Table of Contents

UNITED STATES


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTIONProxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OFof the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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☐  Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒  

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

☐  Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material

      Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12

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General Dynamics Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified inIn Its Charter)


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Table of Contents

2020

Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement

 

 (3)Filing Party:

 (4)Date Filed:



LOGOTable of Contents

Letter to Our Shareholders

March 21, 201926, 2020

Dear Fellow Shareholder:DEAR FELLOW SHAREHOLDER:

We are pleased to send you the 20192020 General Dynamics Proxy Statement. We remain committedOur commitment to sound corporate governance and to athe strong link between executive pay and company performance inremains a constant tenet of how we manage your company. Details of our compensation program. The details of ourcorporate governance and executive compensation programsprogram are contained in this Proxy Statement and referenced documents.

Strong 2018 Performance. Our company’s 2018 financial results reflected solid performance across our businesses. Growth in a number of metrics – revenue, operating earnings, earnings from continuing operations, earnings per share – resulted from organic growth as well as our acquisition of CSRA Inc. in April 2018, the largest acquisition in the company’s history. Gulfstream delivered 10 of its new G500 aircraft and continued toward certification of the G600. In the defense businesses, significant backlog growth supports future growth opportunities.

Robust Shareholder Engagement and Responsiveness. Shareholder engagement remains a key focus for our company to ensure we are aware of your top priorities. With feedback received from shareholders, the advisory vote on executive compensation at the 2018 annual meeting and a review of market practices, the Compensation Committee approved changes to our executive compensation program that are directly responsive to shareholder input. The changes are discussed in this proxy statement and further evidencereferenced documents.

2019 Performance
We had a strong year in 2019 in many key respects. Revenue reached $39.4 billion with contributions from each of our commitmentreporting segments. Operating earnings increased to long-term, performance-based compensation.$4.6 billion, or 4.3%, and importantly diluted earnings per share from continuing operations rose $0.76 above 2018. We also engagedenjoyed very strong order intake, particularly in our Aerospace and Marine Systems segments, resulting in a backlog of $86.9 billion, a new high. Our increased backlog and strong financial performance position us well for 2020 and beyond.

Shareholder Engagement
We vigorously engage with our shareholders in 2018 onto ensure that we understand your top priorities. We use your input to inform our thinking and our actions. In 2019 you shared a number of other important topics, including our acquisition of CSRA, recent achievements in our business, our strong corporate governance and shareholder rights, executive compensation and corporate responsibility and sustainability. Sustainability is an area of growing importance for many of you, with particular emphasis on environmental and social matters. We agree, and we have provided additional information in this proxy statement. We look forward to continuing our dialogue throughout the year and in the future. Your company and Board remain committed to sustainable business practices human capital management andto support the long-term health of our corporate sustainability program. We continue to value the input we receive from our shareholders.company.

Highly EngagedBoard Engagement and Well-Qualified Board.Qualifications
Our Board continues to reflect aconsists of diverse and well-qualified group of business leaders, aerospace and defense industry experts and financial and strategic advisors. ToTwo directors joined our Board in 2019: Cecil Haney in March and James Mattis in August. Both directors bring extensive knowledge of U.S. defense and security policy and capabilities, including cybersecurity. Additionally, in February 2020 John Stratton joined our Board, bringing strong business, corporate governance and technology experience to our Board. These changes reflect our deliberate and thoughtful process to ensure that ouryour Board of Directors continues to represent diverse skillsprovide experienced, strategic leadership for our company across a broad array of areas, including operational, technological, social and experiences, we have added several new directors over the past several years. Our newest director, Cecil Haney, brings valuable insight as to the needs of one of our largest customers, the U.S. Navy, as well as important knowledge about advanced technology and national security matters.financial issues.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I invite you are invited to attend the 20192020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and, even ifShareholders. If you are not ableunable to attend, encourage you toplease vote by proxy. The accompanying Proxy Statementproxy statement contains information about the matters on which you are asked to vote. I urge you to read the materials carefully and vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. Your vote is very important.

Sincerely,


LOGO

Phebe N. Novakovic


Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100

Falls Church, Virginia 22042


LOGO

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 1, 2019

The2020 Proxy Statement       and 20181


Table of Contents

Notice of Annual Report are Available at

www.generaldynamics.com/2019proxy

You are invited to our Annual Meeting
of Shareholders of General Dynamics Corporation, a Delaware corporation,

Date and Time
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
9 a.m. local time

Location*
General Dynamics
3150 Fairview Park Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Who Can Vote
Shareholders as of
March 9, 2020, are entitled
to vote


Proposal

Board Recommendation

Additional Information

1.Election of Directors

“FOR”each nominee

See pages 12 through 21 for more information on the nominees

2.Advisory Vote on the Selection of Independent Auditors

“FOR”

See page 35 for details

3.Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

“FOR”

See page 38 for details

4.Shareholder Proposal – Special Shareholder Meetings

“AGAINST”

See pages 75 through 77 for details

Shareholders will also act on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at 9 a.m. local time at the General Dynamics Corporation headquarters located at 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, Virginia. Proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting include:

the election of 11 directors from the nominees named in the Proxy Statement (proposal 1);

an advisory vote on the selection of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as the company’s independent auditors for 2019 (proposal 2);

an advisory vote to approve executive compensation (proposal 3);

the approval of the General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan (proposal 4);

a shareholder proposal as described in this Proxy Statement, provided it is presented properly at the meeting (proposal 5); and

the transaction of all other business that properly comes before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote AGAINST proposal 5.

Shareholders may raise other matters as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

The Board of Directors set the close of business on March 7, 2019,9, 2020, as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Please complete, sign and return a proxy card or use the telephone or Internet voting systems.

A copy of the 20182019 Annual Report accompanies this Notice and Proxy Statement and is available on the website listed above.

below.

By Order of the Board of Directors,


LOGO

Gregory S. Gallopoulos


Secretary

Falls Church, Virginia

March 21, 2019

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


LOGO

Table of Contents

Reston, Virginia
March 26, 2020

HOW TO VOTE

Internet
Access www.ProxyVote.com and follow the instructions.

Telephone
Call 1-800-690-6903 if you are a registered holder. If you are a beneficial holder, call the phone number listed on your voter instruction form.

Proxy Summary

  1 

Mail
Sign and date each proxy card received and return each card using the prepaid postage envelope.

In Person
Attend the Annual Meeting and vote by ballot.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 6, 2020

The Proxy Statement and 2019 Annual Report are Available at www.gd.com/2020proxy



*

Voting MattersAs part of our precautions regarding the coronavirus or COVID-19, we are planning for the possibility that the annual meeting may be held solely by means of remote communication. If we take this step, we will announce the decision to do so in advance, and Board Recommendationsdetails on how to participate will be available at www.gd.com/proxy.

