Five members of the Electric Boat Fire Department in Groton were recognized for perilous, life-saving rescues during a pair of multi-alarm fires that engulfed apartments in Groton and New London in 2025.
Firefighters Thomas Gugliotti, Arthur Keaten, Theodore Bartkoski, James Brady and Capt. Ryan Boulanger were each presented with Lifesaving Awards and the prestigious 2026 Operational Excellence Award, or OPEX, during a ceremony June 11 at the Groton firehouse.
“This should be a reminder that our firefighters do not just run into danger, they bring order, safety and hope to people on the worst nights of their lives,” said William Greenwood, EB’s manager of fire and emergency preparedness, who recounted the men’s heroics.
The first call came on a Saturday night in July: A fire in a large apartment complex on Union Street in New London. When the crew of EB fire engine D-12 arrived, firefighters including Gugliotti and Keaten were assigned to the third floor to search for victims. As they climbed the stairs through dense, acrid smoke, a panicked mother holding a baby fled past down the stairs.
Seconds later, a loud thud echoed through the smoky stairwell, followed by a desperate cry for help. The mother had fallen and the baby had struck its head against the wall. Gugliotti gathered the baby while Keaten got the mother back on her feet and guided her to safety. Both mother and baby were transported safely to L&M Hospital.
The second call came in October, just as the crew was preparing dinner before the end of their day shift. This time, a multi-family apartment on Broad Street Extension in Groton was burning and there were reports of people trapped inside. Upon arrival, the EB fire engine crew of D-12 were met with heavy smoke pouring from the building and an elderly woman clinging desperately to a third-floor balcony.
As the crew worked to free the woman, the balcony’s railing collapsed, pinning Bartkoski’s hand against the rescue ladder. The crew synchronized, freed Bartkoski and managed to bring the woman down the ladder to safety. Almost immediately they spotted a different couple trapped on an upper balcony on the opposite side of building. Gugliotti and Brady grabbed a ladder and safely evacuated both.
Ten cats and a dog were also rescued from the smoke and fire.
During Thursday’s ceremony, EB Director of Security David Konicki told the gathered firefighters that their work was deeply valued by Electric Boat and its leadership. He said they’ll soon see significant additional investments in personnel, equipment and training.
EB Fire Chief Mark Sicuso said the department’s men and women reflect a culture of competence, compassion and commitment — to each other and the community. “They don’t ask for applause,” he said.
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→
EB Team Visits Hypertherm as Part of Drive Toward Modern, Efficient Shipbuilding
A team from Groton and Quonset Point headed to New Hampshire-based Hypertherm Associates this week to get a closer look at a modern automated plasma gouging process designed to streamline hull fabrication. The visit was part of a broader effort across Electric Boat to bring more advanced, state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing tools into the shipyard. EB plans...Continue reading→
Kamal Mohamed Recognized as 2026 Hartford Business Journal 40 Under Forty Award Recipient
The Hartford Business Journal (HBJ) 40 Under Forty Awards recognize outstanding young professionals in the Greater Hartford area who are excelling in their industries through their leadership roles. They are driven by success, motivated by challenges and are role models for their peers. These individuals are part of an outstanding class of upcoming business leaders...Continue reading→
Electric Boat Joins Regional Leaders for Military Appreciation Breakfast
Electric Boat employees joined military and community leaders for the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s annual Military Appreciation Breakfast on Sept. 30 at Ocean Beach Park’s Port ‘N’ Starboard. The event provided more than 120 complimentary seats to active-duty service members from the Navy, Coast Guard and Connecticut National Guard. General Dynamics Electric Boat...Continue reading→
One Week Left—Let’s Claim the Torch! AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk: Final Countdown
We are just one week away from the 2026 AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk on October 3, 2026, at UConn Avery Point and this is our moment to finish strong. We’ve built incredible momentum, and now we’re within striking distance of something big. Right now, Electric Boat is holding second place, behind Mohegan Sun by...Continue reading→
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→
