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Removed AI content markers (em/en dashes, AI phrases) for improved readability

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:53, 22 December 2025
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	\| alma_mater = Smith College<br>University of Pennsylvania Wharton School		\| alma_mater = Smith College<br>University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
	\| occupation = Business Executive, Defense Industry Leader, Former CIA Officer		\| occupation = Business Executive, Defense Industry Leader, Former CIA Officer
	\| years_active = ~~1979–present~~		\| years_active = 1979-present
	\| employer = [[General Dynamics\|General Dynamics Corporation]]		\| employer = [[General Dynamics\|General Dynamics Corporation]]
	\| organization = General Dynamics Corporation		\| organization = General Dynamics Corporation
	\| title = Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		\| title = Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	\| term = January 2013 – present		\| term = January 2013 - present
	\| predecessor = Jay L. Johnson		\| predecessor = Jay L. Johnson
	\| board_member_of = General Dynamics Corporation (Chairman)<br>[[JPMorgan Chase]] & Co.		\| board_member_of = General Dynamics Corporation (Chairman)<br>[[JPMorgan Chase]] & Co.
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	=== Education ===		=== Education ===

	'''Smith College (~~1975–1979~~):'''		'''Smith College (1975-1979):'''
	Novakovic earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Smith College]] in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1979. Smith College is one of the premier women's liberal arts colleges in the United States.<ref name="bloomberg">[https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/5263947 Phebe Novakovic Profile], Bloomberg, 2024</ref>		Novakovic earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Smith College]] in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1979. Smith College is one of the premier women's liberal arts colleges in the United States.<ref name="bloomberg">[https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/5263947 Phebe Novakovic Profile], Bloomberg, 2024</ref>

	'''Wharton School MBA (~~1986–1988~~):'''		'''Wharton School MBA (1986-1988):'''
	After her CIA career, Novakovic attended the [[Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania]], earning her MBA in 1988. She attended Wharton alongside David Vickers, whom she had met at the CIA and later married.<ref name="fortune"/>		After her CIA career, Novakovic attended the [[Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania]], earning her MBA in 1988. She attended Wharton alongside David Vickers, whom she had met at the CIA and later married.<ref name="fortune"/>

	== Career ==		== Career ==

	=== Central Intelligence Agency (~~1983–1986~~) ===		=== Central Intelligence Agency (1983-1986) ===

	In 1983, Novakovic joined the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] as an operations officer. Her company biography confirms her CIA service, though like any good intelligence operative, she does not discuss her specific activities or assignments.<ref name="csis">[https://www.csis.org/people/phebe-novakovic Phebe Novakovic - CSIS], Center for Strategic and International Studies</ref>		In 1983, Novakovic joined the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] as an operations officer. Her company biography confirms her CIA service, though like any good intelligence operative, she does not discuss her specific activities or assignments.<ref name="csis">[https://www.csis.org/people/phebe-novakovic Phebe Novakovic - CSIS], Center for Strategic and International Studies</ref>
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	After earning her MBA, Novakovic worked at the [[Office of Management and Budget]] (OMB) as Deputy Associate Director, gaining experience in federal budgeting and government operations.		After earning her MBA, Novakovic worked at the [[Office of Management and Budget]] (OMB) as Deputy Associate Director, gaining experience in federal budgeting and government operations.

	=== Department of Defense (~~1997–2001~~) ===		=== Department of Defense (1997-2001) ===

	From 1997 to 2001, Novakovic served as Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, working under Secretaries William Cohen (Clinton administration) and Donald Rumsfeld (early Bush administration).<ref name="dod">[https://www.aia-aerospace.org/personnel/phebe-novakovic/ Phebe Novakovic - AIA], Aerospace Industries Association</ref>		From 1997 to 2001, Novakovic served as Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, working under Secretaries William Cohen (Clinton administration) and Donald Rumsfeld (early Bush administration).<ref name="dod">[https://www.aia-aerospace.org/personnel/phebe-novakovic/ Phebe Novakovic - AIA], Aerospace Industries Association</ref>
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	* Experience in government-industry interface		* Experience in government-industry interface

	=== General Dynamics (~~2001–present~~) ===		=== General Dynamics (2001-present) ===

	==== Vice President and early roles (~~2001–2005~~) ====		==== Vice President and early roles (2001-2005) ====

	Novakovic joined General Dynamics in 2001 as a Vice President, bringing her government and intelligence experience to the private sector.		Novakovic joined General Dynamics in 2001 as a Vice President, bringing her government and intelligence experience to the private sector.

	==== SVP Planning and Development (~~2005–2010~~) ====		==== SVP Planning and Development (2005-2010) ====

	From 2005 to 2010, she served as Senior Vice President of Planning and Development, overseeing corporate strategy and business development.		From 2005 to 2010, she served as Senior Vice President of Planning and Development, overseeing corporate strategy and business development.

	==== EVP Marine Systems (~~2010–2012~~) ====		==== EVP Marine Systems (2010-2012) ====

	From 2010 to 2012, Novakovic was Executive Vice President of Marine Systems, leading General Dynamics' submarine and surface ship building operations, including Bath Iron Works and Electric Boat.		From 2010 to 2012, Novakovic was Executive Vice President of Marine Systems, leading General Dynamics' submarine and surface ship building operations, including Bath Iron Works and Electric Boat.
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	In 2012, she was named President and Chief Operating Officer, positioning her as the successor to CEO Jay L. Johnson.		In 2012, she was named President and Chief Operating Officer, positioning her as the successor to CEO Jay L. Johnson.

