General Dynamics Electric Boat

General Dynamics Electric Boat, a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation, has been the U.S. Navy's go-to submarine builder for over a century. Its main shipyard sits on the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut, alongside supporting facilities in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and a design and engineering hub in New London, Connecticut. The company is responsible for constructing some of the most advanced submarines in the world, including the Virginia-class attack submarines and the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, which are set to replace the aging Ohio class. With a workforce of more than 17,000 employees, Electric Boat is not just a manufacturer but a cornerstone of American naval capability, contributing significantly to the nation's defense strategy and the local economy of southeastern Connecticut.

Founded in 1899 by Isaac Rice, a chess master and lawyer with a sharp eye for naval innovation, Electric Boat built the USS Holland, the Navy's first commissioned submarine. That early success set the pattern for a company that would go on to launch the USS Nautilus in 1954, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, and the USS George Washington, the first ballistic missile submarine. These milestones didn't just change the Navy; they changed the nature of naval warfare, shifting the balance of power beneath the waves.

In 1952, Electric Boat became a division of General Dynamics, and it has operated as a key business unit ever since. Today, under the leadership of company president Kevin Graney, Electric Boat is in the middle of a major expansion. The Navy's push to rebuild its submarine fleet has brought a wave of contracts and hiring, with the company working to boost production rates while navigating the complexities of a strained supply chain. The work is demanding, but the mission is clear: keep America's undersea fleet the most capable in the world. [edit]