By Lynn Hendy
May 21, 2018
On May 11 Ship Sponsor Darleen Greenert laid the keel of the submarine Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795), her initials welded onto a steel plate that will be permanently affixed to the submarine. Mrs. Greenert is the wife of former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert (retired). EB hosted the ceremony at its Quonset Point facility with more than 500 people in attendance including local and Congressional dignitaries, Navy officials, employees and special guest Mrs. Eleonore Rickover, widow of Admiral Rickover.
EB President Jeff Geiger recounted that EB’s relationship with Admiral Rickover started with a phone call. “While Westinghouse was developing a compact and practical nuclear reactor in 1950, then-Captain Rickover telephoned O.P. Robinson Jr., EB’s general manager and a man he had never met. ‘Can you build a hull for an atomic submarine?’ Rickover asked. ‘Why, sure,’ Robinson replied. ‘But what do we have to do?’ ‘I don’t know myself,’ Rickover replied. ‘But we’ll work it out.’ And work it out they did,” said Geiger.
Adm. Frank Caldwell, Jr., Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, stated, “Admiral Rickover’s gift to our nation’s defense — safe, reliable, and militarily superior naval nuclear propulsion — is as vital to our warfighting edge today as it was at the beginning of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program 70 years ago. The U.S. Navy and our nation are proud to honor his achievements and legacy with this submarine.”
Joe Walsh, who recently retired from EB as vice president of The Virginia and Moored Training Ship programs following a 32-year career in the Navy, was a former commanding officer of SSN 709, the first submarine Hyman G. Rickover.
“Admiral Rickover is referred to as the father of the nuclear Navy, but he was much more than that. He defined the culture of the nuclear Navy — excellence is standard,” said Walsh. “When you perform a drill or an evolution flawlessly in the nuclear Navy, you don’t get a ‘great job’ or a ‘well done.’ You get ‘no deficiencies were noted’ because you didn’t exceed the standard, you merely met it.
“The new Hyman G. Rickover could not have been more fortunate than to be blessed with Mrs. Darleen Greenert, who will serve her ship with the same level of love, dedication, and energy that Eleonore provided to SSN 709.”
In her moving, emotional remarks, Mrs. Greenert thanked the shipbuilders in the audience. “When someone comes up to you or your family and asks if what you do matters, I want to tell you it does. Now we have the 795, and I’ve seen her beautiful parts. You’re building her strong and safe. The families of the crew — their children, their moms and dads, their brothers and sisters — they’re going to say goodbye to their submariners, and then they’re going to say hello again a few months later, because of what you do.
“Yes. It matters.”
MDA Apprenticeship Application Now Open
Application Window: August 1, 2026 – August 31, 2026 The MDA Apprenticeship Program is a four-year initiative designed to develop a highly skilled workforce for Electric Boat. This program provides three years of on‑the‑job training alongside qualified subject matter experts, combined with classroom instruction across various technical disciplines. Participants gain advanced skills, broaden their expertise, and...Continue reading→
Building 600 Tech Stop Relocation
On Monday, August 3, 2026, Facilities will be relocating the Tech Stop currently located in Building 600 4th Floor East to its new location in Building 130-01 Classroom 7. During this time, please utilize the alternate Tech Stop location: B708 (625 Long Hill Road) Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm The tech stop will resume...Continue reading→
A Message From Mark Rayha: Historic Contracts/Rayha Report
Electric Boat featured in latest episode of ‘Cast in Steel’
General Dynamics Electric Boat is featured in the latest episode of Cast in Steel, a web series that showcases the leaders of America’s steel industry as part of their competition to promote careers in metalworking. The Cast in Steel team visited our Quonset Point facility to highlight how EB’s shipbuilders transform flat steel into nuclear...Continue reading→
EB’s Groton Shipyard Celebrates 100 Years of Submarine Construction
The first submarine ever built in Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard slid gracefully from its ways into the Thames River 100 years ago, taking to the water with “scarcely a splash” before a crowd of 1,500, according to newspaper accounts at the time. A century after the 800-ton, 200-foot-long R2 was launched, EB shipbuilders continue to...Continue reading→
President Trump Gives Our Submarines a Shoutout at Pennsylvania Innovation and Defense Summit
Rayha Report Ep. 23: Matt Olander Honored by UConn College of Engineering
Rayha Report Ep. 22: Run to Home Base 2026
In his latest Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha talks with Run to Home Base co-chair Tammee Sweck and runners Amy and Greyson Stephenson about why this annual fundraiser means so much to our veterans, service members, and their families. Learn how Team General Dynamics is preparing for the July 25 event at Fenway Park...Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 21: Backstage With Chris Stapleton
In the latest Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha hit the road for a backstage chat with American singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Stapleton. Chris is not only an extraordinary artist, but someone whose values resonate deeply with the people of Electric Boat: pride in craftsmanship, respect for hard work and a genuine love for this...Continue reading→
Happy Fourth of July
As America marks its 250th birthday, we celebrate the generations of shipbuilders whose skill and commitment have strengthened our nation, and especially thank our current generation of EB shipbuilders for all you’re doing to meet this challenging moment in history. Happy Fourth of July.