2       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

11LETTER TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS
2NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

2019 Board of Directors Nominees3

2TABLE OF CONTENTS
4PROXY SUMMARY

A Commitment to Sound Corporate Governance11

3CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
12ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

Corporate Governance Highlights12

4Director Nominations
13Director Skills and Experience

Shareholder Engagement14

5Board Diversity and Inclusion
14Director Retirement Policy

Performance and Executive Compensation Highlights15

72020 Director Nominees
21Director Independence

Election of21

Nominees to the Board of Directors of the CompanySubmitted by Shareholders

8
22GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY

Governance of the Company22

14

Our Commitment to Strong Corporate Governance

14
22

Our Culture of Ethics

14
23

Board Leadership Structure

15
24Board Committees

Director Independence26

16Risk Oversight
28

Board Meetings, Attendance, Business Unit Visits and AttendanceExecutive Sessions

17
28Shareholder Outreach and Engagement

Executive Sessions of the Board30

17

Board Committees

17

Risk Oversight

19

Director Orientation and Continuing Education

20
31

Board and Committee Performance Self-AssessmentsAssessments

20
31

Communications with the Board

20
32

Related Person Transactions Policy

21
33

Director Compensation

22
34

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

23
35ADVISORY VOTE ON THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Director Compensation Table36

23Audit and Non-Audit Fees
36Auditor Independence

Advisory Vote36

Policy on the Selection of Independent AuditorsPre-Approval

24
37

Audit Committee Report

25
38ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation39

26COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
60EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis60

27Summary Compensation
612019 Equity-Based Awards

Executive Summary62

28Option Exercises and Stock Vested
63Outstanding Equity Awards

Executive Compensation Philosophy65

31Company-Sponsored Retirement Plans
67Nonqualified Defined-Contribution Deferred Compensation

Shareholder Engagement68

32Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
71Pay Ratio Results

The Compensation Process71

33

Components of Executive Compensation and Alignment with Company Performance

36

Other Considerations

43

Executive Compensation

46

Compensation Committee Report

57��
72SECURITY OWNERSHIP

72

Security Ownership of Management

58
73

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

59
74

Equity Compensation Plan Information

59
75SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL - SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

Approval of General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan75

60Proposal and Supporting Statement
76Statement by Your Board of Directors against the Shareholder Proposal

Shareholder Proposal – Independent Board Chairman78

62INFORMATION REGARDING THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
78Annual Meeting Attendance

78

Voting
80Vote Required
82Information Regarding theOTHER INFORMATION
82Additional Shareholder Matters
82Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
82Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominees For 2021 Annual Meeting and Votingof Shareholders

65
82Annual Report on Form 10-K

Other Information82

68Delivery of Documents to Shareholders Sharing an Address
83

Appendix A – Use ofNon-GAAPAPPENDIX A: USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Financial Measures

A-1

Appendix B – General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan

B-1

General Dynamics 20192020 Proxy Statement3



General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     1

PROXY STATEMENTTable of Contents

The Board of Directors of General Dynamics Corporation is soliciting your proxy for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 1, 2019, at 9 a.m. local time, or at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and proxy card are being distributed on or about March 21, 2019, to holders of General Dynamics common stock, par value $1.00 per share (Common Stock).

PROXY SUMMARYSummary

This summary highlights selected information that is provided in more detail throughout this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before voting. You should read the full Proxy Statement before casting your vote.

VOTING MATTERSAND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONSVoting Matters and Board Recommendations

At this year’s Annual Meeting, we are asking shareholders of our shareholdersCommon Stock, par value $1.00 per share (Common Stock) to vote on the following matters:

PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board recommends a voteFORall director nominees.See Page 12

PROPOSAL 2
ADVISORY VOTE ON THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board recommends a voteFORthis proposal.See Page 35

PROPOSAL 3
ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Board recommends a voteFORthis proposal.See Page 38

PROPOSAL 4
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL – SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
The Board recommends a voteAGAINSTthis proposal.See Page 75

4       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Proxy Summary

Who We Are

Overview of Our Business and Strategy

General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company. From Gulfstream business jets and combat vehicles to nuclear-powered submarines and communications and networking systems, our customers depend on our products and services for their safety and security. Our portfolio spans the world’s most technologically advanced business jets, wheeled combat vehicles, command and control systems and nuclear submarines. We offer these through our five business segments: Aerospace, Combat Systems, Information Technology, Mission Systems and Marine Systems.

We have a balanced business model which gives each business unit flexibility to stay agile and maintain an intimate understanding of customer requirements. Each business unit is responsible for the execution of its strategy and operational performance. Our corporate leaders set the overall strategy and governance for the company and are responsible for allocating and deploying capital. Our ethos — based on honesty, transparency, trust and alignment — undergirds our culture, our business model and our decision-making. This unique model keeps us focused on our priorities: exceeding customer expectations; executing on backlog; managing costs; implementing continuous improvement; and maximizing earnings, cash and return on invested capital.

2019 Financial Highlights

Delivering Long-Term Shareholder Value

Our focused commitment to operating performance drove each of our five business segments to deliver higher revenues and earnings in 2019.Earnings per shareadvanced by 6.8% to $11.98 on record-high sales of $39.4 billion. Ourbacklogalso reached an all-time high of $86.9 billion, driven in part by a $22.2 billion award from the U.S. Navy for the advanced capability Block V Virginia-class Submarine. Our Aerospace business expanded its portfolio of offerings and its backlog rose by nearly $2 billion. To support our growing businesses, we invested $987 millionin new facilities and capabilities. We increased ourdividendby 10% in 2019 over 2018, marking the 22nd consecutive annual increase.

REVENUE
$39.4 billion
Record-highrevenue for the company; increased 8.7% over 2018; all five segments expanded

DILUTED EPS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
$11.98
Record-highEPS for the company; up 6.8% over 2018

CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$3 billion
Supports ongoing investment in the business

QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS
$1.02 per share
22nd consecutive year with a dividend increase

DIVIDEND HISTORY
(Quarterly)


EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
$3.5 billion
Record-highearnings for the company; increased 3.8% over 2018

OPERATING MARGIN
11.8%
Continued to generate industry-leading operating margin*

RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL**
14%
Generated strong return while investing in the continued profitable growth of our company

ORDER BACKLOG
$86.9 billion
Record-highbacklog for the company; Increased 28.1% over 2018


*Peer information adjusted to exclude Financial Accounting Standards/Cost Accounting Standards pension impact for comparability purposes.
**See Appendix A for a discussion of this non-GAAP measure.

2020 Proxy Statement       5


Table of Contents

Proxy Summary

2020 Board of Director Nominees

IndependentDirector
Since
Other Public
Company
Boards
Committee Membership
Name and Primary Occupation                  AC    CC  FBPCNCGC
James S. Crown
Lead Director Chairman and CEO, Henry Crown and Company
19871
Rudy F. deLeon
Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
2014
Cecil D. Haney
Retired Admiral, U.S. Navy
2019
Mark M. Malcolm
Former President and CEO, Tower International
2015
James N. Mattis
Former United States Secretary of Defense and Retired General, U.S. Marine Corps
2019
Phebe N. Novakovic
Chairman and CEO, General Dynamics
20121
C. Howard Nye
Chairman, President and CEO, Martin Marietta Materials
20181
William A. Osborn
Former Chairman and CEO, Northern Trust Corporation
20092
Catherine B. Reynolds
Chairman and CEO, EduCap
20171
Laura J. Schumacher
Vice Chairman, External Affairs and Chief Legal Counsel, AbbVie
2014
John G. Stratton
Former Executive Vice President and President of Global Operations Verizon Communications
20201

Peter A. Wall
Retired General, British Army

2016

ACAudit CommitteeCommittee Chair
CCCompensation CommitteeCommittee Member
FBPCFinance and Benefit Plans Committee
  PROPOSALNCGCBOARD
RECOMMENDATION
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

6       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Proxy Summary

Composition of the General Dynamics Board

(As Nominated for Election at the Annual Meeting)

Proposal 1:DIRECTOR TENURE
Election of Directors

     FOR each nominee

See pages 8 through 13 for more    
information on the nominees

AGE
6.4Years
average Tenure
63.7Years
average Age

Proposal 2:
Advisory Vote on the Selection of Independent Auditors

FORSee page 24 for details

Proposal 3:
Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

FORSee page 26 for details

Proposal 4:

Approval of General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan

FORSee pages 60 and 61 for details

Proposal 5:

Shareholder Proposal – Independent Board Chairman

AGAINSTSee pages 62 through 64 for
details

ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION

Date

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Time

9 a.m. local time

Location

2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, Virginia

How to Vote

  

  By Internet

 
AN INDEPENDENT BOARD

Access www.ProxyVote.com.

GENDER DIVERSITY

11  By Telephoneof 12
Nominees are Independent

3of 12
Nominees are Women

GUIDED BY EXPERTISE – KEY BOARD SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

      

Call1-800-690-6903 if you are a registered holder. If you are a beneficial holder, call the phone number listed on your voter instruction form.

