Hi everyone; it’s Kevin. Today is Tuesday, April 13th (day recorded). I wanted to take a few minutes to share some thoughts on two important annual commemorations in the submarine community. This past Sunday, April 11th was National Submarine Day, which celebrates our nation’s purchase of the USS Holland, the first modern commissioned submarine and an important breakthrough for the U.S. Navy. The Holland is considered the world’s first practical submarine and is named for its inventor John Holland.
On National Submarine Day we honor the role the submarine has played in modern defense and the challenges our submarine crews have endured throughout the history of submarines. Over the course of the last 121 years, the men and women of Electric Boat have dedicated ourselves to making submarines safer and more capable, so that we provide our sailors with the greatest and most unfair advantage over our competition. All of this while keeping their safety top of mind. Please take a moment and view the short video on EB’s web page highlighting Electric Boat submarines and the people who build them.
April 10th, this past Saturday, is the day each year we pause to remember the loss of the USS Thresher and the 129 crew and civilian riders on board. On April 10th, 1963, USS Thresher had just completed a nine-month overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in which she received new electronic and sonar equipment and other upgrades and repairs. On that fateful morning, after Thresher had traveled approximately 220 miles off Cape Cod, she began a controlled dive in 100-foot increments. Thresher sent routine messages to the rescue ship, USS Skylark, and at 9:17a.m., Skylark received a garbled message: “…minor difficulties, have positive up-angle, attempting to blow.” Thresher went silent. Skylark attempted to regain contact but there was no response. At approximately 9:18a.m., Thresher was lost.
A court of inquiry gathered the facts and circumstances connected with the loss of the USS Thresher and death of personnel aboard to assign responsibility for the incident. The outcome was that responsibility could not be placed on any one individual or organization, but there were collective failures that most likely led to the loss of the Thresher. Examples included inadequate quality assurance, overconfidence in silver-brazed joints, lack of approved documentation on the ship, inadequate training and schedule pressure. What we do today, and every day since that fateful day, is intended to prevent another such tragedy. As we know, these themes are relatable to problem statements that we see on unplanned events experienced here at EB today, and we must be vigilant in their prevention. Never forget our priorities at Electric Boat: safety, quality, schedule, cost, and continuous improvement, in that order. Safety always first.
As a former submariner and as a leader of a company who builds and maintains submarines, I reflect on the important role our work plays in our national defense every single day. It fills me with enormous pride and a sense of enormous responsibility—emotions I know you all share with me. No matter what your job or role, every one of us has a responsibility to keep our sailors top of mind—that is our higher purpose. Let’s remember the sacrifice and legacy built by all who came before us, and let’s ensure we build on that legacy for all who will follow us.
Thanks everyone; we’ll talk again soon.
Rayha Report Ep. 20: 2026 EB Signing Days
Electric Boat held recent Signing Day ceremonies at Cranston West High School on May 21 and the Garde Arts Center in New London on May 28. EB President Mark Rayha spoke with students about their decision to join EB and educators who prepare their students for careers in shipbuilding. Click here to see the latest installment of the Rayha...Continue reading→
Save the Date: CT Health Fairs Kick Off June 9
A Message From Dan Vieira and Kathleen Heller At EB, Safety and Wellness go far beyond meeting basic compliance standards. Our focus is on building a culture where employees can thrive in every aspect of their lives. Prioritizing wellbeing is vital to being our best on the job and at home with our families. ...Continue reading→
Supporting Our Neighbors Impacted by The Ledges Apartments Fire
Early Sunday morning, a devastating fire occurred at The Ledges Apartments in Groton. Eighteen fire departments, including Electric Boat’s, responded. Thanks to the heroism of these first responders no residents were injured. The fire did, however, displace more than approximately 50 residents and destroyed or damaged 44 units in the building. Several EB employees were...Continue reading→
Pride Month Celebrations at Electric Boat
June 1st marks the start of Pride Month, a time for millions of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies around the world to come together in celebration and reflection. From film festivals and art shows, to marches and concerts, Pride is a vibrant tribute to LGBTQ+ culture, history and the relentless spirit of activism. It’s a chance...Continue reading→
Celebrating Our Next Generation of Shipbuilders
The Next Generation of Shipbuilders Takes the Stage Over the past two weeks, Electric Boat welcomed the next generation of shipbuilders at our Rhode Island and Connecticut Signing Day celebrations, marking the beginning of a journey that will help shape the future of our company and our nation’s defense. Held at Cranston High School West...Continue reading→
Update: Gold Star Bridge Project – Upcoming Traffic Impacts
CT DOT is preparing to enter the next major phase of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation Project, and employees should expect new traffic patterns that may affect travel to and from EB’s Groton and New London facilities. A crossover will direct two northbound lanes onto the southbound bridge, as shown in this CT DOT...Continue reading→
PCU Utah Floats Off
PCU Utah (SSN 801) floated off the pontoon in Graving Dock #3 on Sunday, May 17, her hull seeing water for the first time. Huge congratulations to every Electric Boat shipbuilder whose hard work and dedication brought Utah to this major milestone!
Pathways to the Deep Officially Opens at Mystic Aquarium
On Monday, May 11th, we officially cut the ribbon on Pathways to the Deep, a brand-new interactive exhibit at Mystic Aquarium that connects ocean science, technology, exploration and careers through hands-on learning and discovery. This collaborative effort between General Dynamics Electric Boat, Mystic Aquarium, the Submarine Industrial Base and Build Submarines was created to spark curiosity and...Continue reading→
Electric Boat featured in ADC’s ‘Homefront’ Video Series
General Dynamics Electric Boat is featured in the latest episode of the Association of Defense Communities’ (ADC) Homefront video series, which examines military communities across the country. The episode highlights Electric Boat’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Navy, the generations of shipbuilders who power our mission and the opportunities ahead for the next wave of...Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 19: Operations Leadership Hiring Initiative
In his latest Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha speaks with Chief of Talent Acquisition Meredith Kyle on the ways the company is boosting operations leadership hiring. Joining them is Konrad Wennberg and Mike Simmons, who provide insight on their internal moves from engineering to operations supervisor positions.
