Electric Boat celebrated the topping off milestone for its South Yard Assembly Building (SYAB) on March 10, 2022, when the last beam was placed atop the structure. Electric Boat leadership, members of EB’s Facilities Master Plan (FMP) team, the staff and employees of AECOM; the General Contractor, Berlin Steel; the structural steel erector, and several of SYAB’s construction contractors gathered in EB’s Groton South Yard on Thursday to witness and celebrate the final roof truss being lifted and set into place.
Those in attendance were invited to sign the truss before its placement atop the building where the ballistic-missile and attack submarines needed to defend our nation through this century and beyond will be assembled and tested before delivery to the U.S. Navy.
“We need this building to keep us safe, our families safe and the world safe,” said Joe Drake, EB’s vice president of real estate and facilities. “The last five years we’ve been building, and now we’re in the home stretch.”
The South Yard Assembly Building is the centerpiece of General Dynamics Electric Boat’s $1.85 billion facilities expansion project at Groton and Quonset Point to support construction of the Columbia Class ballistic-missile submarines—the nation’s top strategic defense priority. The project was designed by Jacobs Engineering Group.
For nearly 15 years, Electric Boat has been working on plans to execute the design and construction of this crucial program, and has hired and trained thousands of new skilled tradespeople and collaborated with its suppliers to prepare for expanded demand in support of construction. The Columbia program is now in full-scale production, with construction of the lead ship, Columbia, nearing 17% complete. Last May, advance construction for the second ship, Wisconsin, began.
This 200,000 square-foot building is the largest construction project to take place at Electric Boat in over 50 years. Expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023, the SYAB will be home to 1,400 skilled shipbuilders who will deliver the Columbia Class to the U.S. Navy beginning in 2027.
“2027 may seem a long ways away,” said Capt. Andrew Gillespy, USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion & Repair, Groton. But before we know it, he continued, “we’re going to see the Columbia—20,000 tons of American sovereignty—sail down the river.”
803 Section 2B/5 Transported from Quonset Point to Groton
PCU Arizona’s (SSGN 803) Section 2B/5 was successfully delivered to Groton from Quonset Point. At 184 feet in length, this section – which includes the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) – is the largest Virginia-class shipment ever transported. Arizona, the first submarine to incorporate VPM, will be about 460 feet long upon final construction. Section 2B/5...Continue reading→
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On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of downtown Manhattan’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., were targeted in a series of coordinated attacks that would leave an everlasting imprint on our country’s psyche. As the events unfolded on that Tuesday morning, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, over 600 were injured...Continue reading→
EBECSA Celebrates 75 Years — Nominate EB Employees Past and Present for Recognition
This year, the Electric Boat Employees’ Community Services Association (EBECSA) proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary. EBECSA was founded in 1951 by EB employees who wanted to create a dedicated, organized way to support nonprofit health and human service agencies in the communities where we live and work. What began as a small employee‑driven effort has...Continue reading→
Atlas Plaque Unveiled, Honoring Plank Owners at South Yard Ceremony
Employees who have worked on Atlas, EB’s new state-of-the-art floating dry dock, gathered in the South Yard on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to unveil a new bronze plaque recognizing the contributions of its plank owners. The event celebrated the teams who helped bring Atlas from Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana to its arrival in Groton earlier this year. Atlas will play...Continue reading→
Neighbors Meet with EB to Discuss Noise, Lighting and Other Quality of Life Topics
Nearly twenty neighbors of Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard joined company leaders Aug. 25 for a community conversation focused on their quality‑of‑life concerns related to the South Yard Assembly Building (SYAB) and Atlas, the new floating dry dock. The Mayor of the City of Groton, Jill Rusk, also attended. Residents said they appreciated the chance to talk...Continue reading→
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→