  By Mail

      

Sign and date each proxy card received and return each card using the prepaid postage envelope.

  In Person

      

Attend the Annual Meeting and vote by ballot.

Additional information about the Annual Meeting and voting can be found beginning on page 65.


Proxy Summary

2019 BOARDOF DIRECTORS NOMINEES

DIRECTOR NOMINEES

 

 

 

OTHER
PUBLIC
COMPANY
BOARDS

   NOMINEE

 

  DIRECTOR  

  SINCE  

 

  INDEPENDENT  

  

PRIMARY OCCUPATION

 

James S. Crown*

 

 

 

1987

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Chairman and CEO, Henry Crown and Company

 

 

 

       1

 

 

Rudy F. deLeon

 

 

 

2014

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

 

 

 

Cecil D. Haney

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Retired Admiral, U.S. Navy

 

 

 

Lester L. Lyles

 

 

 

2003

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Retired General, U.S. Air Force

 

 

 

       1

 

 

Mark M. Malcolm

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Former President and CEO, Tower International

 

 

 

       1

 

 

Phebe N. Novakovic

 

 

 

2012

 

   

 

Chairman and CEO, General Dynamics

 

 

 

       1

 

 

C. Howard Nye

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Chairman, President and CEO, Martin Marietta Materials

 

 

 

       1

 

 

William A. Osborn

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Former Chairman and CEO, Northern Trust Corporation

 

 

 

       2

 

 

Catherine B. Reynolds

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Chairman and CEO, EduCap

 

 

 

       1

 

 

Laura J. Schumacher

 

 

 

2014

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Vice Chairman, External Affairs and Chief Legal Counsel, AbbVie

 

 

 

Peter A. Wall

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

Yes

 

  

 

Retired General, British Army

 

  
*

Lead Director

LOGO

EXTENSIVE GOVERNANCE EXPERIENCE      STRONG INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

LOGO

LOGO

Nineof our nominees have strong corporate governance and public company board experience

Fiveof our nominees have served in top leadership posts in the military or U.S. Department of Defense

BALANCED DIRECTOR TENURESTRONG BOARD DIVERSITY

LOGO

LOGO

2     General Dynamics 20192020 Proxy Statement7


Table of Contents


Proxy Summary

A COMMITMENTTO SOUND CORPORATE GOVERNANCECommitment to Sound Corporate Governance

Our Board of Directors believes that a commitment to good corporate governance enhances shareholder value. Sound corporate governance starts with a strong value system, and the value system starts in the boardroom. The General Dynamics ethosEthos – our distinguishing moral nature – is rooted in four overarching values.

LOGO

These values:

drive how we operate our business

govern how we interact with each other and our customers, partners and suppliers

guide the way we treat our workforce

determine how we connect with our communities

drive how we operate our business
govern how we interact with each other and our customers, partners and suppliers
guide the way we treat our workforce
determine how we connect with our communities

Adherence to our ethos ensures that we continue to be good stewards of the investments in us by our shareholders, customers, employees and communities.

8       General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     3


Table of Contents


Proxy Summary

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Corporate Governance Highlights of our governance practices include:

Governance PracticeFor more information

GOVERNANCE PRACTICE

    FORMOREINFORMATION  
LOGO

Market-leading stock ownership requirementsfor our executive officers require them to hold shares of our Common Stock worth eight to 15 times base salary. Director stock ownership guidelines provide that our directors should hold shares of our Common Stock having a value of at least eight times the annual retainer.

    P. 4459


Weprohibit hedgingand pledgingof our Common Stock by directors and executive officers.

P. 4458
LOGO

  ThoughtfulBoard refreshment, with seven directors added over the past five years.

 
ThoughtfulBoard refreshment, leading to average tenure of 6.4 years and supporting continued strongBoard diversity.P. 27

Anindependent Lead Directorwith a robust set of responsibilities is elected annually by the Board and provides additional independent oversight of senior management and board matters.

P. 1523

  TenEleven of our 1112 director nominees areindependent. All of our Board committees are chaired by independent directors and are 100 percent100% independent.

P. 16,17

21

Ournon-management directors meet inexecutive session,without management present,following each regularly scheduled meeting, presided by the Lead Director.

P. 1728

Our directorsattended 100 percenton average more than 86% of boardBoard and committee meetingsin 2018.

2019, with all directors attending 100% of Board meetings.P. 1728

DiligentBoard oversight of riskis a cornerstone of our risk management program.

P. 1926

AnnualBoard and committee self-assessmentsenable the Board tomonitorto monitor the performance and effectiveness of the Board and its committees.

P. 2031

Ourrelated person transactions policyensures appropriate Board review of related person transactions.

P. 21

32

Our directors areelected annuallybased on amajority voting standardstandardfor uncontested elections. We have aresignation policy if a director fails to receive a majority of votes cast.

P. 67

80 Bylaws*

Our directors are restricted in the number of other boards on which they may serve toprevent overboarding (directors may not serve on more than four other public company boards and Audit Committee members may not serve on the audit committee of more than two other public companies).

Corporate Governance Guidelines*CGG*
LOGO 

Our updatedCorporate Sustainability Reportdiscussesour ethos,Ethos, our commitment to our stakeholders and communities and our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

www.gd.com/ResponsibilityCSR**

Ourethics programincludes strong Codes of Ethics for all employees globally, with specific codes for our directors and financial professionals.

Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct*GD Website**
Codes of Ethics**

Disclosure of ourcorporate political contributionsand ourtrade association dues describes the process and oversight we employ in each area.

www.gd.com/AdditionalDisclosureGD Website ***

We have a strong corporate commitment to respect the dignity,human rightsand autonomy of others.

Corporate Sustainability Report*CSR**
Our Board and management team oversee ourenvironmental sustainability initiatives and implementation.CSR**
LOGO 

Our shareholders have the ability to nominate director candidates and have those nominees included in our proxy statement, subject to meeting the requirements in our Bylaws, a shareholder right known asproxy accessaccess..

Bylaws*

Wedo not have a shareholder rights plan,, or poison pill. Any future rights plan must be submitted to shareholders.

CGG*
Our Bylaws do not restrict our shareholders’ right under Delaware law toact by written consent.Bylaws*
Our shareholders have the right to request aspecial meetingof shareholders.

Bylaws*
Voting rights are proportionalto economic interests. One share equals one vote.

Corporate Governance Guidelines*

Bylaws*

Certificate of Incorporation*

*

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines (CGG), Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are available on our website at www.gd.com/CorporateGovernance.

**

Our Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct, Codes of Ethics and Corporate Sustainability Report (CSR) are available on our website at www.gd.com/Responsibility.

***See www.gd.com/AdditionalDisclosure.

2020 Proxy Statement       9


Table of Contents

Proxy Summary

Shareholder Engagement

KEY ITEMS DISCUSSED WITH SHAREHOLDERS IN 2019

In 2019, we reached out to shareholders representing approximately:

     Board of Directors and Corporate Governance
Board Leadership
Tenure and Refreshment
Director Skills and Experience
Self-Assessment Process
Board’s Role in Succession Planning
Shareholder Rights

4      General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Proxy Summary

SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Our Board is Committed to Robust Shareholder Engagement.  Each year, we conduct outreach to shareholders representing over 60% of our outstanding shares to receive feedback on matters regarding our executive compensation and corporate governance practices. Additionally, anad hoc group of directors, anchored by the chairman and the independent Lead Director, is in place to liaise with significant shareholders.

In early 2018 and in advance of our annual meeting, we reached out to shareholders and actively engaged with holders representing over 50% of our outstanding shares to solicit feedback on our executive compensation program and the shareholder proposal presented at the 2018 annual meeting. Our core shareholder engagement team comprised senior members of our Investor Relations, Corporate Governance and Human Resources (including Executive Compensation) groups, supplemented by our Lead Director as appropriate.

