The 3rd Annual Pet Contest was held at Electric Boat in October to raise money for the American Cancer Society and the Making Strides for Breast Cancer October campaign. Electric Boat employees from all sites were invited to participate in this four-week fundraising effort for a chance to win one of nine trophies.
To enter the contest, employees were asked to fill out a virtual registration form and return the form with a photo submission of their pet. Participants were asked to enter their pet into one of three categories—Dogs, Cats or Other— and one of three sub-categories— Best of Show, Cutest or Best Companion. Overall, a total of 127 entries were submitted for this year’s contest. All pet submissions were given a number and were displayed throughout the month of October in the Groton and New London atrium areas for employees to place their votes.
In an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society and the Making Strides for Breast Cancer campaign, employees were asked to make a $1 donation for each vote made. Votes were accepted from employees, family members, friends and co-workers, and people could vote as many times as they liked. To place a vote, employees wrote the number of the pet they would like to vote for on an envelope, provided their monetary donation, and then dropped the envelope in the ballot boxes located next to the pet submissions. Employees could also cast their votes by sending their ballot and donation via interoffice mail, through Venmo or PayPal or on the Pet Contest web page. Votes were tallied up at the end of each week and all entrants received a weekly email with the current tally of votes.
From all of the votes collected, this year’s Pet Contest resulted in $3,965 raised for the American Cancer Society and the Making Strides for Breast Cancer October campaign. Nine trophies were awarded to the contest winners from each category.
Electric Boat employee Mandy O’Dell, organizer of this year’s Pet Contest, also took it upon herself to raise money for local animal shelters in our region. Animal shaped pins, cookie jars, treats and various other items were sold, resulting in a $400 donation split between four local animal shelters. Additionally, Mandy personally collected generous donations from employees, including money, food, toys and accessories for pets, which she personally brought to the animal shelters.
Combining the money raised from both efforts, Electric Boat employees raised a total of $4,365, making this year’s contest a great success. Thank you to all EB employees who participated and congratulations to the 2020 Pet Contest winners.
July 20 Traffic Alert for Groton Access to I-95
July 20 Traffic Alert: Commuters Urged to Use Clarence B. Sharp Highway (Route 349) to Access I-95 The City of Groton is urging drivers to use Clarence B. Sharp Highway to access Interstate 95 after a car accident Saturday on Mitchell Street darkened traffic lights at the intersection of Meridian & Mitchell streets. Four-way stop...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.
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→
