Kurt Hesch
June 06, 2018
We’re now less than four weeks away from the deadline for reaching our Employee Incentive Goals for the first half of 2018. The goal categories are Organizational Health and Safety, Earned Hours and Key Events. Each is worth $250 if the associated goals are achieved by June 30. Once again, it will depend on a strong finish in June.
In the Organizational Health and Safety category, we are well on our way to achieving our goal participation rate for “It All Counts.” Thank you for your efforts towards this milestone and, more importantly, for proactively managing your health and well-being. The upcoming health fairs in Groton and New London are great opportunities to not only reach our goal but get ahead on our participation rates for the second half of 2018.
We’re on track to achieve our Safety Training goal, and we continue to positively track below goal on our Lost Workday Injury Rate. Thank you for your continued focus on safety, Electric Boat’s number-one goal.
Going into May, our Earned Hours were behind the goal by the equivalent of one day. We fell further behind in the late-May period resulting in us now needing the equivalent of two days of recovery— meaning we need 16 hours more in earned hours per person this month. We can recover this over the next few weeks, but it will require a strong push. This push is consistent with what we need to accomplish for the Key Events’ work order and design products goals.
In the Key Events category, the good news is that we achieved one of the five goals for the second half when we shipped section 6-7 of Rickover (SSN 795) from Quonset Point to Groton in May. Also, we’re continuing on pace to meet our work order goal, although our rate of progress fell towards the end of May, making this more challenging. Work order achievement is also a primary driver to earned hours in construction as well. Conversely, we will not make the goal of pressure hull complete for Vermont (SSN 792) by June 30 as we are a few weeks late, but look forward to the upcoming end load and pairing for the last hull butt.
The Columbia and Virginia design product goal will be very challenging, but we’ve been in this position before, achieving the goal last December and June with a tremendous late push. Similar to work orders, completing arrangements and disclosures are primary drivers of earned hours in Columbia and Virginia design and engineering. Finally, to make our Columbia construction readiness products goal, we’ll need to especially drive to achieve the remaining 13 disclosure changes. Being more productive in change is necessary as it is impacting our earned hour achievement at Quonset Point and in the Columbia products goals.
By continuing to focus on working safely, with high first-time quality and striving for efficiency, we can achieve our goals. Thank you for the work you do every day to build and maintain the submarines that are critically important to our nation’s security.
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
Today marks one of the most significant moments in Electric Boat’s history. As part of its $76.6 billion submarine contract announcement, the U.S. Navy has awarded Electric Boat ship construction contracts valued at $29.5 billion for five Columbia-class submarines and $42.1 billion for nine Virginia-class submarines, along with incentives for shipyard infrastructure. Click here to read the...Continue reading→
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
During his remarks at the Pennsylvania Innovation and Defense Summit held on July 15 at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA, President Donald Trump introduced attendee Danny Deep, president of General Dynamics. In his quick words to Danny, President Trump recognized General Dynamics for building “the greatest submarines in the world.” Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 23: Matt Olander Honored by UConn College of Engineering
In this episode of the Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha speaks with Matt Olander, senior vice president of programs and engineering, about his personal career journey and recent return to UConn’s College of Engineering as an honorary degree recipient and 2026 commencement speaker. Watch Matt’s commencement speech on the UConn College of Engineering YouTube channel.Continue reading→
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.