Based on the feedback received, we concluded that the following two items were of most concern:

The allocation within our long-term incentive compensation plan among performance shares, stock options and restricted stock

The absence of a relative metric applicable to performance shares under our long-term incentive plan

Considering this feedback and the results of the advisory vote on executive compensation at our 2018 annual meeting, senior management and the Compensation Committee conducted a comprehensive review of our executive compensation program as applicable to our named executive officers (NEOs). Following this review, significant changes were made to the allocation among our long-term incentive plan components and the metrics applicable to performance shares. In particular, the Compensation Committee approved the following changes to further align pay and performance:

A change to the long-term incentive grant mix by doubling the overall weightingRisk Management Oversight

Supply Chain Management
Cyber Risk Management
Human Capital Management
Executive Compensation
Strong 2019 Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation
Program Structure, including Role of performance stock units (PSUs) to be 50 percent, with 30 percent in stock optionsEquity Compensation
Pay-for-Performance Alignment
Enhanced Disclosure on Annual Incentive Determinations
Corporate Responsibility
Workforce Development, Diversity and 20 percent in restricted stock

Sustainability
Environmental Initiatives
Other Sustainability Initiatives

Executive Compensation Highlights

The addition of a relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) modifier to be applied against return on invested capital (ROIC) performance results on PSUs

A modification to the peer group to add nine companies that match well to General Dynamics

In the fallComponents of 2018, we continued our shareholder engagement efforts by conducting outreach to holders of approximately 65% of our outstanding shares. Once again, our engagement team, comprised of senior management and our Lead Director for select meetings, met with holders representing over 50% of our outstanding shares. During these conversations we discussed the changes made to our executive compensation program for 2019 and other matters of importance to the company and shareholders. Overall, shareholders expressed strong support for the changes made to our future pay structure and the increased alignment of pay with company performance.

LOGO

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     5


Proxy Summary

OUR SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

LOGO

Compensation Program

Component

KEY ITEMS DISCUSSEDWITH SHAREHOLDERS IN 2018

  Board of Directors and

  Corporate Governance

 

Risk Management Oversight

  

Executive CompensationCEO

Other NEOsDescription
Annual Base Salary
 

Corporate Responsibility

Base Salary is set at or around the median of our peers to represent a fixed level of competitive compensation.
Annual Incentive Compensation
Targeted at the median of our peers, the cash incentive is designed to motivate and align management with annual business goals.
We have incorporated financial metrics of earnings from continuing operations (35%), free cash flow from continuing operations (35%) and strategic and operational performance (30%).
Strategic and operational performance measures include, but are not limited to: EPS growth, prudent allocation of capital, human capital management, debt management, segment performance, cost reductions and leadership.

  Board Leadership

  Tenure and Refreshment

  Director Skills and Experience

  Diversity

  Shareholder Rights

 

  Cyber Risk Management

  Human Capital Management

  Supply Chain Management

  Pay-for-Performance Alignment

  Changes to Long-Term Incentive Compensation

  Stock Ownership Guidelines

  Updated Corporate Sustainability Report

  Environmental Initiatives

  Workforce Development, Diversity and Sustainability

6     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Proxy Summary

PERFORMANCEAND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION HIGHLIGHTS

Delivering Long-Term Shareholder Value. We delivered solid operational and financial performance in 2018, withall-time highs for revenue, earnings from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. In April 2018, we completed the acquisition of CSRA Inc., combining it with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) to create a premier provider of IT solutions to the defense, intelligence and federal civilian markets. Additionally, we received type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and began customer deliveries of theall-new Gulfstream G500 business jet, and we embarked on a multi-year capital investment plan to support growth in our Marine Systems segment.

2018 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Compensation

  Revenue

  $36.2 billion

Increased 16.9% over 2017; all five segments expanded

The long-term equity incentive is targeted as a range around the median of our peers and has performance metrics designed to align named executive officers (NEOs) with the objectives of our company and shareholders. The LTI element of compensation is based on a pay-for-performance model and for retention.
The annual grant is divided as follows: 50% Performance Stock Units (with a three-year average performance period based on Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) and a modifier based on a relative Total Shareholder Return (rTSR)), 30% stock options and 20% restricted stock with a three-year vest.
The metrics chosen, ROIC and rTSR, accomplish two primary goals: the first (ROIC) drives the management team to perform on the investments made in the business to increase returns and the second (rTSR) is a relative metric that measures our performance versus the S&P 500 and is responsive to and aligned with the interests of our shareholders.
50% Performance Stock Units
30% Stock Options
20% Restricted Stock

10     General Dynamics


Table of Contents

 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

Our Board and management take seriously our commitment to corporate responsibility. We endeavor to conduct our business in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ethos. We are dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights, ensuring the health, safety and development of our employees and fostering mutually beneficial relationships with our communities, which include respect for our silent stakeholder, the environment, and expanded opportunities for growth in diversity and opportunity.

We are committed to reducing our global environmental impact. We consider how our business strategy interplays with ensuring sustainable environmental practices over the long term. We consider good environmental practices an integral element toward increasing value to our shareholders. This approach protects the environment while improving efficiency, reducing costs and ensuring we remain compliant with all relevant environmental laws and regulations.

KEY SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES IN 2019 INCLUDED:

  Earnings from Continuing Operations

 OUR ENVIRONMENT
     

  $3.4 billion

Increased 15.3% over 2017

 OUR CUSTOMERS
Increased use of renewable energy sources
Expanded energy conservation efforts
Use of sustainable aviation fuel for flight tests and demonstration flights at our Gulfstream subsidiary
Increased focus on environmentally friendly design, construction, operations and maintenance of facilities
Gulfstream became the first business-jet original equipment manufacturer to make sustainable aviation fuel available to customers
In addition, we offer carbon offset credits to support carbon-neutral flights for our business jet customers

  Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations

 OUR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES

  $11.22

Double-digit year-over-year growth – up 17.4%

 OUR BUSINESS
Continued initiatives to expand the diversity of our workforce, promote inclusivity and enhance work-life balance through expanded support programs
Strong support of military and veteran hiring
Investments in employee training and skills development
Continued efforts to support the respect of human rights and oppose human trafficking
Introduced environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives into business goals that underlie our compensation program
Ongoing initiatives to improve the cybersecurity of our internal networks and those of our supply chain

We encourage you to review our Corporate Sustainability Report, available on our website at www.gd.com/Responsibility, to learn more about our approach to sustainability and for additional examples of initiatives across our company.

2020 Proxy Statement  ��  11


Table of Contents

Election of the Board of Directors of the Company

PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Accomplished slate of nominees, with diversity of thought, experience and skills beneficial to our company

  Operating Margin

  12.3%

Continued to generate industry-leading operating margin

All nominees are independent, except the chairman

  Cash Provided by Operating Activities

  $3.1 billion

Good cash flow; supports ongoing investment in the business

  Return on Invested Capital*

  15.2%

Generated strong return while investing in the continued growthAverage director tenure of our company

  Quarterly Dividends

  $0.93 per share

21st consecutive year with a dividend increase

  Order Backlog

  $67.9 billion

Increased 7.4% over 2017

6.4 years

*

See Appendix A forYour Board of Directors unanimously recommends a discussion of thisnon-GAAPvoteFOR all director nominees. measure.

Pay for Performance.  Annual incentive payouts for 2018 were determined taking into account the company’s 2018 performance against its goals. Annual incentives for 2018 performance reflect an average decline of more than 11 percent for the NEOs compared to the prior year. Similarly, for annual long-term incentive grants awarded in March 2019, the amount of long-term incentive compensation granted to the NEOs was comparatively less than in prior years due to 2018 performance, particularly the company’s cash performance. See the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section for more information.

