Diversity In Action

Electric Boat seeks engineers to work on its nuclear subs

With new Navy contracts to fill, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp wants 200 innovative, energetic and diverse engineers to come on board

In front of the USS Hawaii, SSN 776, at the EB waterfront are, from left, Debra Ann Gaynor, Courtney A. Murphy, Herbert C. Rattley Jr and Emmett E. Harper Jr.

Herbert C. Rattley, Jr began his career at General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) the day after he got his BSEE from the University of New Haven, CT. That was thirty-three years ago. Now Rattley is director of electrical design and engineering at EB, responsible for design and construction support for all electrical systems.

Rattley notes that EB has an immediate need for techies to support several recent multimillion-dollar government contracts. The company is looking for 200 engineers, both experienced folks and new grads. U.S. citizenship is required and so, eventually, is a Department of Defense security clearance.

"The engineers can be EEs, CEs, MEs or naval architects. The biggest need is in the power electronics division," says Rattley. "Ultimately these engineers will contribute to the development and application of advanced technology for design and construction of one of the most complex machines made by man: the nuclear submarine."

EB was founded in 1899, and delivered its first practical submarine to the U.S. Navy in 1900. In the years since then, EB has been at the forefront of innovation in submarine technology. Today it's one of just two U.S. firms that design and build nuclear subs.

EB's engineering and design organization is responsible for the development, production and lifecycle support of the nuclear subs. Its engineers specialize in nuclear marine propulsion, hydrodynamics, acoustics, shock and structure.

Courtney A. Murphy, senior engineer, has a BSCS from Siena College (Loudonville, NY). She grew up in the Groton area, working at the sub facility summers and school vacations. "EB is a very family-oriented company with multiple generations working here. Both my parents worked here for a long time," she says.

When she graduated three years ago Murphy started in IT at EB. Last year she began the company's rotational program. "So far I've worked in finance, and worked closely with purchasing. My new rotation is interfacing with HR and various engineering groups on other projects," she explains.

Rotations are offered to every new engineer. "It gives us the opportunity to learn firsthand the range of activities at EB," Murphy says. "We are also encouraged to do a rotation in the shipyard and actually get our hands on the products."

The number and length of rotations vary. Some engineers do four or more rotations; others find their first rotation a perfect fit. EB also offers several mentoring programs.

"We are committed to diversity," says Debra Ann Gaynor, HR specialist. EB has a long history of proactive recruiting, and works with minority technical societies like NSBE, SHPE, Inroads, the Woman of Color Award Conference and SWE. The company is especially involved with SWE; it hosts local chapter events, and sent company president John Casey to be keynote speaker at a recent chapter dinner.

Rattley founded the Groton chapter of EB's black engineering council in the late 1980s. "EB perceived a need for better utilization of black engineers in our company. They supported our early efforts to create this council, and they continue to support us today," he says, even sponsoring a council banquet. Among other activities, the council awards scholarships to talented black high school seniors in New London County.

As a part of General Dynamics, EB has that company's diversity policies in place. Emmett E. Harper Jr, EB's director of safety, industrial hygiene and human resources, says that in the past General Dynamics business units approached their diversity activities separately. But recently a drive at the corporate level resulted in joint sponsorship of several diversity events. "When General Dynamics hosted a booth at the Women of Color event in Atlanta, GA, EB and other business units sent representatives."

Harper has been with EB for thirty-two years. "The average length of service for our engineers is sixteen years," he says, "and the average service of a supervisor here is twenty-three years." Five people achieved fifty service years in 2006, he reports with pride.

"Not too many engineers working on something as complex as a naval submarine get a chance to see the actual product in operation," Harper concludes. "I can tell you that there is nothing more rewarding than watching a submarine that you helped design sail up the river."

D/C