Hi everyone; this is Kevin. Today is Tuesday, December 14th.
Last week I took part in the alpha trials for SSN 793 PCU Oregon. These trials are the first major test of a submarine’s capabilities at sea. During alpha trials, all the boat’s systems and components are tested, the boat submerges for the first time, and the crew conducts propulsion plant testing on the surface and submerged.
Thank you to the team—crew and shipbuilders—for the effort they put forth to get us to and through alpha trials. This alpha trial was long awaited and long overdue, and many of you know that. All involved worked hard and really persevered through some very trying circumstances. While we didn’t complete everything we set out to do, I watched a Navy and Shipbuilder team that worked very well together. Communications were strong—the strongest I’ve seen—and were much improved over our last trial on PCU Vermont. That result was caused by intentional steps we took to apply lessons learned, and it worked. I can tell you firsthand that the ship performed beautifully, and we should be proud about the capability we’re about to deliver to our Navy.
I also got to speak with folks who went to sea on board a US Navy submarine for the very first time. You never forget your first submarine ride, and each of the people I spoke with, Navy and EB, now understand what many of us already know. The work we do is hard and ultimately, incredibly rewarding.
The 793 will next undergo Bravo trials, which focus on acoustic and combat system performance. In January, the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey—INSURV—will evaluate the submarine’s seaworthiness, operational capabilities and the crew’s performance. In the New Year, I will report back to you on the results of these trials.
Last week NAVSEA conducted an audit of our non-destructive testing program. The audit covered NDT being performed at Groton and Quonset Point as well as the performance of the NDT engineering group in managing the program. NDT is the last stop in our welding process during which welds are inspected and verified to meet technical requirements. Our NDT program has had some significant challenges over the last several years. These challenges were amplified by a high number of retirements of very experienced personnel in our welder, NDT inspector and examiner ranks coupled with a significant growth in new people in these areas to support the Virginia and Columbia construction programs.
The NDT team has worked very hard over the last couple of years to overcome these challenges and improve NDT program performance. Additional NDT inspectors and examiners have been on-boarded and trained, and the NDT engineering group has revamped the oversight program to ensure the quality of the NDT being performed.
The audit results from last week demonstrate that we’re on the right path with solid teamwork and strong performance. While there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, we’ve proven that we’re working on the right things and headed in the right direction. I’m proud of the NDT team for the hard work they’ve put in and their perseverance really shows in the results of this audit.
Thank you to the entire NDT team. You can be proud of the work you’ve accomplished as well. The audit results reinforce what right looks like and that when we focus on a problem, we move the needle in the right direction.
Thanks everyone; we’ll talk soon.
2026 Veterans Day Observances
Join us on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, for Electric Boat’s annual Veterans Day observances, as we gather together to honor our service members past and present. There will be ceremonies held for first-, second- and third-shift employees in Groton and Quonset Point. 2026 Veterans Day commemorative pins will be available for those in attendance. If...Continue reading→
Introducing the Native Americans & Indigenous People of Electric Boat (NAIP) Employee Resource Group
Electric Boat (EB) Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce while contributing to the success of our business. Formed to raise awareness and celebrate different cultures, communities, and experiences, these employee‑led groups foster a stronger sense of unity and belonging. ERGs cultivate an inclusive environment where employees can connect,...Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 30: 40-Year Dinner Celebrates EB’s Distinguished Shipbuilders
Electric Boat recently held the annual 40-Year Shipbuilder Dinner at the Mystic Marriott, honoring the newest class of Distinguished Shipbuilders for their contributions to EB and our nation’s defense. Watch the latest Rayha Report to hear from a few of these shipbuilders as they reflect on their career in conversation with EB President Mark Rayha....Continue reading→
EB Supports 45th Annual MLK Scholarship Awards
Electric Boat was proud to serve as a scholarship sponsor for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Trust Fund at its 45th Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner. More than 600 community members gathered to celebrate this year’s extraordinary cohort of 2026 MLK Scholars. These 13 outstanding students were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership, character,...Continue reading→
Building the Future: EB’s New Central Distribution Hub
In April, Electric Boat (EB) began construction on the new central distribution hub for its warehousing, shipping, and receiving operations at 45 Frontage Road in North Stonington, CT. Since then, the 480,000‑square‑foot next‑generation warehouse facility has quickly taken shape. All wall panels are now complete, and construction is ahead of schedule. The facility will celebrate...Continue reading→
Delivering the Future
Some imagine the future. We deliver it now.
State-of-the-Art Simulator Prepares District of Columbia Crew for its Mission
As construction of the District of Columbia (SSBN 826) continues apace in EB’s South Yard Assembly Building, the sailors who will soon be at the controls are spending hours in a dynamic, high-tech simulator learning the intricacies of operating the 21,000-ton, first-in-class boomer. The Columbia Ship Control Operator Trainer (CSCOT) is a replica of the...Continue reading→
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Start of USS Groton Sail Monument
Fifty years after the USS Groton (SSN‑694) first launched, dozens gathered outside the Groton Public Library Oct. 9 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the USS Groton Sail Monument. The $6.6 million project—three decades in the making—will honor the men and women who design, build, operate and maintain the Navy’s submarines, as well as the families...Continue reading→
A Celebration of Heart, Community and Victory
2026 American Heart Association Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk Recap Saturday, October 3, 2026 | UConn Avery Point The 2026 American Heart Association Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk at UConn Avery Point was nothing short of extraordinary. Under bright autumn skies, 26 incredible Electric Boat teams and 151 walkers came together with passion, purpose, and unstoppable energy...Continue reading→
Quonset Point Donation Will Help Keep Mystic Aquarium’s Belugas Cool
Juno, the Mystic Aquarium’s convivial, photo-bombing Beluga whale, will continue swimming in cool comfort thanks to an unlikely chain of events that began 40 miles east in an Electric Boat industrial building at Quonset Point. That’s where EB’s Russ Tatro and Chris Logan were going over plans with a vendor, Carrier Corp., to replace Building...Continue reading→
