Her keel was laid down on 24 February 1958 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 16 March 1960 sponsored by Mrs. Louis Shane, Jr., and commissioned on 9 February 1961 with Lieutenant Commander John F. Fagan, Jr., in command. After preliminary testing and fitting out, Shark sailed to the Caribbean Sea in May for her shakedown cruise. The submarine returned to her building yard for post-shakedown repairs and final acceptance by the Navy.