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.
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.
Electric Boat and SENEDIA Celebrate 10,000-Graduate Milestone
We are proud to recognize a major workforce milestone with the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA), one of Electric Boat’s key training and workforce development partners. At an event on July 1, 2026, held at the Westerly Education Center, SENEDIA celebrated the 10,000th graduate to complete the New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership—a regional...Continue reading→
Safety Update: Installation of Speed Tables on Eastern Point Road
In an effort to increase safety at Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard, two speed tables are being installed across Eastern Point Road this week. The tables, a few inches tall and marked with yellow stripes, are designed to slow vehicle traffic in an area frequented by pedestrians. The first speed table crosses Eastern Point Road just...Continue reading→
EB firefighters recognized for life-saving rescues
Five members of the Electric Boat Fire Department in Groton were recognized for perilous, life-saving rescues during a pair of multi-alarm fires that engulfed apartments in Groton and New London in 2025. Firefighters Thomas Gugliotti, Arthur Keaten, Theodore Bartkoski, James Brady and Capt. Ryan Boulanger were each presented with Lifesaving Awards and the prestigious 2026...Continue reading→
The Barnacle: Parking Enforcement That Sticks
Meet the Barnacle, Electric Boat’s newest parking-enforcement tool that will begin deployment in the Groton shipyard starting Monday, June 15. As our enterprise continues to grow, we are dedicated to ensuring parking is safe, fair and accessible to all. The Barnacle is an immobilizing parking-enforcement device that attaches directly to a vehicle’s windshield using heavy-duty,...Continue reading→
Honoring the U.S. Army Birthday
June 14th marks the 251st Birthday of the United States Army, a moment to honor the enduring legacy, bravery, and sacrifice of those who have worn the Army uniform since 1775. As the oldest branch of the U.S. military, the Army has played a vital role in shaping our nation’s history and safeguarding its freedoms....Continue reading→
