EB President Mark Rayha being interviewed by Tina Detelj of WTNH-TV, News 8 Connecticut.
On Feb. 3, Electric Boat (EB) President Mark Rayha delivered annual legislative briefings to congressional delegations and local leaders in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Rayha provided an overview of EB’s business including an update on key programs, facilities expansion and the company’s hiring and training initiatives.
Rayha reiterated that the Columbia class continues to be the Navy’s number-one strategic priority. “These ballistic-missile submarines will replace the Ohio class and serve as the backbone of our nation’s strategic deterrent well into the 2080s,” he said. “Lead ship District of Columbia (SSBN 826) is 53% complete while the second, Wisconsin (SSBN 827), is 14% finished.” Electric Boat will build and deliver 12 of these ships through 2040.
Describing progress on the Virginia class attack-submarine program, Rayha said that four Block IV ships and 10 Block V ships are currently under construction at EB and Newport News Shipbuilding.
“Last year EB and Newport News delivered Iowa (SSN 797) and New Jersey (SSN 796) to the fleet. EB also completed the USS Montana post shakedown availability (PSA) and the USS Oregon will complete her PSA early this year. This year Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding will deliver the Idaho (SSN 799) and the Massachusetts (SSN 798).”
Rayha thanked the federal congressional delegations from Connecticut and Rhode Island for their efforts ensuring Congress passed funding measures to support submarine design and construction along with critical supply chain issues. “In all, the delegation’s efforts resulted in more than $24 billion in fiscal year 2025 funding for submarines,” said Rayha.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine now three years old and China growing its military capabilities, “our nation needs submarines more than at any time in its history,” said Rayha. “The world’s not getting any safer.”
Mark Rayha during briefing at Mystic (CT) Marriott Hotel and Spa, Feb. 3, 2025.
On hiring, Rayha said that EB had added over 4,100 new employees in 2024; approximately 56% were in operations and the remaining 44% were engineers, designers and those in other support functions. “This year, we expect to welcome an additional 3,000 employees to our team, which will make 2025 another significant year of hiring,” he said. “Our rate of hiring at Quonset Point will be roughly what it was in 2024. That number may fluctuate based on our ability to upskill and reduce attrition, which will increase the experience level of the shipyard. The rate of hiring in Groton will match the flow of our supply chain and align with the pace of modules from Newport News Shipbuilding and our Quonset Point facility. Despite a flatter trajectory early in 2025, the future continues to be bright in Connecticut as we continue to increase our hiring to meet the one-plus-two submarine objective.”
Rayha spoke to the importance of pipeline training initiatives in bringing high-quality, motivated new shipbuilders to EB. “These programs bring us the people who experience shipbuilding firsthand and decide it’s for them—they have the grit and perseverance to do this work. In the process, their lives change for the better and they experience how good it feels to do important work for our country.”
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
Electric Boat officially broke ground Friday on the Waterford Campus, launching the transformation of the former Crystal Mall into a center for innovation, engineering and high‑tech workforce development. EB President Mark Rayha underscored how the project will reshape the way the company designs, tests and builds submarines. Innovation is the key, he said. “There’s an opportunity to...Continue reading→
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
On Monday, August 3, 2026, Facilities will be relocating the Tech Stop currently located in Building 600 4th Floor East to its new location in Building 130-01 Classroom 7. During this time, please utilize the alternate Tech Stop location: B708 (625 Long Hill Road) Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm The tech stop will resume...Continue reading→
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→
