Electrical connector with retractable hood

An electrical connector (12) includes a housing (16) having an internal compartment (38). A dielectric insert (32) is held within the internal compartment (38) of the housing (16). The dielectric insert (32) includes an end face (50). An electrical contact (20) is held by the dielectric insert (32) and includes a mating segment (24) that extends a length outwardly from the end face (50) of the dielectric insert (32) along a connection axis (56). A hood (28) is held by the housing (16) and has an extended position relative to the end face (50) of the dielectric insert (32) wherein the hood (28) extends a length outwardly relative to the end face (50). The hood (28) extends at least partially around the mating segment (24) of the electrical contact (20) in the extended position. The hood (28) is retractable along the connection axis (56) from the extended position to a retracted position wherein at least a portion of the length of the hood (28) is retracted relative to the end face (50) of the dielectric insert (32).