In May, the Black Engineering Council (BEC) of Electric Boat hosted students who participate in the BEC Mentoring Program. The students, each from the STEM Magnet Middle School (SMMS) in New London, were given the opportunity to tour various locations within the Groton facility.

The students began their tour in the Model Room, where they learned about EB’s 120-year history while surrounded by model submarines and models of both the Groton and Quonset Point shipyards. Their next stop was the Machine Shop, the oldest building in the Groton Shipyard, where the students were able to walk through, ask questions and observe what it’s like to be in a manufacturing environment.

Perhaps the most unique, and important, part of their tour took place in Building 16J, where EB’s safety team explained the importance of shipyard safety. From there, the students had the exciting opportunity to walk through the 260 building and see an actual submarine along with EB’s graving docks. The tour ended with lunch and an overview of how a submarine is designed given by the Design and Engineering team.

This was a positive experience for the students, allowing them to learn about Electric Boat and what we do. The students were engaged, asked many questions and enjoyed the opportunity they had to learn. The mission of the BEC Mentoring Program is to enhance a student’s personal and academic development by increasing their exposure to engineering principles; this tour made that mission a success.

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