USS Missouri (SSN-780) is the seventh Virginia-class attack submarine and the fourth ship in the United States Navy named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri. It was completed, and delivered, nine months early and under budget. The contract to build Missouri was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 14 August 2003. Its keel was laid down on 27 September 2008. The submarine was put in the water on 20 November 2009, and christened on 5 December 2009. Missouri's sponsor is Becky Gates, wife of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.