May 22, 2004 The keel was laid for the third Virginia-class attack submarine PCU North Carolina in Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard. Designated SSN 777, the fourth submarine of the Virginia-class will bear the name North Carolina to honor the Tar Heel State. The submarine will be the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to bear that name.

September 14, 2006 PCU North Carolina finished the last major phase of its construction at the Newport News, Va., shipyard, after all pressure hull sections are joined to form a single unit.

April 21, 2007 SSN 777 was christened at 11 a.m. EDT, in a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, Va. Linda Bowman, wife of retired Adm. Frank "Skip" Bowman, former director, Naval Nuclear Reactors, served as the ship's sponsor. Cmdr. Mark E. Davis, is the first commanding officer.

February 21, 2008 U.S. Navy took delivery of PCU North Carolina from Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN).

May 3, USS North Carolina was commissioned during a ceremony at Port of Wilmington, N.C.

May 16, SSN 777 arrived in its new homeport of Groton, Conn., for the first time.

September 8, Cmdr. W.E. "Wes" Schlauder relieved Capt. Mark Davis as CO of the North Carolina, during a change-of-command ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station's Pier 3.

December 5, USS North Carolina is currently conducting training operations off the coast of Florida.

December 19, The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat two contract modifications totaling $46.5 million to perform work on the North Carolina during its post-shakedown availability. The PSA will include maintenance, repairs, alterations, testing and other activities and will involve more than 500 current employees at its peak. Scheduled for completion in March 2010, the contract has an estimated total potential value of $70 million.

July 22, 2010 USS North Carolina departed Naval Submarine Base New London.

November 15, The North Carolina arrived in its new homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the first time, after completing the four-month inner-fleet transfer from Groton.

April 14, 2011 Cmdr. Richard E. Rhinehart Jr. relieved Cmdr. Wes Schlauder as CO of the SSN 777 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the sub at Pearl Harbor.

December 1, USS North Carolina departed Pearl Harbor for its maiden western Pacific deployment.

December 21, The North Carolina pulled into Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a scheduled port visit.

January 3, 2012 SSN 777 pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port visit to get tender support from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39).