To keep up with the new submarine demand, EB has been hiring and expanding its supplier base. Last year, it surpassed 17,000 employees for the first time since 1992, up by 1,000, Geiger said in January. Of that, about 12,000 are in Connecticut. EB hired 2,241 workers last year and expects to bring on a total of 1,400 this year, with 500 in Quonset Point, R.I., in addition to the 900 in Connecticut.