What Do You Believe In?
Deneen Thaxton, Nuclear Quality Control & Audit, and Assessment
July 27, 2018
Integrity. Honesty. Transparency. Respect for each other. Respect for our product and the men and women who protect our country.
These can simply be words in a WIB article or they can be the foundational moral codes that make us a great shipbuilding team.
At Electric Boat, thousands of people gather every day to combine knowledge, skill, drive and raw material into vehicles that enable the Navy to keep our nation safe.
The sailors who take our great machines to sea don’t worry about the ships we build. They trust that we have done our jobs well. This unbreakable trust is earned every time we sign our name to a job ticket, work package or certification document. Our signature affirms that we have the competence and character to ensure our jobs are done right.
But we aren’t perfect. Sometimes things don’t go the way we expect. What happens then?
We learn from our mistakes. We gather our teams together to discuss what happened. We take action to prevent the mistake from happening again. Whether you call it a “critique,” “hot scrub,” “stand down” or “team learning session,” we strive to continuously improve. We stay focused on the problem and on the learning. We don’t lay blame. Instead, we emphasize how we can prevent others from making similar mistakes. If you find your mistake is being scrutinized, please don’t see it as a drubbing. Hold your chin up and be honest and transparent about what happened. Help others learn from it and help us prevent it from happening again.
Learning from our mistakes makes us stronger and more effective. Don’t fear speaking up if you make a mistake or see something that isn’t right. Report it to management, quality or use the Ethics Hotline (800) 433-8442. Openly discussing and resolving issues is just one more way to demonstrate our respect for the trust the submarine community has in us.
Integrity, honesty, transparency, respect for each other and respect for our product and the men and women who protect our country are what make us the best shipbuilders in the world.
Have a great summer, and be proud of what we do!
Rayha Report Ep. 20: 2026 EB Signing Days
Electric Boat held recent Signing Day ceremonies at Cranston West High School on May 21 and the Garde Arts Center in New London on May 28. EB President Mark Rayha spoke with students about their decision to join EB and educators who prepare their students for careers in shipbuilding. Click here to see the latest installment of the Rayha...Continue reading→
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Supporting Our Neighbors Impacted by The Ledges Apartments Fire
Early Sunday morning, a devastating fire occurred at The Ledges Apartments in Groton. Eighteen fire departments, including Electric Boat’s, responded. Thanks to the heroism of these first responders no residents were injured. The fire did, however, displace more than approximately 50 residents and destroyed or damaged 44 units in the building. Several EB employees were...Continue reading→
Pride Month Celebrations at Electric Boat
June 1st marks the start of Pride Month, a time for millions of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies around the world to come together in celebration and reflection. From film festivals and art shows, to marches and concerts, Pride is a vibrant tribute to LGBTQ+ culture, history and the relentless spirit of activism. It’s a chance...Continue reading→
Celebrating Our Next Generation of Shipbuilders
The Next Generation of Shipbuilders Takes the Stage Over the past two weeks, Electric Boat welcomed the next generation of shipbuilders at our Rhode Island and Connecticut Signing Day celebrations, marking the beginning of a journey that will help shape the future of our company and our nation’s defense. Held at Cranston High School West...Continue reading→
Update: Gold Star Bridge Project – Upcoming Traffic Impacts
CT DOT is preparing to enter the next major phase of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation Project, and employees should expect new traffic patterns that may affect travel to and from EB’s Groton and New London facilities. A crossover will direct two northbound lanes onto the southbound bridge, as shown in this CT DOT...Continue reading→
PCU Utah Floats Off
PCU Utah (SSN 801) floated off the pontoon in Graving Dock #3 on Sunday, May 17, her hull seeing water for the first time. Huge congratulations to every Electric Boat shipbuilder whose hard work and dedication brought Utah to this major milestone!
Pathways to the Deep Officially Opens at Mystic Aquarium
On Monday, May 11th, we officially cut the ribbon on Pathways to the Deep, a brand-new interactive exhibit at Mystic Aquarium that connects ocean science, technology, exploration and careers through hands-on learning and discovery. This collaborative effort between General Dynamics Electric Boat, Mystic Aquarium, the Submarine Industrial Base and Build Submarines was created to spark curiosity and...Continue reading→
Electric Boat featured in ADC’s ‘Homefront’ Video Series
General Dynamics Electric Boat is featured in the latest episode of the Association of Defense Communities’ (ADC) Homefront video series, which examines military communities across the country. The episode highlights Electric Boat’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Navy, the generations of shipbuilders who power our mission and the opportunities ahead for the next wave of...Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 19: Operations Leadership Hiring Initiative
In his latest Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha speaks with Chief of Talent Acquisition Meredith Kyle on the ways the company is boosting operations leadership hiring. Joining them is Konrad Wennberg and Mike Simmons, who provide insight on their internal moves from engineering to operations supervisor positions.
