Columbus completed a Post Shipyard Availability in June 1994 in Groton, Connecticut after initial construction and shakedown operations. In September 1994, the ship conducted an interfleet transfer to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force. Columbus deployed to the $3 in late 1995 through early 1996 and conducted a variety of operations as a unit of the U.S. 7th Fleet along the way making port visits in Hong Kong, Subic Bay, Guam, and Yokosuka, Japan.