Board Responsiveness to Shareholder Feedback and Executive Compensation Program Changes.  At the 2018 annual meeting, the shareholder advisory vote on our executive compensation program received the support of 68 percent of our shareholders, which was significantly lower than the support shown in previous years. As part of its ongoing review of the executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee considered this vote and the viewpoints expressed during our extensive shareholder engagement discussions. While the committee noted that the majority of our shareholders supported our executive compensation program and the incentives it has created for strong company performance, the committee determined that changes to the long-term incentive portion of our executive compensation program would enhance further thepay-for-performance philosophy at the heart of the program. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee implemented changes to the long-term incentive component to (1) double the portion represented by PSUs from 25 percent to 50 percent and (2) add a relative TSR modifier to be applied to the ROIC performance results on the PSUs. The objective of our executive compensation program remains to align compensation with company, business segment and individual performance and provide the incentives necessary to attract, motivate and retain our executives to drive company success and increase shareholder value.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     7


ELECTIONOFTHE BOARDOF DIRECTORSOFTHE COMPANYDirector Nominations

(PROPOSAL 1)

Director Nominations.  General Dynamics’ directorsDirectors are elected at each annual meeting of shareholders and hold office forone-year terms or until successors are elected and qualified. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considersleads consideration of director nominees from various sources and choosesidentifies nominees with the primary goal of ensuring the Board collectively serves the interests of shareholders.

NOMINEES ARE THOROUGHLY EVALUATED TO ENSURE A BALANCED AND EFFECTIVE BOARD

Ability to devote sufficient time and attention
to Board responsibilities
Absence of conflicts of interest
Background and professional experience
Diversity of key skills and expertise
Ethics and integrity
Gender and racial diversity
Incumbents – Performance, participation and
contributions to the Board



DIRECTOR CANDIDATE EVALUATION

Potential Board candidates are evaluated in the context of the current Board composition to ensure a diverse range of backgrounds, talent, skills and expertise. This ensures that our directors bring a broad perspective to the company on a range of important issues.




12      General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Election of Directors

Director Skills and Experience

In considering Board nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers each individual’s background and personal and professional experiences in addition to general qualifications. Nominees are evaluated in the context of the Board as a whole, with a focus on achieving an appropriate mix of skills needed to lead the company at the Board level. The committee regularly assesses and communicates with the Board about the current and future skills and backgrounds to ensure the Board maintains an appropriate mix. These skills are reflected in the following table. Each nominee also possesses additional skills and experience that are not highlighted among those listed below.

DIRECTOR NOMINEES SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE MATRIX

Why is this important for
General Dynamics?
Aerospace and
Defense Industry
Supports oversight of the company’s business performance and strategic developments in our industry
Corporate Governance
and Public Company
Board
Provides the background and knowledge necessary to provide effective oversight and governance
Finance or
Accounting
Enables in-depth analysis of our financial statements and understanding of our capital structure, financial transactions and financial reporting processes
Government
Relations and
Regulatory
Critical for an understanding of the complex regulatory and governmental environment involving our business
Global Business
and Strategy
Important for oversight of a complex organization with operations worldwide
Operations and
Manufacturing
Necessary in overseeing a sustainable, complex, global manufacturing company
Technology and
Cybersecurity
Supports our businesses in navigating the rapidly changing landscape for technology and cybersecurity

2020 Proxy Statement       13


Table of Contents

Election of Directors

Board Diversity and Inclusion.Inclusion

In order to sustain a global business, we must bring together a group of people with a vision for the future and diversity of thought. We must have leadership, at both the executive and Board levels, to develop and execute our business objectives better than our competition. At the heart of our company are diverse executives, managers and employees worldwide who rely on their intimate knowledge of customer requirements and a unique blend of skills and innovation to develop and deliver the best possible products and services.

The nomineesHighlights of the composition of the Board of Directors, as nominated, include:

Director Retirement Policy

Under the company’s Bylaws, no director shall stand for election tobeyond the Board come from a varietyage of backgrounds and bring a diverse set75. Additionally, the Bylaws provide that, under circumstances of skills and experiences to the boardroom. This ensures that our directors bring a broad perspectivesignificant benefit to the company, on a rangean individual over the age of important issues.

LOGO

8     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Election72 years may stand for election as director only with the approval of Directors

Director Skills and Experience.  In assessing director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the background and professional experiencea two-thirds vote of the candidatesdirectors then in office. In February 2020, the contextcommittee recommended, and the Board unanimously requested, that Mr. Osborn, age 72, be nominated to stand for re-election. The Board took this action to retain the valuable counsel and insight that Mr. Osborn provides to the Board.

Director Retirement.Lester Lyles, age 74, will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. General Dynamics and the Board appreciate his many years of dedicated service and valuable counsel as a member of the current Board composition to ensure a diverse rangeBoard.

14      General Dynamics


Table of backgrounds, talent, skill and expertise, including gender and racial diversity. Relevant criteria considered by the committee include: business and financial expertise, technical expertise and familiarity with issues affecting aerospace and defense businesses. The committee also carefully considers any potential conflicts of interest. All nominees must possess good judgment, an inquiring and independent mind, and a reputation for the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values. Nominees must be willing to devote sufficient time and effort to carrying out their duties and responsibilities through attendance and engagement with the company, as well as a commitment to serving on the Board for an extended period of time.Contents

For the nomination of director candidates forre-election, the committee considers the factors described above and each director’s attendance record at, and participation in, Board and committee meetings and participation in, and contributions to, Board and committee activities.

In considering Board nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers each individual’s background and personal and professional experiences in addition to the general qualifications. Nominees are evaluated in the context of the Board as a whole, with a focus on achieving an appropriate mix of skills needed to lead the company at the Board level. The committee regularly assesses and communicates with the Board about the current and future skills and backgrounds to ensure the Board maintains an appropriate mix. These skills are reflected in the following table. Each nominee also possesses additional skills and experience that are not highlighted among those listed below.

DIRECTOR NOMINEES SKILLS, KNOWLEDGEAND EXPERIENCE MATRIX

Aerospace
and Defense
Industry

Corporate
Governance
and Public
Company
Board

Finance or
Accounting

Government
Relations and
Regulatory

Global
Business and
Strategy

Operations and
Manufacturing

  James S. Crown

  Rudy F. deLeon

  Cecil D. Haney

  Lester L. Lyles

  Mark M. Malcolm

  Phebe N. Novakovic

  C. Howard Nye

  William A. Osborn

  Catherine B. Reynolds

  Laura J. Schumacher

  Peter A. Wall

Why is this important for General Dynamics?Supports
oversight of
 the company’s  
business
performance
and strategic
development
in our  industry
Ensures the
 background and  
knowledge
necessary to
provide effective
oversight and
governance
Enables

in-depth
 analysis of our  
financial
statements
and
understanding
of our capital
structure,
financial
transactions
and financial
reporting
processes

Critical for an
understanding
 of the complex  
regulatory and
governmental
environment
involving  our
business
Important for
oversight of a
complex
organization
 with operations  
worldwide

Necessary in overseeing a sustainable,
 complex, global   manufacturing company

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     9


Election of Directors

2020 Director Nominees

2019 Director Nominees.The following 1112 nominees are standing for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. If any nominee withdraws or for any reason is unable to serve as a director, your proxy will be voted for any remaining nominees (except as otherwise indicated in your proxy) and any replacement nominee designated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.Committee of the Board of Directors.


JAMES S. CROWNLead Director
Independent
Age:66
Director Since:May 1987
Committees:Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair)
 

JAMES S. CROWNBACKGROUND

Lead Director since May 2010

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Crown and Company since 2018; President of Henry Crown and Company, 2002 to 2018; Vice President of Henry Crown and Company, 1985 to 2002

Mr. Crown currently serves as a director of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:As the longest-serving member of our Board and a significant shareholder, Mr. Crown has an abundance of knowledge regarding General Dynamics and our history. As chairman and chief executive officer of Henry Crown and Company, a private investment firm with diversified interests, Mr. Crown has broad experience in business management and capital deployment strategies. His many years of service as a director of our company and other large public companies provide him with a deep understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a board of a public company.

