SSN 779 is the second U.S. Navy ship named for the state of New Mexico. The previous USS New Mexico was a battleship (BB 40) which served in World War I and World War II.

Construction began in January 2004 at the Electric Boat Corporation, Groton, Connecticut and Quonset Point, Rhode Island facilities, for the construction of the straight sections. The individual components will be shipped to Newport News for final assembly.

April 12, 2008 The keel authentication ceremony was held at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, for PCU New Mexico, nearing the end of construction.

August 1, Cmdr. Mark A. Prokopius releived Cmdr. Robert Lee Dain as CO of SSN 779.

December 13, PCU New Mexico, commanded by Cmdr. Mark A. Prokopius, is christened during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va. Cindy Giambastiani, the wife of retired Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, served as sponsor of the ship.

July 28, 2009 A crew of the New Mexico enjoyed their first meal served aboard the Virginia-class attack submarine.

September 4, The commissioning of the New Mexico has been moved from Nov. 21 to early 2010 because of mechanical quality issues in its torpedo room weapons-handling system. The issues that prompted the delay are also found aboard USS North Carolina (SSN 777), PCU Missouri (SSN 780) and PCU California (SSN 781), in early August.

November 26, SSN 779 successfully completed a two-day initial "Alpha" sea trials.

December 29, The Pre-Commissioning Unit New Mexico was officially delivered to U.S. Navy four months earlier than its contract delivery date, completing the construction in record 70 months.

March 27, 2010 USS New Mexico was commissioned during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

May 11, The New Mexico pulled into Port Everglades, Fla., for a brief port visit.

June 1, USS New Mexico arrived in its new homeport of Naval Submarine Base New London at Groton, Conn., for the first time.

July 2, General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $51.8 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy for the USS New Mexico’s Post Shakedown Availability. The PSA, which will comprise maintenance, repairs, alterations and testing, will be performed in Groton and is scheduled to be complete by July 2011.

October 15, Cmdr. George Perez relieved Cmdr. Mark A. Prokopius as CO of the New Mexico during a change-of-command ceremony at the Shepherd of the Sea Chapel.

February 6, 2012 USS New Mexico returned to Groton after participating in a joint exercise Fellowship 2012, with the Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute (SSN 20).