UConn students who pursue careers through the University\u2019s new undersea engineering program will play a vital role in our national defense and have opportunities to work on some of the most sophisticated submarines in the world, three members of Connecticut\u2019s congressional delegation said during a rare group visit to Storrs Friday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to about 200 first-year engineering students in the Torrey Life Sciences building, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, said UConn\u2019s role in training a new generation of highly skilled naval engineers is crucial to maintaining the state\u2019s future economic growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cNaval research, naval engineering, naval science has never been more important,\u201d Blumenthal told the students. \u201cThe research you are doing now and in the future will be the lifeblood of our national defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Courtney, whose district includes the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in the southeastern corner of the state, described the workplace as having a \u201cGoogle-like\u201d atmosphere, with waves of young engineers entering the industry and using the latest skills and technologies to build a new generation of submarines for the U.S. Navy. Electric Boat expects to hire 14,000 employees over the next decade to keep pace with government demand for new Virginia and Columbia classes of submarines.<\/p>\n