General Dynamics names Danny Deep as next CEO, Novakovic to move to executive chairman role
General Dynamics' board selected Danny Deep, currently company president, to become chief executive on Jan. 1, 2027. He will take over from Phebe Novakovic, who has led the company as CEO since 2013 and will become executive chairman. Deep has spent 25 years at General Dynamics, including roles as president of Land Systems and executive vice president of Combat Systems and Global Operations.
General Dynamics’ board chose Danny Deep to take the company’s top executive post starting Jan. 1, 2027. He is currently president and has worked at the firm for a quarter-century. His prior roles included leading Land Systems and serving as an executive vice president for Combat Systems and Global Operations.
Phebe Novakovic, who has served as chief executive since 2013, will move into the executive chairman position after Deep assumes the CEO role. The announcement was reported Oct. 7, 2026.
The leadership change at a large defense contractor could affect employees, suppliers, investors, and military customers as priorities and operations evolve. Communities tied to company facilities may feel indirect effects. Continuity in senior leadership may reassure stakeholders, while a new CEO could bring different emphases to programs and long-term strategy. Because General Dynamics works in national security, any shift may draw attention from policymakers and the defense industrial base.