The contract to build the fifth Virginia-class submarine sub was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Conn., on Aug. 14, 2003. She is the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for the state of New Hampshire. The construction of SSN 778 began in January 2004.

April 30, 2007 The keel was laid for the PCU New Hampshire at GDEB’s Quonset Point facility in North Kingstown, R.I. The ship's sponsor is Cheryl McGuinness of Portsmouth, N.H., the widow of Thomas McGuinness, co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks when the jet was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

June 21, 2008 PCU New Hampshire was christened during an 11:00 a.m. EDT ceremony at Electric Boat in Groton. Cmdr. Michael J. Stevens in command. She is the first Virginia-class submarine to be built in four sections, a noteworthy improvement from the 10 required for the lead ship.

July 29, The fast-attack submarine New Hampshire departed Groton, Conn., for the first time, for Alpha Sea Trails.

October 25, USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) was commissioned during a ceremony at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. This will mark the first time since 1996 that the U.S. Navy has commissioned two submarines of the same class in the same year. USS North Carolina (SSN 777) was commissioned in May.

May 15, 2009 The New Hampshire is currently off the coast of United Kingdom participating in multinational exercise Joint Warrior.

May 20, The Virginia-class submarine arrived in Haakonsvern Naval Base in support of 100th Anniversary of the Royal Norwegian Navy submarine force.

June 4, SSN 778 pulled to Rota, Spain, for a routine port call.

July 22, USS New Hampshire returned to Naval Submarine Base New London after a maiden underway period. She is the first Virginia-class submarine to deploy in support of operations in the U.S. European Command Area of Responsibility.

April 22, 2010 Cmdr. John E. McGunnigle Jr. relieved Cmdr. Michael J. Stevens as CO of the New Hampshire during a change-of-command ceremony at Groton, Conn.