Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 6, 2026 37 POWE R 50 | MANUFACTURING M ark A. Rayha became president of General Dynamics Electric Boat on Dec. 1, 2024, after a long career within General Dynamics spanning finance, operations and exec- utive leadership. He joined the company in 1989 at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, and later held senior roles at corporate headquarters and General Dynamics Mis- sion Systems before joining Electric Boat K irti Patel is Connecticut's chief manufacturing officer, leading the state's efforts to support and expand the manufacturing sector through the Office of Manufacturing within the Department of Economic and Community Development. He brings more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing, product development and business lead- ership across the life sciences, medical imaging, medical device and semiconduc- tor industries. R . Adam Norwitt has served as CEO of Wallingford-based Amphenol Corp. since 2009 and as president since 2007. He joined the company in 1998 as an intern in in 2020. He was named chief operating officer in 2023. Over the past year, Electric Boat reached major milestones tied to national de- fense priorities. The company complet- ed delivery of all modules for the lead Columbia-class ballistic missile sub- marine to Groton in 2025, and delivered the Virginia-class attack submarine SSN 799 Idaho to the Navy with the highest quality score awarded for that class of submarine. Looking ahead, Rayha said workforce growth and skill development remain the company's biggest challenge after adding 10,000 employees since 2015. At the same time, Electric Boat is invest- ing in advanced manufacturing technol- ogies such as additive manufacturing, robotics, drones, artificial intelligence and automation to accelerate subma- rine production. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Authenticity and being willing to listen, along with understanding and respond- ing well to changing workforce demo- graphics and varied worker experiences. What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut? Connecticut has a rich maritime history with deep generational roots in ship- building. The people of Connecticut are hardworking and genuine. Patel previously served as president and CEO of Eppendorf Manufacturing Corp. in Enfield and as general manager and vice president of Siemens Preclinical Molecular Imaging. Earlier in his career, he co-founded Sensant Corp., a medical device company later acquired by Siemens Healthcare, and began his career at Intel working in semiconductor manufacturing and process development. In 2025, the state's Manufacturing Innovation Fund supported 798 small and midsize manufacturers with funding for advanced manufacturing equipment and digital tools. The program also engaged more than 10,000 students in STEM path- ways. Patel said the sector continues to face workforce shortages, while opportu- nities lie in automation, digital transforma- tion and improving supply chain resilience. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Ability to lead with empathy, emotional intelligence and clarity of communication combined with a high level of adaptability and integrity. What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut? We have good people with a can-do atti- tude and respectful disposition, combined with a high quality of life. What is one change that would make Con- necticut more competitive economically? Reducing energy costs. Go-to news media outlet: The Economist Favorite podcast: "The Intelligence" from The Economist Asia focused on mergers and acquisitions and has since held a range of leadership roles, including general manager, group general manager and senior vice presi- dent, with experience based in both Asia and the United States. Before joining Amphenol, Norwitt prac- ticed corporate law with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Under his leadership, Am- phenol has grown into one of the world's largest manufacturers of interconnect products, including electrical connectors, cable assemblies, sensors and antennas, serving markets including communica- tions, automotive, aerospace, industrial and defense. Amphenol closed 2025 with record results, reporting full-year sales of $23.1 billion, up 52%, and adjusted earnings per share of $3.34, up 77%. Growth was driven by strong demand — particularly in the IT datacom market — and an active acquisition strategy, including five deals completed in 2025 and the early-2026 purchase of CommScope's Connectivity and Cable Solutions business. Norwitt serves as co-chair of AdvanceCT, Connecticut's public-private economic development agency, and sits on the boards of Georgetown University and the U.S.-China Business Council. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and French. Mark A. Rayha President General Dynamics Electric Boat Industry: Defense No. of employees: 25,000 Education: Bachelor's degree in business, University of Michigan; MBA, University of Michigan Birthplace: Detroit Kirti Patel Chief Manufacturing Officer State of Connecticut Industry: Manufacturing Education: Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, Mangalore University (India); MBA, Wharton School, University of Pennsylva- nia; master's degree in electrical engineering, Stanford University; master's in chemical engineering, University of California, Davis R. Adam Norwitt President & CEO Amphenol Corp. Industry: Manufacturing No. of employees: 170,000; 15,000 in U.S. Annual revenue: $23.1 billion Education: Bachelor's degree in international politics, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; law degree, University of Michigan; MBA, INSEAD (France) than 109 aircraft worldwide, demonstrated an autonomous S-70UAS U-Hawk heli- copter and unveiled the Nomad uncrewed aerial aircraft. The company also secured a multiyear contract to build up to 99 CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps at its Stratford manufacturing facility. Benton said one of the company's main challenges is recruiting and retaining highly skilled engineers and technicians, while its biggest opportunity lies in expanding air- craft capabilities to meet evolving military and commercial missions. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Ownership, accountability and the ability to anticipate are essential for effective leadership. We are one team. A win for one team is a win for us all; a loss for one team is a loss for all. What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut? Sikorsky's community involvement and so- cial impact. We partner with local academia from a STEM perspective to build our talent pipeline, and we are proud supporters of local military and veteran organizations. There is rarely a place I go in Connecticut that doesn't have some connection to Sikorsky and our mission. Book recommendations: "Turn the Ship Around" by David Marquet; "Extreme Ownership: How the U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin; "Team of Teams" by Gen. Stanley McChrystal Go-to news media outlets: Hartford Business Journal, Forbes, Axios and other industry publications. Hobby or leisure activity: Fishing, cycling and volunteerism Richard Benton Jr. Vice President & General Manager Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company Industry: Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing No. of employees: Over 9,000 Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, University of Florida; MBA, University of Florida R ichard "Rich" Benton Jr. is vice president and general manager of Stratford-based Sikorsky, a Lock- heed Martin company, within the Rotary and Mission Systems business area. He over- sees about 9,000 employees responsible for government and commercial rotorcraft pro- grams, including aircraft such as the Black Hawk, Seahawk, CH-53K, S-92 and S-76. Benton has more than 25 years of expe- rience in aerospace and defense, holding roles in program management, global supply chain, international capture and mergers and acquisitions. He previously led Lockheed Martin's Training and Logistics Solutions business and earlier served as vice president of transformation for Lock- heed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. Over the past year, Sikorsky delivered more

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