The Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) STEM Conference is held annually to recognize the contributions of individuals who are innovators and trailblazers in their professional careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). For 38 years, the BEYA STEM awards have continued to provide employers throughout the country with the opportunity to voice the accomplishments of minorities in STEM.
BEYA first introduced the Legacy Award category in 2016 as a fitting tribute to a generation of awardees, many of whom continue to light a path in STEM. Every year since, BEYA has recognized new winners with awards that bear the names of past honorees so that future BEYA generations will be reminded of their impact on innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM. Legacy Awards are given to individuals who embody an award’s namesake through their work history and contributions.
Electric Boat (EB) is proud to announce that Kamal Mohamed is EB’s first Legacy Award recipient, and has been honored with BEYA’s 2024 Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams Jr. Legacy Award. In a videotaped interview with Tracy Nixon-Moore, Workplace Culture and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Kamal speaks to what being the first EB recipient of a Legacy Award means to him. Kamal notes the parallels between his career journey and that of Vice Admiral Melvin Williams Jr., and explains the impacts this recognition has on him and EB.
Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams Jr.
Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams Jr. is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Him and his father, Melvin G. Williams Sr., are noted as the only African American father and son in U.S. Navy history, and both reached top ranks of vice admiral and master chief. The father-son duo are also co-authors of the book, Navigating the Seven Seas, which is a recommended read on the Navy Reading Program list. A nuclear-trained submariner, Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams Jr.’s career included service as an enlisted sailor and more than three decades as a commissioned officer. In 1994, he became the first African American to command a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, USS Nebraska (SSBN 739). As commanding officer of this ship, his team earned the top U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Strategic Performance Award in the nation—the Omaha Trophy. USS Nebraska was the first Ohio-class submarine to win this prestigious award for excellence.
Melvin is one of the “Centennial Seven”—the first seven African Americans to command a Navy submarine in the first 100 years of the U.S. Submarine Force. In 2006, he became the sixth African American to reach vice admiral rank, and in 2008, became commander of the U.S. Second Fleet, which oversaw 126 ships, 4,500 aircraft and 90,000 personnel home-ported at U.S. Navy installations along the East Coast. Melvin was a recipient of BEYA’s Professional Achievement in Government Award in 1995, and was inducted into the BEYA STEM Hall of Fame in 2011. He now serves on the Board of Directors for ISO England, Inc.
Kamal Mohamed
Kamal began his career at EB in 2010 as a systems engineer and has worked in numerous organizations across the company including engineering, program office and operations. Throughout his tenure, he has held positions of increased responsibility and has been promoted several times, most recently to ship’s manager of PCU Iowa (SSN 797) in 2020. One of the most difficult, important and visible roles at EB, Kamal’s tenacity and drive is crucial to being a ship’s manager. His leadership and determination has guided his team throughout the lifecycle of PCU Iowa.
Kamal’s ability to lead through adversity while maintaining morale was demonstrated through two major obstacles, the first being the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced him and his team to adapt to unprecedented changes to keep the workforce and submarine crew safe while continuing construction. The second obstacle came in February 2023, when during the coldest weather the EB shipyard had seen in years, the pontoon used to lower submarines into the water suffered a fracture. This resulted in PCU Iowa, which was next to the pontoon, having to be rolled back into the building. Kamal and his team pivoted and re-planned work to accomplish as much as possible on land while the pontoon issue was resolved. Under Kamal’s leadership, the Iowa will be more complete at launch than any other Virginia-class submarine before. These are just two examples of where Kamal and his team didn’t just survive during challenging times, but thrived and grew from them. These examples also demonstrate how Kamal leads in a manner whereby the entire team reaches goals that are greater than the sum of all the parts.
Kamal is a graduate of Business Leader Group (BLG) 10 and Future Leader Group (FLG) 9. He is a member of several employee organizations, including EB’s employee resource group (ERG), the Black Engagement Council (BEC).
Kamal and fellow Legacy Award recipients will be recognized at the BEYA HBCU Engineering Deans’ Recognition Ceremony taking place on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD, where they will be recognized for their continuous leadership, determination and success. General Dynamics (GD) will hold a separate ceremonial dinner on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum to personally recognize winners from GD business units.
Congratulations to Kamal on his honorable and distinguished achievement!
Click here to read about the Melvin G. Williams Jr. Legacy Award and Kamal Mohamed in the U.S. Black Engineer Information Technology magazine.
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→
Electric Boat featured in latest episode of ‘Cast in Steel’
General Dynamics Electric Boat is featured in the latest episode of Cast in Steel, a web series that showcases the leaders of America’s steel industry as part of their competition to promote careers in metalworking. The Cast in Steel team visited our Quonset Point facility to highlight how EB’s shipbuilders transform flat steel into nuclear...Continue reading→
EB’s Groton Shipyard Celebrates 100 Years of Submarine Construction
The first submarine ever built in Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard slid gracefully from its ways into the Thames River 100 years ago, taking to the water with “scarcely a splash” before a crowd of 1,500, according to newspaper accounts at the time. A century after the 800-ton, 200-foot-long R2 was launched, EB shipbuilders continue to...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
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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→