JAMES S. CROWN

LOGO

LEAD DIRECTOR

COMMITTEES:

Audit

Compensation

Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair)

DIRECTORSINCEMAY1987

AGE:65


    
RUDY F. DELEON
Independent
Age:67
Director Since:September 2014
Committees:Compensation, Finance and Benefit Plans (Chair)
RUDY F.DELEON

BACKGROUND

Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress since 2007

Senior Vice President of The Boeing Company, 2001 to 2006

Deputy Secretary of Defense, 2000 to 2001; Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 1997 to 2000

Undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force, 1994 to 1997

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Mr. deLeon’s experience as the second-highest ranking civilian official in the U.S. Department of Defense and as a foreign policy and military advisor give him a keen understanding of the complexities of the U.S. military and the defense industry. His experience in government, combined with his leadership at The Boeing Company as a senior vice president leading all U.S. federal, state and local government liaison operations, provide him with a deep understanding of the aerospace and defense industry, enabling him to serve General Dynamics with valuable perspectives on the business.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:
Compensation
Finance and Benefit Plans (Chair)

DIRECTORSINCESEPTEMBER2014
AGE:66

2020 Proxy Statement       15


Table of Contents

Election of Directors

CECIL D. HANEY
Independent
Age:64
Director Since:March 2019
Committees:Nominating and Corporate Governance
 

CECIL D. HANEYBACKGROUND

Retired Admiral, U.S. Navy; Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, 2013 to 2016; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 2012 to 2013

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Prior to retiring from the U.S. Navy at the rank of Admiral, Mr. Haney served as Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command and Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. His leadership positions, particularly with U.S. Strategic Command, required extensive knowledge about the role of advanced technologies and cybersecurity in the national security of the United States. During thishis service, Mr. Haney also gained broad global experience in managing complex operational and budgetary matters.issues. His nearly four-decade career with the U.S. Navy gives him valuable insight into key aspects of the defense industry and national security priorities. Mr. Haney’s engineering and national security educational backgrounds, together with his extensive experience with advanced technologies and cyber matters, position him as a valuable advisor to our businesses.

Nominated and elected to the Board in March 2019, Mr. Haney was initially identified as a director candidate by an independent director.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:

Not Yet Assigned

DIRECTOR SINCEMARCH 2019

AGE: 63

10     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Election of Directors


MARK M. MALCOLM
Independent
Age:66
Director Since:August 2015
Committees:Audit (Chair), Finance and Benefit Plans
 
LESTER L. LYLES

     Retired General, U.S. Air Force; Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, 2000 to 2003; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, 1999 to 2000

     Chairman of the Board of United States Automobile Association since November 2012 and Vice Chairman, 2008 to 2012

     Mr.  Lyles currently serves as a director of KBR, Inc. He served as a director of Precision Castparts Corp., a former public company, within the past five years.

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise: Prior to retiring from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of General, Mr. Lyles served as Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command and Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. In these positions, Mr. Lyles managed significant operating budgets and addressed complex operational issues. The broad knowledge of the U.S. military and the defense industry he attained through these experiences, combined with his engineering and aerospace educational background, enable Mr. Lyles to provide critical strategic and business advice to our aerospace and defense businesses. In addition, Mr. Lyles has gained a thorough understanding of challenges that face public companies through his service on public company boards.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:BACKGROUND

Audit

Nominating and Corporate Governance

D

IRECTOR SINCEDECEMBER2003

AGE: 72

MARK M. MALCOLM

President and Chief Executive Officer of Tower International, Inc., 2007 to 2016

Senior Advisor, Cerberus Capital Management, 2006 to 2007

Executive Vice President and Controller of Ford Motor Credit, 2004 to 2005; Director of Finance and Strategy, Global Purchasing, of Ford Motor Company, 2002 to 2004

Mr. Malcolm currently servesserved as a director of Tower International, Inc., a former public company, within the past five years.

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Mr. Malcolm’s senior executive positions at Tower International and Ford provide him with critical knowledge of the management, financial and operational requirements of a large company. In these positions, Mr. Malcolm gained extensive experience in dealing with accounting principles and financial reporting, evaluating financial results and the financial reporting process of a public company. Mr. Malcolm brings to the Board a broad knowledge of the complex business issues facing a public company in areas such as risk management, global supply chain management and corporate governance. Based on his experience, the Board has determined that Mr. Malcolm is an Audit Committee Financial Expert.

16       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Election of Directors

LOGO

COMMITTEES:JAMES N. MATTIS
Independent
Age:69
Director Since:August 2019
Committees:Audit, (Chair)
FinanceNominating and Benefit PlansCorporate Governance

DIRECTORSINCEAUGUST 2015
AGE:65

 

PHEBE N. NOVAKOVICBACKGROUND

Senior Counselor, The Cohen Group since 2019
United States Secretary of Defense, 2017 to 2019
Retired General, U.S. Marine Corps. Commander, United States Central Command, 2010 to 2013; Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, 2007 to 2010; NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, 2007 to 2009.
Mr. Mattis previously served as a director of the Company from August 2013 to January 2017.

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Mr. Mattis had a distinguished career in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring in 2013. He served as Commander, U.S. Central Command and Commander U.S. Joint Forces as well as NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Mr. Mattis’ unique perspective and experiences with U.S. and foreign military strategy and operations, including NATO operations, provide him with valuable insight into international and government affairs and the global defense industry. Mr. Mattis’ leadership positions also required extensive understanding of advanced technologies and cybersecurity. His demonstrated leadership and strategic skills make him well-equipped to advise on strategic opportunities and risks associated with our aerospace and defense businesses.

Mr. Mattis, who previously served as a director of the Company, was known to many members of the Board, including the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, when being identified as a director candidate in August 2019.


    
PHEBE N. NOVAKOVIC
Age:62
Director Since:May 2012
Committees:None

BACKGROUND

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics since January 2013; President and Chief Operating Officer, May 2012 through December 2012; Executive Vice President, Marine Systems, May 2010 to May 2012; Senior Vice President, Planning and Development, July 2005 to May 2010; Vice President, Strategic Planning, October 2002 to July 2005

Ms. Novakovic currently serves as a director of Abbott Laboratories.

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Ms. Novakovic’s service as a senior officer of General Dynamics since 2002 makes her a valuable and trusted leader. Through her roles as chairman and chief executive officer, president and chief operating officer, and executive vice president, Marine Systems, she has developed a deep understanding of the company’s business operations, growth opportunities, risks and challenges. As senior vice president, planning and development, she gained a strong understanding of our core customers and the global marketplace in which we operate. Ms. Novakovic’s current service as a public company director provides her with a valuable perspective on corporate governance matters and the roles and responsibilities of a public company board.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:

None

DIRECTORSINCEMAY2012

AGE: 61

General Dynamics 20192020 Proxy Statement       1117


Table of Contents


Election of Directors

C. HOWARD NYE
Independent
Age:57
Director Since:May 2018
Committees:Audit, Compensation
 

C. HOWARD NYEBACKGROUND

Chairman of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. since 2014 and President and CEO since 2010; President and Chief Operating Officer, 2006 to 2009

Executive Vice President of Hanson AggregatesPLC’s North America, a producer of aggregates for the construction industry,American building materials business, 2003 to 2006

Mr. Nye currently serves as Chairman of the Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Board of Directors. He served as a director of Cree, Inc. within the past five years.

