Hi everyone; it’s Kevin. Today is Thursday, June 24th. It’s been just over two months since we lost Smitty—Robb Smith—at Quonset Point on April 20th. In our safety stand-down following the tragedy, I asked you to re-commit to safety, and to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our goal for safety is zero injuries, and each of us needs to make this personal.
We’ve recently seen some positive trends with regard to safety. Our Recordable Injury Rate at Quonset Point is down 27%. Also, the number of fire incidents, electrical shocks, falling objects and controlled space violations at both QP and Groton are at an all-time low. While this trend is encouraging, it’s by no means a signal for complacency. We need to continue to adopt a total safety culture. That is, we individually do what we know is right from a perspective of being safe because we want to, not because we’re told to and because we’re looking out for one another – what I refer to as peer-to-peer accountability. We must get better at learning from safety incidents because the lessons we take away will allow us to continuously improve how we work. Expect to hear more about EB as a learning organization, particularly with regard to safety, in the coming weeks.
I’m also taking today’s podcast as an opportunity to tell you about our achievements across EB. On June 10th, SSN 791/Delaware floated off, a key milestone in completing her PSA. SSN 793/Oregon was approved to go in-service—that means the Navy crew is taking over in day-to-day operations on board— and SSN 795/Rickover is in shift work for initiation of Land Based Steaming, which we expect to start later this week.
The SSN 799/Idaho initial fill path continues to make progress with Controlled Pipe Joints at 13 remaining as the RT pass rate continues at 100%. We will achieve our milestone for initial fill on 799 well ahead of initial fill on the previous hull 798. That is something the EB team should be proud of because it is clear evidence of how better first-time quality enables better overall performance.
Down in King’s Bay, Georgia, we are completing the installation of a large vertical array on USS Tennessee. Our customer was concerned about ensuring we met the schedule for this installation because they needed to clear their dry dock to conduct repairs on it. I am pleased to report our team achieved the installation 10 days ahead of schedule using many of the same crew and lessons learned from the LVA installation on USS South Dakota right here in Groton.
At Quonset Point, Columbia’s Quad Pack 2 went to blast and paint with all hot work complete in support of the Integrated Tube and Hull build strategy. QP also accomplished the pairing of Columbia’s Quad 1 missile tubes 1, 2, 3 & 4 to the pressure hull inside the “F” Fixture.
For Block V, the hull 802 6/7 section was delivered to outfitting at 99% complete compared with 85% complete on the previous 801 hull, so some great progress being made hull to hull at Quonset.
On the South Yard Assembly Building, steel erection is moving quickly, and you can see changes in the EB skyline every day. For the latest aerial photos of the construction in progress, check out the Homeport photo library at the link we’ll provide in this transcript.
On Tuesday morning we marked the ceremonial start of construction for Building 604 in the Groton shipyard. When complete late next year, this 70,000 square-foot facility will house EB’s Radiological Emergency Response team, locally based Naval Reactors personnel, the Nuclear Test team and test training space, as well as the Emergency Command Center. These organizations are now located in several different facilities around our Groton site—co-location of these groups will increase efficiency and collaboration, and our new ECC will provide more modern working spaces for the multi-disciplinary team who would respond to any emergency in the shipyard.
While there are lots of opportunities to improve, I am proud to see this team work together to deliver the advantage that protects our sailors, our families and our Freedom.
Thanks for everything you do, and we’ll talk soon.
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→
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→
