She is stationed in Newport News, Virginia under operation control of the Military Sealift Command (MSC).

Cornhusker State was laid down on 27 November 1967, as the container ship CV Stag Hound, ON 520743, IMO 6916433, a Maritime Administration type (C5-S-73b) hull under MARAD contract (MA 207).

356, she was launched on 2 November 1968, and delivered to MARAD 20 June 1969, entering service for American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines.

The ship was returned to MARAD in 1986 and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF).

Completed on 12 April 1988, she was placed in service as SS Cornhusker State (T-ACS-6) and assigned to the Ready Reserve Force (RRF), under operation control of the Military Sealift Command (MSC).