USS Houston (SSN 713), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Houston, Texas. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on August 1, 1975 and her keel was laid down on January 29, 1979. She was launched on March 21, 1981, sponsored by Barbara Bush, wife of then Vice-President of the United States George H. W. Bush. She was commissioned on September 25, 1982, with Capt. G. H. Mensch in command.

USS Houston underwent an extensive overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., commencing September of 2001. The upgrades included reactor refueling, as well as navigation, fire control and sonar upgrades.

December 24, 2004 USS Houston arrived at her new homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam, after a transit from PSNS. She become the third submarine to be assigned to Commander Submarine Squadron Fifteen (COMSUBRON-15).

January 7, 2005 Cmdr. John S. Zavadil relieved Cmdr. Christopher Kaiser as CO of the SSN 713.

October 18, USS Houston partnered with the Australian Navy in September to strengthen its warfare capabilities through an annual joint exercise, Lungfish 2005. Lungfish 2005 is a tactical development exercise between the two navies that trains and teaches tracking methods of both nuclear and diesel submarines. In a direct response to the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s priority to enhance anti-submarine warfare abilities, the submarine’s crew participated in two anti-submarine missions and joint submarine command courses while deployed to Perth, Australia, this summer.

September 20, 2006 USS Houston is currently in Port Kelang, Malaysia, for a scheduled port visit. The submarine is toured by Royal Malaysian Navy officers as part of a 2-day conference sponsored by the United States and Australia, aimed at helping the Royal Malaysian Navy prepare for its first submarine in 2009.

June 24, 2008 SSN 713 pulled to Pearl Harbor prior to the start of the Rim of the Pacific 2008 Exercise. RIMPAC, the world's largest multinational exercise, is scheduled biennially by U.S. Pacific Fleet and takes place in the Hawaiian operating area during June 29 - July 31. Participants include Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom and the U.S. India, Colombia, Mexico, and Russia are scheduled to send observers.

August 28, 2009 Cmdr. David G. Schappert relieved Cmdr. Michael D. Lewis as commanding officer of USS Houston during a change-of-command ceremony.

February 26, 2010 USS Houston arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines, for a scheduled port visit.

November 23, The Houston arrived in Chinhae, Republic of Korea, for a routine port call.

December 8, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine is currently participating in joint-bilateral exercise Keen Sword 2011 off the coast of Japan.

January 31, 2011 USS Houston pulled into Sepangar Naval Base for a scheduled port visit to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, and to conduct repairs while moored outboard of a submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), that arrived here Jan. 28.

January 17, 2012 USS Houston arrived at its new homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, after nine years forward-deployed to Guam. SSN 713 will be assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 7.

February 17, Cmdr. Paul Davis relieved Cmdr. David G. Schappert as CO of the Houston during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ex-USS Missouri (BB 63).