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 reset labs, to reset our ability to do advanced engineering and automation so that we do things smarter, we do things faster and we can deliver that many more submarines to the nation.”
The Navy’s recent $76.6 billion contract award will push submarine production to levels not seen since the Cold War, requiring new capabilities and expanded facilities. Converting a shuttered mall into a next‑generation engineering and training campus, Rayha said, reflects EB’s willingness to rethink how it operates to meet national defense needs.
A cornerstone of the new campus is the Shipbuilding Advanced Institute for Learning, or SAIL — EB’s training facility designed to significantly grow the company’s workforce development capacity. Courtney Murphy, director of workforce development and talent acquisition, said the groundbreaking marks “the start of a new chapter in how we grow, train and support the shipbuilders who carry our mission forward.” With 40 classrooms, augmented and virtual‑reality labs, hands‑on submarine mockups and a 73‑booth weld school, SAIL will support nearly 400 shipbuilders training daily across three shifts.
The Waterford Campus will play a central role as EB hires 8,000 new employees in 2026 and another 8,000 in 2027 to meet accelerating production demands.
Local and state leaders praised the project as one of Connecticut’s most significant adaptive‑reuse efforts. “Where most people saw an empty mall, we saw 900,000 square feet of opportunity,” said Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule, noting the campus’s impact on jobs, education and the region’s economic future.
Southeastern Connecticut’s congressional delegation lauded EB’s contributions to both the local economy and to the nation’s security.
“We don’t have gold mines, we don’t have the Grand Canyon, we don’t have tremendous national resources. What we have are really smart people,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. “And Electric Boat is attracting more and more of them and making use of skilled, adroit and hard-working people to make Connecticut great.”
Remembering September 11
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
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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.
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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→
