Dave McCall, Director of Test
June 28, 2018
Other than the upcoming alpha sea trials on the South Dakota (SSN 790), this is my favorite time in a ship’s construction. We are at the point where we as shipbuilders put a bow on our product, the Navy accepts her for in-service, and she is married to her crew. The staging is gone, the VPT house is off, and the South Dakota looks like a warship.
But the other thing that makes this one of my favorite periods in ship construction is observing how the waterfront team rallies for the end game. There is no problem that can’t be fixed “today,” material that can’t be “found,” or an individual shipbuilder not willing to give the extra time and effort required to make it happen. Why is this? It’s leadership up and down the hierarchy of the waterfront team. And what does it take to achieve this level of leadership in the end game? Ten minutes.
It is the ten extra minutes spent at turnover making sure everyone understands what’s being passed between shifts and what’s expected to be accomplished on the back shifts.
It is the ten extra minutes the first-line supervisor spends with his crew making sure they understand the jobs they are being assigned, and that they have all the correct material, paper and tooling to succeed.
It is the ten extra minutes the deck-plate shipbuilder spends providing feedback to his foreman, sharing his experience and making sure he understands the scope of his assignment.
It is the ten extra minutes Engineering spends with the shipbuilder to understand the problem so that the deck plates get the correct direction quickly.
It is the ten extra minutes spent to make sure the job gets done.
And finally, it is the ten extra minutes the team spends planning to make sure the chosen path ahead is the most efficient and that team buy in is achieved.
This is how Electric Boat Shipbuilders deliver ships. But what if we did this every day, not just in the end game? How many weeks could we take out of our schedules? How many critical jobs could go from seven days a week to five? And most importantly, how quickly can we get the warships to the Navy that the nation needs? The difference between average and exceptional leadership is only ten minutes. We are not average shipbuilders, we are the best in the world—we can afford the ten extra minutes to be even better.
803 Section 2B/5 Transported from Quonset Point to Groton
PCU Arizona’s (SSGN 803) Section 2B/5 was successfully delivered to Groton from Quonset Point. At 184 feet in length, this section – which includes the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) – is the largest Virginia-class shipment ever transported. Arizona, the first submarine to incorporate VPM, will be about 460 feet long upon final construction. Section 2B/5...Continue reading→
Remembering September 11
On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of downtown Manhattan’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., were targeted in a series of coordinated attacks that would leave an everlasting imprint on our country’s psyche. As the events unfolded on that Tuesday morning, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, over 600 were injured...Continue reading→
EBECSA Celebrates 75 Years — Nominate EB Employees Past and Present for Recognition
This year, the Electric Boat Employees’ Community Services Association (EBECSA) proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary. EBECSA was founded in 1951 by EB employees who wanted to create a dedicated, organized way to support nonprofit health and human service agencies in the communities where we live and work. What began as a small employee‑driven effort has...Continue reading→
Atlas Plaque Unveiled, Honoring Plank Owners at South Yard Ceremony
Employees who have worked on Atlas, EB’s new state-of-the-art floating dry dock, gathered in the South Yard on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to unveil a new bronze plaque recognizing the contributions of its plank owners. The event celebrated the teams who helped bring Atlas from Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana to its arrival in Groton earlier this year. Atlas will play...Continue reading→
Neighbors Meet with EB to Discuss Noise, Lighting and Other Quality of Life Topics
Nearly twenty neighbors of Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard joined company leaders Aug. 25 for a community conversation focused on their quality‑of‑life concerns related to the South Yard Assembly Building (SYAB) and Atlas, the new floating dry dock. The Mayor of the City of Groton, Jill Rusk, also attended. Residents said they appreciated the chance to talk...Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 26: Waterford Campus Groundbreaking
EB President Mark Rayha reports from the groundbreaking of the new Waterford Campus, where innovation, engineering and workforce development will come together to support our mission. The new facility will help train hundreds of shipbuilders daily as EB continues to grow for future production demands.
Waterford Campus Groundbreaking Marks EB’s Next Step in Innovation and Workforce Growth
Electric Boat officially broke ground Friday on the Waterford Campus, launching the transformation of the former Crystal Mall into a center for innovation, engineering and high‑tech workforce development. EB President Mark Rayha underscored how the project will reshape the way the company designs, tests and builds submarines. Innovation is the key, he said. “There’s an opportunity to...Continue reading→
Powering HeartStrong 50: Thank You, EB Teams—Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!
Thank you to our incredible EB Heart Walk teams, our community partners, and everyone who joined the American Heart Association (AHA) Torch Journey photoshoot. Your enthusiasm and dedication made this milestone truly special. Now let’s keep our HeartStrong 50 energy going—our goal is 50 teams and $50,000 raised for the 2026 AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk on October 3 at UConn Avery...Continue reading→
Speed Cameras to be Installed in the City of Groton
The City of Groton Police Department announced that automated speed enforcement cameras will be installed at several locations throughout the city. The cameras will be installed after the required 30-day public notification period, which began on Aug. 7, 2026. Camera locations: Mitchell Street Thames Street Clarence B. Sharp Highway (Route 349) Police said the purpose...Continue reading→
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→