	==== Chairman and CEO (~~2013–present~~) ====		==== Chairman and CEO (2013-present) ====

	Novakovic became CEO of General Dynamics in January 2013 and was also elected Chairman of the Board.		Novakovic became CEO of General Dynamics in January 2013 and was also elected Chairman of the Board.
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	'''Key acquisitions:'''		'''Key acquisitions:'''
	* [[CSRA Inc.]] (2018) – $9.7 billion IT services acquisition		* [[CSRA Inc.]] (2018) - $9.7 billion IT services acquisition
	* Mission-critical IT and cybersecurity capabilities expansion		* Mission-critical IT and cybersecurity capabilities expansion

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	=== Personality ===		=== Personality ===

	Colleagues and board members universally note her CIA background when describing her. Novakovic is known for her intense privacy and disciplined ~~approach—qualities~~ developed during her intelligence career.<ref name="fortune"/>		Colleagues and board members universally note her CIA background when describing her. Novakovic is known for her intense privacy and disciplined approach - qualities developed during her intelligence career.<ref name="fortune"/>

	== Board memberships ==		== Board memberships ==

	'''Corporate boards:'''		'''Corporate boards:'''
	* General Dynamics Corporation – Chairman		* General Dynamics Corporation - Chairman
	* [[JPMorgan Chase]] & Co. – Board of Directors<ref name="jpmorgan">[https://www.jpmorganchase.com/about/leadership/phebe-n-novakovic Phebe Novakovic - JPMorgan Chase], JPMorgan Chase</ref>		* [[JPMorgan Chase]] & Co. - Board of Directors<ref name="jpmorgan">[https://www.jpmorganchase.com/about/leadership/phebe-n-novakovic Phebe Novakovic - JPMorgan Chase], JPMorgan Chase</ref>

	'''Non-profit affiliations:'''		'''Non-profit affiliations:'''
	* [[Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation]] – Board<ref name="mcsf">[https://www.mcsf.org/leadership-staff/phebe-n-novakovic/ Phebe Novakovic - MCSF], Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation</ref>		* [[Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation]] - Board<ref name="mcsf">[https://www.mcsf.org/leadership-staff/phebe-n-novakovic/ Phebe Novakovic - MCSF], Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation</ref>
	* Aerospace Industries Association – Member		* Aerospace Industries Association - Member

	== Recognition ==		== Recognition ==

	* Fortune "Most Powerful Women" (annually)		* Fortune "Most Powerful Women" (annually)
	* Forbes "World's Most Powerful Women" – #29		* Forbes "World's Most Powerful Women" - #29
	* Fortune "Most Powerful People in Business" (2024)<ref name="fortune-2024">[https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-people/2024/phebe-novakovic/ Phebe Novakovic - Fortune MPP], Fortune, 2024</ref>		* Fortune "Most Powerful People in Business" (2024)<ref name="fortune-2024">[https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-people/2024/phebe-novakovic/ Phebe Novakovic - Fortune MPP], Fortune, 2024</ref>

Maintenance script: Major expansion: Added comprehensive infobox, CIA operations officer background, Smith College/Wharton education, Pentagon service, General Dynamics career from VP to CEO, Serbian heritage, strategic acquisitions, references per guidelines

2025-12-15T13:14:07Z

Major expansion: Added comprehensive infobox, CIA operations officer background, Smith College/Wharton education, Pentagon service, General Dynamics career from VP to CEO, Serbian heritage, strategic acquisitions, references per guidelines

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Maintenance script: Created CEO article for General Dynamics leader

2025-11-13T16:05:50Z

Created CEO article for General Dynamics leader

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'''Phebe N. Novakovic''' (born circa 1957) is a Serbian-American business executive serving as chairman and chief executive officer of [[General Dynamics]], one of the world's largest defense contractors. Appointed CEO in January 2013, Novakovic has led General Dynamics through major defense programs and business development while navigating complex political and budgetary environments.

{{Infobox person
| name = Phebe Novakovic
| image = Phebe_Novakovic.jpg
| caption = Phebe Novakovic, General Dynamics CEO
| birth_date = circa 1957 (age 67-68)
| birth_place = Serbia
| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American
| education = Smith College (B.A.)<br>University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
| title = Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
| company = [[File:General_Dynamics_logo.svg|120px]]
| networth = $100-150 million
| salary = 2023: $21.8 million
}}

== Career ==

Before joining General Dynamics in 2001, Novakovic worked at the CIA and in government relations. She rose through financial and strategic roles at General Dynamics, becoming CFO before being appointed CEO. She is known for disciplined capital allocation and strategic acquisitions including Gulfstream Aerospace and CSRA.

== Personal life ==

Novakovic immigrated to the United States from Serbia and maintains privacy about her personal life. She is one of the few female CEOs in the defense industry.

== Controversies ==

General Dynamics faces ongoing controversies typical of major defense contractors, including cost overruns on military programs and questions about defense spending priorities.

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:1950s births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:Chief executive officers]]
[[Category:American women chief executives]]
[[Category:General Dynamics people]]
[[Category:Serbian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Smith College alumni]]
[[Category:Wharton School alumni]]

Phebe Novakovic - Revision history

Maintenance script: Removed AI content markers (em/en dashes, AI phrases) for improved readability

Maintenance script: Major expansion: Added comprehensive infobox, CIA operations officer background, Smith College/Wharton education, Pentagon service, General Dynamics career from VP to CEO, Serbian heritage, strategic acquisitions, references per guidelines

Maintenance script: Created CEO article for General Dynamics leader