Hi everyone; it’s Kevin. Today is Tuesday, April 13th (day recorded). I wanted to take a few minutes to share some thoughts on two important annual commemorations in the submarine community. This past Sunday, April 11th was National Submarine Day, which celebrates our nation’s purchase of the USS Holland, the first modern commissioned submarine and an important breakthrough for the U.S. Navy. The Holland is considered the world’s first practical submarine and is named for its inventor John Holland.
On National Submarine Day we honor the role the submarine has played in modern defense and the challenges our submarine crews have endured throughout the history of submarines. Over the course of the last 121 years, the men and women of Electric Boat have dedicated ourselves to making submarines safer and more capable, so that we provide our sailors with the greatest and most unfair advantage over our competition. All of this while keeping their safety top of mind. Please take a moment and view the short video on EB’s web page highlighting Electric Boat submarines and the people who build them.
April 10th, this past Saturday, is the day each year we pause to remember the loss of the USS Thresher and the 129 crew and civilian riders on board. On April 10th, 1963, USS Thresher had just completed a nine-month overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in which she received new electronic and sonar equipment and other upgrades and repairs. On that fateful morning, after Thresher had traveled approximately 220 miles off Cape Cod, she began a controlled dive in 100-foot increments. Thresher sent routine messages to the rescue ship, USS Skylark, and at 9:17a.m., Skylark received a garbled message: “…minor difficulties, have positive up-angle, attempting to blow.” Thresher went silent. Skylark attempted to regain contact but there was no response. At approximately 9:18a.m., Thresher was lost.
A court of inquiry gathered the facts and circumstances connected with the loss of the USS Thresher and death of personnel aboard to assign responsibility for the incident. The outcome was that responsibility could not be placed on any one individual or organization, but there were collective failures that most likely led to the loss of the Thresher. Examples included inadequate quality assurance, overconfidence in silver-brazed joints, lack of approved documentation on the ship, inadequate training and schedule pressure. What we do today, and every day since that fateful day, is intended to prevent another such tragedy. As we know, these themes are relatable to problem statements that we see on unplanned events experienced here at EB today, and we must be vigilant in their prevention. Never forget our priorities at Electric Boat: safety, quality, schedule, cost, and continuous improvement, in that order. Safety always first.
As a former submariner and as a leader of a company who builds and maintains submarines, I reflect on the important role our work plays in our national defense every single day. It fills me with enormous pride and a sense of enormous responsibility—emotions I know you all share with me. No matter what your job or role, every one of us has a responsibility to keep our sailors top of mind—that is our higher purpose. Let’s remember the sacrifice and legacy built by all who came before us, and let’s ensure we build on that legacy for all who will follow us.
Thanks everyone; we’ll talk again soon.
EBECSA Celebrates 75 Years — Nominate EB Employees Past and Present for Recognition
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Neighbors Meet with EB to Discuss Noise, Lighting and Other Quality of Life Topics
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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
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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→
Building 600 Tech Stop Relocation
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A Message From Mark Rayha: Historic Contracts/Rayha Report
Today marks one of the most significant moments in Electric Boat’s history. As part of its $76.6 billion submarine contract announcement, the U.S. Navy has awarded Electric Boat ship construction contracts valued at $29.5 billion for five Columbia-class submarines and $42.1 billion for nine Virginia-class submarines, along with incentives for shipyard infrastructure. Click here to read the...Continue reading→
