Third Quarter 2018 Submarine South Dakota on Bravo Sea Trials in September 2018
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ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS | EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER EB NEWS ELECTRIC BOAT DELIVERS SUBMARINE SOUTH DAKOTA U.S. NAVY PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS MARK GONZALES RAISES THE COLORS OVER PCU SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790) IN GROTON’S GRAVING DOCK 3, MARKING THE SUBMARINE AS IN SERVICE. AT THIS MILESTONE, OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE SUBMARINE TRANSFERRED FROM ELECTRIC BOAT TO THE FLEET COMMANDER WHILE THE CREW ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE SHIP IN ADVANCE OF FIRST SEA TRIALS. THIRD QUARTER 2018 SUBMARINE SOUTH DAKOTA ON BRAVO SEA TRIALS IN SEPTEMBER 2018. ELECTRIC BOAT DELIVERS SUBMARINE SOUTH DAKOTA n September, Electric Boat delivered the nuclear-powered South Dakota will be the first Virginia-class submarine fit- attack submarine South Dakota (SSN 790) to the U.S. Navy. ted with acoustic superiority improvements —improving South Dakota is the 17th ship of the Virginia Class, which sensing with large-flank arrays and reducing her signature Iprovides the Navy with the capabilities required to retain with quieting and propulsion improvements. The improve- undersea dominance well into the 21st century. South Dakota ments will be complete following the ship’s post-shakedown is also the seventh of the eight-ship group of Virginia-class availability. submarines known as Block III. These ships embody a Navy and industry commitment to reduce costs while increasing A Series of Accomplishments Leading to Delivery capabilities through an initiative comprising a multi-year pro- In late June, after raising its ensign for the first time, the curement strategy, improvements in construction practices and South Dakota also became habitable, meaning the crew could the Design For Affordability program. live on board. The crew ate its first meal —surf and turf 2 | ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS | THIRD QUARTER 2018 —prepared in the ship’s galley. The ability to work and live aboard gave the crew the opportunity to become more familiar with the equipment before sea trials began in August. Alpha sea trials included a range of submarine and propulsion-plant opera- tions, submerging for the first time, and high-speed runs on and below the surface to demonstrate that the ship’s propulsion plant is fully mission-capable. The sea trials were directed by U.S. Navy Adm. Frank Caldwell Jr., director – Naval Nuclear Propulsion. Also participating in the sea trials were Capt. Jeffrey Heydon, supervisor of shipbuilding in Groton; and EB Jeff Geiger, president of Elec- tric Boat. South Dakota is NEWS commanded by Cmdr. Ron Withrow. Follow-on Bravo trials focused on acoustic and combat system CONTENTS performance. During the third sea 2-3 Electric Boat Delivers Submarine trial, the Navy’s Board of Inspec- South Dakota tion and Survey (INSURV) gave 4 Thank you From Our Customer the South Dakota a score of 0.95, 5 Why Our Work Matters the highest evaluation score ever FROM LEFT, EB’S SHIP MANAGER OF SOUTH DAKOTA, PETE 6-7 Focused On The Future— given for an EB ship. Electric Boat’s Program Integration Team DINAPOLI, AND CMDR. RON WITHROW, COMMANDING OFFICER “Delivering South Dakota is a New Name Chosen For Electric Boat’s OF SOUTH DAKOTA, CELEBRATE DELIVERY OF THE SUBMARINE. 7 significant achievement that rep- Concept Development Team resents the hard work and 8 First Group Of Operations Supervisors Graduates Career Development Program excellent performance of our shipbuilders, helps the Navy meet its shipbuilding goals 8 Interns Present Wild Ideas For Submarines and contributes to the nation’s defense,” said Geiger. He also recognized the contribu- 9 Students From UCONN Bridge tions of the Navy and the supplier base. Program Visit Electric Boat Virginia-class submarines displace 7,835 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a 9 The Ship Sailed Into EB diameter of 34 feet. They are capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots and can dive to a 10 Joe Courtney Speaks At Naval Submarine depth greater than 800 feet, while carrying Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes League In Groton and Tomahawk cruise missiles. 10 Communications Director Rides Along On South Dakota’s INSURV Trial 11 Marine Group Roundup 12 Teamwork Makes Milestones Happen 12 QP’S Aspire Group Recently Volunteered At Hasbro Children’s Hospital 13 Retirees 14-15 Service Awards 15 EB Ethics 16 The 2018 Employee Incentive Program ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS is published by the Public Affairs Dept. 75 Eastern Point Road • Groton, CT 06340 LYNN HENDY, Editor SYDNEY DAVIES, Contributing Editor SHIP’S MANAGER PETE DINAPOLI THANKS THE SOUTH DAKOTA’S BOB GALLO, GARY SLATER, (SSN 790) SHIPBUILDERS AND CREW. Photography Phone (860) 433-4683 Fax (860) 433-8054 Email [email protected] ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS | THIRD QUARTER 2018 | 3 THANK YOU FROM OUR CUSTOMER 4 | ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS | THIRD QUARTER 2018 what could be even better than helping wounded veterans is helping to ensure WHY OUR WORK MATTERS military members are not wounded in the first place. Creating complex machines that help protect our country and guaran- tee our soldiers return safely home to their loved ones in one piece is the ideal. I decided to accept the EB job offer work- ing with shock analysis, and I am proud to come to work every day knowing that the work I do helps those serving our country return safely to home port. For example, when the USS San Fran- cisco collided with an undersea mountain in 2005, my department’s work with tran- sient shock analysis was critical to ensuring that the losses endured were lim- FROM LEFT, SHANNON SULMASY, HER SISTER ALEXANDRA, HALF-BROTHER CALLUM, AND ited and the ship itself was sound enough FATHER GLENN. to be repaired. My department had com- BY SHANNON SULMASY prosthetics for veterans. This was my pas- pleted work that ensured that the sion since I had grown up around the submarine’s structure was prepared for am the daughter of mariners; my mother military, and as my father spent the later underwater explosions or collisions. Even was a Naval surface warfare officer and part of his career at the U.S. Coast Guard when faced with massive damage, the my father was a Coast Guard officer. Academy here in New London. I wanted submarine survived. IThey both served on ships in theater That is a tangible example of why the to support those who served. during Operation Shield/Operation Storm When I interned at EB, I thought it work my department performs matters to me, to Electric Boat, the Navy, the United and the Persian Gulf War. When I first would be a great way to gain solid experi- States, and all those families anxiously started college at Boston University, I ence for a future job designing and awaiting their mother, father, sister, broth- wanted to work on prosthetics and eventu- analyzing mechanical systems. But while er, friend, or child. ally start a nonprofit to help create working here that summer, I realized that BY CHRISTOPHER HATEM started at EB as an engineer. Now, as a front line supervisor with the outside machinists, I have interfaced with the Isailors who take our product into harm’s way. Working with the Navy per- sonnel who rely on our product and its systems to function correctly the first time has helped me put our work and how it matters into perspective. It has made me realize that there is only one option when performing our work on the boats – do the work per the procedure, or get help. We must present the customer with a ship that will consistently meet all requirements so that the Navy can rely on our product to protect the lives of the sailors who sail aboard her. D242 OUTSIDE MACHINISTS IN FRONT OF USS COLORADO (SSN 788) POST-SHAKEDOWN WE DELIVER THE ADVANTAGE AVAILABILITY BEFORE FLOAT OFF: FROM LEFT, MATT PEARSON, HENRY REARDON, ETHAN THAT PROTECTS OUR SAILORS, GENTILE, JOE MANKO, CHRIS HATEM, DENNIS GOODRICH, ANGELO TURANO, RICK BRAINARD, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR FREEDOM. KATHY SIKORSKY, MIKE FANTACCI AND NATE DISCUILLO. ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS | THIRD QUARTER 2018 | 5 FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE – EB’S PROGRAM INTEGRATION TEAM What Will EB Be Working substitute for personal engage- products or services. As a years ago. “Now, with peer on in 2040 and Beyond? ment to understand the Navy’s former Navy captain, Mike competition, the Navy is inter- n January 2018, the Pen- priorities and to convey EB’s also provides a unique war- ested in more capabilities on tagon released the new readiness to deliver new ideas fighter perspective to EB the boats,” said Moody. “We’re National Defense Strategy. and new capabilities that will decision makers. working on a double-digit The unclassified synopsis deliver the edge for the Navy number of new possible pay- I Payload Integration, loads to add to the Virginia.” states that the leading security and our company.” Business Development and Within PI, Paul Normand is threat to the nation is no lon- International DEEPCODE – Formerly director of Navy programs. He ger terrorism; it is great-power Jim Moody leads the pay- Known as Conform competition between the United interfaces with Navy members load integration, business “I have the coolest job at States, China and Russia. of the Senior Executive Ser- development and international EB,” said Matt Olander, who vice and other senior leaders in “China is executing a very team based in Groton. leads DEEPCODE, the team the Pentagon, along with Naval aggressive warship-building “Currently the ships go who develops the submarine Sea Systems Command (Nav- program,” said Ken Perry, out to sea with the same pay- ship concepts of the future. Sea). “It’s important to find out vice president of program inte- loads they’ve had for quite a “Submarines are going to face what the perception is of our gration (PI).