Connecticut Students Compete in Maritime Welding Competition & Career Discovery Event

Groton, CT – More than 150 Connecticut and Rhode Island students got an up-close look at careers in manufacturing and defense yesterday at the Maritime Welding Competition and Career Discovery Event sponsored by Project MFG, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and SENEDIA–The Alliance for Defense Tech, Talent, and Innovation.

Supported by the Maritime Industrial Base, Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, as well as esteemed guests from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Congress, this event showcased 24 students from six local schools: Bristol Technical Education Center, Chariho Regional High School, Howell Cheney Technical High School, Ella T. Grasso Technical High School, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, and Westbrook High School. During the competition, students competed head-to-head in a 2-hour challenge to demonstrate their welding and fabrication skills essential for shipbuilding.

At the end of the competition, Spencer Johnson from Howell Cheney Technical High School took home top honors in the welding competition portion, during which the students were timed and judged on their ability to weld a miniature submarine. Jered Minick from Chariho Regional High School and Thomas Maznicki from Howell Cheney Technical High School came in second and third place, respectively. Nicholas Doherty from Ella T. Grasso Technical High School was awarded an honorable mention for their efforts. The first and second place winners were invited to further compete in a National Champion ship for Maritime Welding in June at Ferris State University in Big Rapids Michigan.

In addition to the Project MFG Maritime Welding Competition, the event–hosted at Ella T. Grasso Technical High School–featured a Career Discovery Event, a networking and informational fair showcasing the work of and potential employment opportunities from regional suppliers in the submarine shipbuilding and defense manufacturing industry.

General Dynamics Electric Boat, a key sponsor of the event, also helped to connect students to the defense manufacturing industry through their inflatable submarine classroom and an advanced manufacturing trailer through their partnership with EASTCONN.

“As our nation’s first and finest submarine builder, we’re hiring at historic levels to build the submarines the U.S. Navy needs now and for decades to come,” said Mark Rayha, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. “It’s a great time to become a shipbuilder and pursue a rewarding, life-long trade career. Events like this are a great opportunity for Electric Boat to build its workforce and for students to take the next steps in securing their futures.”

“This is the third year that SENEDIA has partnered with Project MFG for this hands-on career exploration and skill building opportunity, and we continue to be impressed by the curiosity, talent, and drive of participating students as they begin to build their professional networks,” said Tim Fox, director of operations at SENEDIA. “The $119 billion defense cluster in New England supports more than 407,000 jobs across the region. We need a robust talent pipeline to continue to strengthen and grow the defense economy, and we need these kinds of programs to ensure young people have a pathway into the profession.”

Project MFG, a national organization focused on building the manufacturing trade workforce of tomorrow, hosts events like this all over the country. “In a region where defense constitutes a $119 billion economic impact, it made perfect sense for Project MFG to come to Connecticut and engage with the students here,” said Ray Dick, the founder of Project MFG. “The young people attending and competing in this event represent the next generation of submarine shipbuilding, welding, machining, logistics, and more, and we’re proud to help seed their interest, develop their skills, and build their confidence as they pursue a pathway to rewarding careers in the industry.”

Next week, Project MFG, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and SENEDIA will take the competition and employer fair to neighboring Rhode Island, with a similar event on Monday, 5 May, at the Providence Career and Technical Academy.