Groton, CT — The University of Connecticut, the University of Rhode Island, and General Dynamics Electric Boat have launched the ANCHOR program, a major expansion of their existing Navy STEM Coalition.
The announcement, held at UConn Avery Point, marked the start of new efforts to increase workforce training and education across the submarine industrial base in southern New England.
The ANCHOR contract — Advancing Naval Careers through Higher-ed Outreach and Research — will support the coalition’s long-term mission to grow a K–16 pipeline focused on naval engineering and skilled trades.
Since its founding in 2017, the coalition has engaged over 13,000 students through regional classroom visits, outreach events, and hands-on science programming. It has also trained dozens of teachers through short workshops and year-long residencies.
The coalition began under the leadership of faculty from both UConn and URI, and was initially funded by the Office of Naval Research. A 2021 expansion was supported by a grant from the DoDSTEM National Defense Education Program. The new ANCHOR contract builds on those efforts and will be directed by institutional leads from both universities.
The program will add new summer sessions for K–12 students, undergraduate researchers, and pre-service teachers. It will also offer scholarships and free options to reduce barriers to entry, with the goal of preparing a broader and more diverse talent pool for future employment in submarine production.
Electric Boat’s facilities in Groton and Quonset Point, the U.S. Navy’s nearby installations in New London and Newport, and the two public research universities form the center of the regional industrial base. The U.S. Navy estimates that over 150,000 new employees will be needed in the next decade to meet its undersea procurement targets. This makes early education and workforce alignment critical to maintaining national readiness.
In addition to early engagement, the coalition will support graduate education through partnerships with the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, which specializes in submarine research and development. The goal is to form a continuous talent pipeline from elementary classrooms to advanced engineering laboratories.
Several UConn and URI students were recognized during the launch event for contributions in engineering education and naval research. Their participation reflects the coalition’s multi-level approach to workforce development, with student mentorship now becoming part of classroom outreach.
The ANCHOR contract, managed by General Dynamics Electric Boat and funded by the U.S. Navy, represents the next phase of the coalition’s mission to sustain submarine manufacturing and innovation in the region.