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Mr. Nye’s roles with Martin Marietta Materials, a leading supplier of aggregates and heavy building materials, position him well to advise our businesses on a range of matters in the areas of engineering, manufacturing, merger and manufacturing.acquisitions, regulatory matters and governance matters. Mr. Nye also brings extensive risk management experience, particularly in the area of employee safety. His strong business background and service on public company boards provide him with a deep understanding of the challenges and risks facing large public companies and their boards. Based on Mr. Nye’s experience with public company financial statements and reporting, the Board has determined that Mr. Nye is an Audit Committee Financial Expert.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:

Nominating


WILLIAM A. OSBORN
Independent
Age:72
Director Since:December 2009
Committees:Audit, Compensation (Chair), Finance and Corporate Governance

DIRECTORSINCEBenefit PlansMAY 2018

AGE: 56

 

WILLIAM A. OSBORNBACKGROUND

Chairman of Northern Trust Corporation, 1995 to 2009; Chief Executive Officer of Northern Trust Corporation, 1995 through 2007 and President of Northern Trust Corporation and The Northern Trust Company, 2003 to 2006

Mr. Osborn currently serves as a director of Abbott Laboratories and Caterpillar, Inc.

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Mr. Osborn’s prior service as a senior executive of Northern Trust Corporation, including as chairman and chief executive officer, and president, provides him with extensive knowledge of the complex financial, operational and governance issues of a large public company. He brings to our Board a well-developed awareness of financial strategy, asset management and risk management and a strong understanding of public company governance. The Board has determined that Mr. Osborn’s extensive experience with accounting principles, financial reporting and evaluation of financial results qualifies him as an Audit Committee Financial Expert.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:

18       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Election of Directors

CATHERINE B. REYNOLDS
Independent
Age:62
Director Since:May 2017
Committees:Audit,

Compensation (Chair)

Finance and Benefit Plans

DIRECTOR SINCEDECEMBER2009

AGE: 71

 

CATHERINE B. REYNOLDSBACKGROUND

•    

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EduCap, Inc. since 1988

1989

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation since 2000

Founder and Chairman of Servus Financial Corporation, 1993 to 2000

Ms. Reynolds currently serves as a director of Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Ms. Reynolds’sReynolds’ sound business experience and financial background, including her innovative development of the first asset-backed securitization structure for consumer education loans, enables her to provide valuable financial and business advice to the company. Ms. Reynolds is a certified public accountant and has served on the audit and compensation committees of a public company. Through her senior executive and board positions with EduCap and Servus Financial, she has developed critical knowledge of the financial and risk management challenges that companies face. Ms. Reynolds also has gained valuable insight into public company governance and operations through her prior and current service on public company boards. The Board has determined that Ms. Reynolds’sReynolds’ extensive financial and accounting background qualifies her as an Audit Committee Financial Expert.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:

Audit

Finance and Benefit Plans

DIRECTOR SINCEMAY 2017

AGE: 61

12     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Election of Directors


LAURA J. SCHUMACHER
Independent
Age:56
Director Since:February 2014
Committees:Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance
 

LAURA J. SCHUMACHERBACKGROUND

Vice Chairman, External Affairs and Chief Legal Counsel of Abbvie Inc. since December 2018; Executive Vice President, External Affairs and General Counsel of Abbvie Inc., 2013 to December 2018

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Abbott Laboratories, 2007 to 2012

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Ms. Schumacher’s positions as chief legal officer of two large public companies provide her with extensive experience with respect to risk management and a deep knowledge of the types of legal and regulatory risks facing public companies. Her experience as a senior executive in the healthcare industry has provided her with a keen awareness of strategic considerations and challenges associated with a complex, highly-regulatedhighly regulated industry. Additionally, through her key role in the strategic consideration and execution of the separation of Abbvie from Abbott Laboratories, Ms. Schumacher brings an important understanding of and insight into corporate governance matters and complex corporate transactions.

2020 Proxy Statement       19


Table of Contents

Election of Directors

LOGO

JOHN G. STRATTON
Independent
Age:59
Director Since:February 2020
Committees:Finance and Benefit Plans

COMMITTEES:BACKGROUND

Executive Vice President and President of Global Operations, Verizon Communications, Inc. from 2015 to 2018
Mr. Stratton currently serves as a director of Abbott Laboratories

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

CompensationThrough his executive leadership positions at Verizon Communications, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and President of Global Operations, Mr. Stratton gained extensive business and management experience operating a global public company, including business strategy and risk management. Mr. Stratton also gained extensive insight into the importance and role of technology, including opportunities and risks associated with rapidly developing new technologies and cybersecurity. His experience in the telecommunications industry also provides him with an understanding of business operations in a highly regulated industry.

Nominated and elected to the Board in February 2020, Mr. Stratton was initially identified as a director candidate by the chairman.


PETER A. WALL
Independent
Age:64
Director Since:August 2016
Committees:Finance and Benefit Plans, Nominating and Corporate Governance

DIRECTOR SINCE FEBRUARY2014

AGE: 55

 

PETER A. WALLBACKGROUND

Retired General, British Army;Army, Chief of the General Staff, 2010 to 2014; Commander in Chief, Land Command, 2009 to 2010

Director of Operations, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, 2007 to 2009

Director, Amicus (strategic leadership advisory firm) since 2014

KEY ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Key Attributes/Skills/Expertise:Mr. Wall had a distinguished career in the British Army before retiring at the rank of General in 2014. He also served as Director of Operations for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.Defence, directing operations worldwide. As Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, Mr. Wall managed significant operating budgets and led a major transformation of the British Army, through significant transformationincluding capital investment to ensure its relevance forharness the future.latest military technology. Mr. Wall’s service in the United KingdomU.K. Ministry of Defence and in the British Army give him anin-depth understanding and appreciation of the complexities of the U.K. military, its allies and the overall defense industry. Mr. Wall brings to the Board important insight into the operational requirements of our customers, as well asthe application of technology and a deep understanding of global security issues.

LOGO

COMMITTEES:

Finance and Benefit Plans

Nominating and Corporate Governance

DIRECTOR SINCEAUGUST2016

AGE: 63

20       General Dynamics


YOUR BOARDOF DIRECTORSUNANIMOUSLYRECOMMENDSAVOTETable of Contents

FORElection of Directors

Director Independence

ALLDIRECTORNOMINEESLISTEDABOVE.Independence Standards

Director Retirement Policy.  UnderOur Board of Directors assesses the company’s Bylaws, no director shall stand for election beyondindependence of our directors and examines the agenature and extent of 75. Additionally, the Bylaws provideany relationships between General Dynamics and our directors, their families and their affiliates. Our Board has established an objective that under circumstances of significant benefit to the company, an individual over the age of 72 years may stand for election as director only with the approval of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and aat least two-thirds vote of the directors thenbe independent. For a director to be considered independent, the Board must determine that a director does not have any direct or indirect material relationship with General Dynamics. Our Board has established director independence guidelines (the Director Independence Guidelines) as part of the Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist in office. determining director independence in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available at www.gd.com/CorporateGovernance.

Independence Determinations

The Board has determined that each current non-management director - Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Schumacher and Messrs. Crown, deLeon, Haney, Lyles, Malcolm, Mattis, Nye, Osborn, Stratton and Wall - qualifies as an independent director.

In FebruaryMarch of each year and at other times during the year for director nominations or appointments occurring outside of the annual meeting, the Board of Directors considers whether each director and nominee to the Board meets the definition of an “independent director” in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Company’s Director Independence Guidelines. To make these independence determinations, the Board reviewed all relationships between General Dynamics and the directors and affirmatively determined that none of the individuals qualifying as independent has a material business, financial or other type of relationship with General Dynamics, other than as a director or shareholder of the company. Specifically, the Board considered the relationships listed below and the related person transactions listed on page 32 of this Proxy Statement and found them to be immaterial. For each of the relationships that the Board considered for 2017, 2018 and 2019, the committee recommendedpayments made or received by General Dynamics, and the charitable contributions made by General Dynamics, fell below the thresholds in our Director Independence Guidelines (the greater of $1 million or 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of the other company). Listed below are the relationships that existed in 2019 that were considered by the Board unanimously requested that Mr. Lyles be nominated to standas part of their independence determinations.

