USS Santa Fe is the Navy's 52nd Los Angeles-class fast attack nuclear powered submarine and the second ship to be named in honor of the capital city of New Mexico. She was christened by Mrs. Joy Johnson and launched on December 12, 1992 at General Dynamics Electric Boat Division in Groton, Connecticut. She was then commissioned on January 8, 1994 at Naval Submarine Base, Groton, Connecticut.

After completing builders trials and follow-on outfitting, SSN 763 transited to the Pacific Ocean in March 1995 to be based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Operating in Submarine Squadron Seven, she prepared for her first deployment. In April 1997, she finished her first six-month western Pacific deployment with the USS Kitty Hawk Carrier Battle Group. In September 1998 she completed a very successful dry-dock availability at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and has just recently returned from a three month trip to the eastern Pacific and West Coast of the United States.

March 9, 2004 USS Santa Fe, commanded by Cmdr. Andrew Hale, returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment in the western Pacific.

May 7, Cmdr. J. Stephen Perry Jr. relieved Cmdr. Andrew Hale as commanding officer of SSN 763 in a change-of-command ceremony at the Pearl Harbor Naval Station submarine piers.

April 29, 2005 Rear Adm. Jeffrey B. Cassias, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC), presented the Navy Unit Commendation award to the crew of Santa Fe. The submarine received the award for meritorious service and outstanding performance of duty in the conduct of operations of vital importance to national security as a unit of the Pacific Fleet from September 2003 to March 2004.

August 9, USS Santa Fe departed homeport for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Expeditionary Strike Group, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

September 28, SSN 763 pulled in to Goa, India, marking the half-way point of Exercise Malabar 2005. Malabar is a joint Indian American exercise designed to bolster relations between our two countries and enable the two countries to work together against a common threat. This year’s exercise is the largest to date including two U.S. Destroyers, USS Nimitz and the submarine Santa Fe. The Indian Navy contributed a carrier, a submarine, a frigate and their New Delhi-class Destroyer.

February 9, 2006 USS Santa Fe returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month underway period, traveling more than 40,000 miles. During her deployment, she was the first submarine to cross Andaman Sea submerged. The crew made port visits to a variety of countries, including India and Thailand.

April 5, 2008 The Santa Fe returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after spending more than a year at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, for a depot modernization period.

May 15, 2009 SSN 763 departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment in the western Pacific.

November 15, USS Santa Fe returned home after a six-month underway period.

January 15, 2010 Cmdr. David A. Adams relieved Cmdr. Vernon J. Parks Jr. as CO of the Santa Fe during a change-of-command ceremony at Pearl Harbor.

February 24, 2011 USS Santa Fe departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

March 15, The Los Angeles-Improved class attack submarine arrived in Chinhae, Republic of Korea, for a port visit before participating in exercise Foal Eagle 2011.

April 5, USS Santa Fe is currently participating in exercise Malabar 2011, with the Indian Navy, in the Philippine Sea.

May 20, SSN 763 pulled into Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a routine port call.

July 28, The Santa Fe pulled into Subic Bay, Philippines, for a five-day port visit to get tender support from USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

August 24, USS Santa Fe returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment.