General Dynamics Electric Boat '15

represented by:
Sean Davies, General Manager - Quonset Point

Award Profile

Courageous Thinking and Actions
Since 1899, General Dynamics Electric Boat has established standards of excellence in the design, construction and life cycle support of submarines for the U.S. Navy. With a workforce of more than 14,000 employees, the company has long been part of the fabric of the local communities in both Rhode Island and Connecticut. Since beginning operations in 1974, workers at Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility have built and advanced the industry standard in manufacturing, outfitting and modular-construction for the production of Navy nuclear submarines.

Vision and Innovation
The company was established to complete a vessel that would revolutionize naval warfare, and Electric Boat submarines have since been employed to radically reshape naval warfare and maritime strategy while contributing to the victories in World War I, Word War II and the Cold War. During World War II, U.S. submarines played a pivotal role in the Pacific Campaign, where they accounted for 55 percent of all enemy vessels sunk, while comprising only 1.6 percent of Navy ships. At the peak of its wartime production, Electric Boat launched a submarine every two weeks. In the early 1950s, the company responded to an extraordinary new challenge from the Navy to design and build the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus.

Inspiring Leadership
Throughout its distinguished history, Electric Boat has been defined by its people, their skills and the legendary commitment they bring to their jobs. A tangible sense of pride runs through the entire work force - shipyard trades, designers, engineers and the rest of the disciplines required to produce what is arguably the most complex product built by man. Sean Davies’ commitment and leadership is one example. He began his career at Electric Boat in 1997 as a structural engineer supporting the Virginia-class submarine program. A native of Greensboro, N.C., he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in structural engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 2004 – after excelling in a series of operations and engineering positions – Sean began work in Electric Boat’s facilities department. He was promoted to Director of Facilities in 2009, responsible for docking operations, dock maintenance, transportation of submarine modules, facility maintenance, employee moves and capital budgets for the company. In 2012, Sean was again promoted to General Manager of Electric Boat’s Quonset Point manufacturing facility in North Kingstown, R.I.

Community Mindedness
In addition to Sean’s role in supporting Junior Achievement of Rhode Island as a member of the executive board and his membership on the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, Electric Boat supports the Rhode Island community through donations to the United Way of Rhode Island, Hasbro Children’s Fund, the Providence Journal Holiday Fund, the Frank Olean Center, Rhode Island Special Olympics, and Westerly Hospital. In addition, Electric Boat Quonset Point employees volunteer locally, and donated more than 200 turkeys during the last holiday season to the Johnnycake Center of Westerly. Electric Boat Quonset Point also works with high schools throughout the state to provide information about career paths and opportunities, and partners with nine technical and trade schools in Rhode Island to help prepare students for careers with the company. In addition, Electric Boat works with the New England Institute of Technology and Community College of Rhode Island on workforce development programs to ensure that hard-working Rhode Islanders will have opportunities at Electric Boat.

JA Mission Moment
Youth workforce readiness programs are key to the overall strategy in building a pipeline of skilled workers. At General Dynamics Electric Boat, we work with organizations like JA to provide youth with learning opportunities. Our young people are able to see, first-hand, how submarines are built. Students engage with our personnel, and learn about the different jobs on site. Providing opportunities like these to young people helps them connect what they are learning in school through the JA Job Shadow curriculum to a future career. Helping young people connect with caring adults who can provide advice and support about different jobs allows for students to leave our site with a clearer picture of what lies ahead of them as they start to prepare for college or enter the workforce.