The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on 26 November 1984, and construction began on 29 August 1986. She was launched on 3 July 1989 sponsored by Mrs. Sarah McDade, and commissioned on 26 January 1991, with Commander J.G. Meyer in command. In January 2006, Scranton successfully demonstrated homing and docking of an AN/BLQ-11 Long-Term Mine Reconnaissance System (LMRS) unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) system during at-sea testing under the leadership of Commanding Officer Michael J. Quinn.[1]