SEC Filings

General Dynamics Picks President Danny Deep As CEO Effective January 1, 2027; Novakovic Becomes Executive Chairman

The board chose a 25-year company veteran to succeed Phebe Novakovic, who has been CEO since 2013 and stays on as executive chairman.

Matteo Parrino Jonathan Ponciano

Matteo Parrino, Jonathan Ponciano

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General Dynamics Picks President Danny Deep As CEO Effective January 1, 2027; Novakovic Becomes Executive Chairman

General Dynamics' board elected President Danny Deep, 56, as chief executive effective January 1, 2027, an 8-K filed Wednesday shows. Chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic will move to executive chairman on that date.

What the 8-K says

The filing, made under Item 5.02 (the section covering changes in senior officers), says Deep has been president since December 2025. He joined the board on August 5, 2026.

His earlier jobs, per the filing: executive vice president of Global Operations from June 2025 to December 2025, executive vice president of Combat Systems from April 2024 to June 2025, and president of General Dynamics Land Systems from April 2020 to April 2024.

The company's press release says Deep has spent 25 years at the company and that Novakovic has been CEO since 2013.

What the board and the executives said

Laura J. Schumacher, the independent lead director, said the board has "every confidence that he will continue the outstanding leadership and legacy that Phebe has exemplified."

Novakovic said she was "certain he will be an outstanding CEO" and looked forward to "continuing collaboration." Deep called her "an extraordinary leader for General Dynamics."

The release describes the company as a Reston, Virginia-based aerospace and defense firm with more than 120,000 employees worldwide and $52.6 billion in revenue in 2025.

What it changes for holders

The handoff is scheduled, not immediate: Novakovic remains CEO until January 1, and she stays involved afterward as executive chairman. General Dynamics shares closed at $326.63 on Wednesday, down about 1.4% for the session. The disclosure came after the close, so that move predates the news (market data).

The change comes days after a separate one. Breaking Defense reported that Amy Gilliland left as head of the company's IT unit, GDIT, with Paul Nedzbala named acting president until a permanent successor is chosen.

The next dated marker is January 1, when Deep takes the CEO title; the sources name no date yet for a permanent GDIT president.

Sources

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