Carter was commissioned in a ceremony held at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn.

November 9, SSN 23 arrived for the first time at its new homeport of Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, Washington. It replaced USS Parche (SSN 683), which was decommissioned in October 2004.

August 16, 2006 USS Jimmy Carter, commanded by Cmdr. Dave Honabach, underwent a "deperm" at Magnetic Silencing Facility at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. The deperming process reduces a ships electromagnetic signature as she travels through the water.

November 11, 2009 USS Jimmy Carter returned to Bangor after a four-month deployment. The Seawolf-class submarine is scheduled to enter the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an routine overhaul.