Phebe Novakovic

Phebe Novakovic has served as Chairman and CEO of General Dynamics since 2013, bringing a unique background — she previously worked at the CIA and held senior Pentagon positions before joining the defense industry. General Dynamics is one of the top five US defense contractors, with a uniquely diversified portfolio that includes both premium business jets and the most classified military programs in the country. General Dynamics operates in four segments: Aerospace (Gulfstream — the world's leading large-cabin business jet manufacturer, with the new G700/G800 ultra-long-range jets), Marine Systems (Electric Boat — the sole builder of the US Navy's Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and a co-builder of Virginia-class attack submarines, plus Bath Iron Works building DDG-51 destroyers and NASSCO building auxiliary ships), Combat Systems (Abrams main battle tanks, Stryker armored vehicles, munitions, European vehicles), and Technologies (GDIT — IT services, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and mission systems for defense and intelligence agencies). The defense business benefits from a massive $90+ billion backlog, with nuclear submarine programs providing decades of visible revenue. Gulfstream adds a non-defense growth dimension with strong demand for large-cabin business jets. Key stock drivers include US defense budget trajectory, Columbia and Virginia submarine program execution, Gulfstream delivery cadence and new order rates, European defense spending increases (benefiting Combat Systems), GDIT contract wins, labor availability in shipyards, and the overall geopolitical environment driving defense spending globally.