USS Columbia (SSN 771), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the eighth ship of the U.S. Navy to bear that name. The contract to build Columbia was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Conn., on December 14, 1988 and her keel was laid down on April 21, 1993. She was launched on September 24, 1994, with the traditional slide down a 1300-foot wooden ramp, the last American submarine expected to be launched in this dramatic fashion. Future submarines built in the United States will be launched by flooding the dry dock where they are built. She was sponsored by Hillary Rodham Clinton, and commissioned on October 9, 1995, with Cmdr. Dale Govan in command.

December 6, 2002 USS Columbia, commanded by Cmdr. Duane R. Ashton, departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a six-month deployment, with the USS Constellation (CV 64) Battle Group, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

March 20, 2003 At least three U.S. Navy ships, including Columbia, and two British submarines launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) in military operations to disarm Iraq.

June 6, SSN 771 returned to homeport after a combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to participating in coalition exercises, including Tandem Thrust, the nuclear-powered submarine visited Brisbane, Australia.

May 10, 2004 USS Columbia returned to Pearl Harbor, following a three-month surge deployment to the western Pacific, as part of the Chief of Naval Operations Fleet Response Plan (FRP).

November 5, Cmdr. Eugene Sievers relieved Capt. (sel.) Duane Ashton as commanding officer of SSN 771 in a change of command ceremony held at Pearl Harbor Naval Station.

September 17, 2005 SSN 771 departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment in the western Pacific Ocean.

March 17, 2006 USS Columbia returned to homeport following a six-month underway period to the western Pacific. While deployed, the ship’s crew visited Stirling, Australia; Yokosuka, Japan; Chinhae, Republic of Korea; Singapore and Guam.

July 5, The Los Angeles-imroved class attack submarine departed Pearl Harbor to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006.

September 5, USS Columbia departed homeport for a surge deployment in the western Pacific, as part of the Fleet Response Plan (FRP).

August 15, 2008 SSN 771 completed its depot modernization period (DMP) at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF) July 25.

November 3, 2009 USS Columbia, commanded by Cmdr. Craig Blakely, departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

March 22, 2010 The Columbia departed Chinhae, Republic of Korea, afre a four-day port visit and will participate in the bilateral exercise Foal Eagle 2010.

May 3, USS Columbia returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a six-month deployment.

August 5, Cmdr. Dennis Kline relieved Cmdr. Craig Blakely as CO of the Columbia during a change-of-command ceremony at Pearl Harbor.