Keeping Connecticut’s manufacturing tradition strong is key to the health of our economy, our small businesses, and our middle-class.
Growing up in East Hartford, with both parents working at Pratt & Whitney, John felt the importance of Connecticut manufacturing firsthand. It provided stability for his family during difficult times, just as it has for countless families across the state. That’s why no one has been a stronger advocate for our manufacturing sector and our manufacturing workforce.
John has delivered real results for Connecticut manufacturing workers, including in 2011, when he won the fight to scrap the Alternate F-35 Engine program.
The elimination of the alternate engine program was a truly pivotal moment for Connecticut’s economy and for Connecticut machinists. John’s victory secured Pratt & Whitney as the sole supplier of the F-35 engine, creating thousands of accessible, high-quality jobs across the state, and generating an estimated $750 million in economic activity in the 1st Congressional District alone. When the commercial airline industry was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, not a single F-35 machinist was laid off, because of the lasting and unwavering nature of this program.
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus, John has continued to protect the the program from repeated attempts to create costly and unnecessary alternatives. His efforts alongside the rest of the Connecticut delegation ensured that, last December, the Pentagon named Pratt & Whitney as the sole-supplier for F-35 engine modernization work, securing the livelihoods of thousands of manufacturing workers across the state.
Beyond his commitment to supporting F-35 engine production, John is dedicated to keeping Connecticut at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and technological innovation. That’s why he established the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), alongside longtime CCAT President Elliott Ginsburg. CCAT provides technical support to dozens of smaller CT manufacturers, runs various programs to train and upskill workers across the state, and conducts ground-breaking research in areas like aerospace, defense, and energy. Connecticut leads the world in high performance manufacturing and CCAT is helping maintain that edge!
Working together, John, CCAT, machinists, and Connecticut’s small and large manufacturers are ensuring our state remains a global leader in advanced manufacturing. These efforts are not only growing our economy but also helping more families across the state experience the stability and opportunity that manufacturing provided John’s own family.