The contract to build the ship was awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) of San Diego, California, on 27 January 2004.

On 26 July 2007 one of the ship's four 200-ton diesel-electric engines toppled from a truck delivering it to the shipyard in the 2700 block of Harbor Drive, San Diego.

The accident is believed to have been caused when the truck accidentally delivered the engine to the wrong gate of the shipyard and hit the curb while backing up in an attempt to turn around.

[7] The new ship is designed to deliver ammunition, food, fuel and other dry cargo to US and allied warships at sea.

It will be crewed by 124 civil service mariners and, at times, will include an additional complement of naval personnel and carry two helicopters.