CEOINSIDER
← Leaders

Phebe Novakovic

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Dynamics · United States

✓ Verified current role· as of 2026-09-30

Phebe Novakovic is the CEO of General Dynamics (GD). Novakovic is based in the United States. Novakovic was born in 1957 in Pittsburgh and educated at Smith College and The Wharton School.

Former CIA operations officer and Department of Defense budget official who has served as chairman and CEO of General Dynamics since January 2013. She joined the aerospace and defense company in 2001 and previously held various executive roles including president and COO. Under her leadership, the company has doubled its market cap and achieved strong operational performance.

Recent developments

AI summary of recent coverage

Recent coverage of Phebe Novakovic has focused on General Dynamics' financial performance, including Q1 2026 earnings that beat estimates and strong full-year 2025 results with revenue and backlog growth. Additional coverage has highlighted stock transactions following option exercises and broader industry trends around defense contractor CEO compensation increases amid elevated Pentagon spending. Novakovic has also been featured in profile pieces and held leadership positions within industry organizations.

Summarized from the headlines below; see each source for the full story.

Born
1957 · Pittsburgh
Citizenship
United States
Education
Smith College, The Wharton School
Awards
Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women

Our coverage

On CEOInsider

No feature yet. When we publish a feature, interview or cover story on Phebe Novakovic, it will appear here — and tie into the news timeline.

Phebe Novakovic: FAQ

Who is Phebe Novakovic?
Phebe Novakovic is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics, based in United States.
What company does Phebe Novakovic lead?
Phebe Novakovic is CEO of General Dynamics.
Where was Phebe Novakovic educated?
Phebe Novakovic studied at Smith College, The Wharton School.