Electric Boat President Jeffrey Geiger talks with Rhode Island leaders about the submarine maker’s employment needs. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
WPRO News and The Associated Press
The president of Navy contractor Electric Boat is asking Rhode Island officials to help ensure there are enough qualified state residents to fill thousands of jobs needed to build submarines in the coming years.The Groton, Connecticut-based company employs about 12,800 people, mainly in Connecticut and Rhode Island. President Jeffrey Geiger discussed the company’s business outlook Thursday at a hotel in Warwick.About 3,400 people currently work at the company’s Quonset Point manufacturing facility. Geiger says he’ll need to nearly double the headcount to build a new class of ballistic-missile submarines.Geiger says it has been hard to find people with basic science, math and mechanical skills to hire.
Gov. Gina Raimondo attended the briefing and says she’s committed to fixing the problem.