Ms. Reynolds and Messrs. Crown, deLeon, Lyles and Osborn serve as members of the boards of trustees or boards of directors of charitable and other non-profit organizations to which General Dynamics (i) has made payments for memberships, sponsorships, tradeshow exhibit space or tuition in the usual course of our business, (ii) made and received payments for products and services in the usual course of our business or (iii) made contributions as part of our annual giving program. The 2019 payments fell below the greater of $1 million or 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of the organizations.
Mr. Mattis’ brother is an employee (and not an executive officer) of a subsidiary of General Dynamics. The compensation paid to Mr. Mattis’ brother in 2019 did not exceed $120,000.
Messrs. Crown, Haney, Nye, Osborn and Stratton serve as directors of companies, and Messrs. Crown, Mattis, Nye and Ms. Schumacher are employees or executive officers of companies to which General Dynamics has sold products and services, or from which General Dynamics has purchased products and services, in the ordinary course of business. None of the directors had any material interest in, or received any compensation in connection with, these ordinary-course business relationships. Each of the payments made or received by General Dynamics fell below the greater of $1 million or 2% of the other company’s revenues.

re-election. The Board took this action to retain the valuable counsel and insight that Mr. Lyles provides to the Board.

Nominees to the Board Submitted by Shareholders.Shareholders

The committee will consider director nominees recommended by shareholders in the same manner as it considers and evaluates potential directors identified by the company. Additionally, our bylawsBylaws permit a shareholder or a group of up to 20 shareholders who have owned 3 percent3% or more of our outstanding shares of capital stock continuously for three years to submit director nominees for inclusion in our proxy statement if the shareholder(s) and the nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our bylawsBylaws (a process known as proxy access). The requirements for director nominations, including requirements for proxy access, can be found in Article II, Section 10 of our Amended and Restated Bylaws available on our website at www.gd.com/CorporateGovernance, or in print upon request.CorporateGovernance.

General Dynamics 20192020 Proxy Statement       1321



Table of ContentsGOVERNANCEOFTHE COMPANY

OUR COMMITMENTTO STRONG CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Governance of the Company

Our Commitment to Strong Corporate Governance

The General Dynamics Board of Directors believes that a commitment to good corporate governance enhances shareholder value. To that end, General Dynamics is committed to employing strong corporate governance practices to promote a culture of ethics and integrity that defines how we do business. At the core, we are in business to earn a fair return for our shareholders.

On the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board has adopted the General Dynamics Corporate Governance Guidelines to provide a framework for effective governance of the Board and the company. The guidelines establish policies and practices with respect to Board operations and responsibilities, including board structure and composition, director independence, executive and director compensation, succession planning and the receipt of concerns and complaints by the Board. The Board regularly reviews these guidelines and updates them periodically in response to changing regulatory requirements, feedback from shareholders on governance matters and evolving best practices in corporate governance.

The Board believes that its commitment to good governance is demonstrated by key corporate governance practices, including:

a majority voting standard for the election of directors coupled with a director resignation policy;

an independent Lead Director;

a market-leading executive stock ownership policy;

a policy prohibiting hedging and pledging by directors and officers;

an executive compensation recoupment (clawback) policy;

disclosure of corporate political contributions and trade association dues;

shareholders’ right to call a special meeting; and

shareholders’ ability to nominate director candidates and have those nominees included in the company’s proxy statement.

These and other practices are highlightedsummarized under Corporate Governance Highlights on page 4.9 and described in more detail in the pages that follow.

OUR CULTUREOF ETHICSOur Culture of Ethics

As part of our commitment to strong corporate governance practices, we maintain an active and robust ethics program. Our ethics program is rooted in our ethos – our distinguishing moral nature. Our ethos is defined by four values: Alignment, Honesty, Transparency and Trust. These values:

drive how we operate our business.

govern how we interact with each other and our customers, partners and suppliers.

guide the way we treat our workforce.

determine how we connect with our communities.

drive how we operate our business
govern how we interact with each other and our customers, partners and suppliers
guide the way we treat our workforce
determine how we connect with our communities

Adherence to our ethosEthos ensures that we continue to be good stewards of the investments in us byfor our shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers and communities.

We have a Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct Handbook that applies to all employees. This handbook, known as the Blue Book, has been updated and improved as we have grown and changed over the years. Our ethics program also includes periodic training on ethics and compliance topics for all employees and a24-hour ethics helpline, which employees can access via telephone or online to communicate any business-related ethics concerns.

We have adopted ethics codes specifically applicable to our Board of Directors and our financial professionals. The Code of Conduct for Members of the Board of Directors embodies our Board’s commitment to manage our business in accordance with the highest standards of ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals, which supplements the Blue Book, applies to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller and persons performing similar financial functions.

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Governance of the Company

Any amendments to or waivers from the Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct, Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals or Code of Conduct for Members of the Board of Directors on behalf of any of our executive officers, financial professionals or directors will be disclosed on our website. The current Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct are available on our website at www.gd.com/Responsibility.

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Governance of the Company

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTUREBoard Leadership Structure

Our Board comprises independent, accomplished and experienced directors who provide advice and oversight to further the interests of our company and our shareholders. The Board evaluates regularly its leadership structure, including whether to combine the positions of chairman and chief executive officer. This decision cannot be made in the abstract, but rather depends on the then-prevailing facts and circumstances. Academic research into any demonstrable advantage of combining or separating the chairman and chief executive officer roles has been inconclusive. Accordingly, the Board continues to believe that it must exercise its best business judgment in determining the appropriate leadership structure at a particular time under particular circumstances instead of adopting a rigid doctrine favoring one approach at all times and in all circumstances.

Our Board currently believes that the combination of the chairman and chief executive roles while employing a strong Lead Director position provides a framework for independent leadership and engagement while ensuring appropriate insight into the operations and strategic issues of the company.

Chairman – Strong and Effective Leadership.  Leadership. Our Board elects a chairman annually from among the directors. The Board believes that Ms. Novakovic’s deep understanding of the company’s business,day-to-day operations, growth opportunities, challenges and risk management practices gained through several leadership positions, including seven years as chief executive officer enable her to provide strong and effective leadership to the Board and to ensure the Board is informed of important issues facing the company. The Board also believes that having a combined role promotes a cohesive, strong and consistent vision and strategy for the company.

Independent Lead Director – Additional Independent Oversight.  Oversight. The Board has created the position of a Lead Director, elected annually by the Board from among the independent directors. Mr. Crown currently serves as Lead Director. The Board believes the Lead Director position provides additional independent oversight of senior management and Board matters. The selection of a Lead Director facilitates communication among the directors or between any of them and the chairman. Directors frequently communicate among themselves and directly with the chairman. The Lead Director’s authority and responsibilities are as follows:

Lead Director Authority and Responsibilities

(1)
LEAD DIRECTOR AUTHORITYAND RESPONSIBILITIES

(1)

acts as chair at Board meetings when the chairman is not present, including meetings of thenon-management directors;

(2)

has the authority to call meetings of thenon-management directors;

(3)

coordinates activities of thenon-management directors and serves as a liaison between the chairman and thenon-management directors;

(4)

works with the chairman to develop and agree to meeting schedules and agendas, and agree to the nature of the information that will be provided to directors in advance of meetings;

(5)

is available for consultation and communication with significant shareholders, when appropriate; and

(6)

performs such other duties as the Board may determine from time to time.

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DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Independence Standards.   Our Board of Directors assesses the independence of our directors and examines the nature and extent of any relationships between General Dynamics and our directors, their families and their affiliates. Our Board has established an objective that at leasttwo-thirds of the directors be independent. For a director to be considered independent, the Board must determine that a director does not have any direct or indirect material relationship with General Dynamics. Our Board has established director independence guidelines (the Director Independence Guidelines) as part of the Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist in determining director independence in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORUNDEROUR DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE GUIDELINES:

(1)

is not a current employee, nor has an immediate family member who is a current executive officer, of General Dynamics;

(2)

has not received, nor has an immediate family member who has received, during the immediately preceding fiscal year, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from General Dynamics, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation;

(3)

is not, nor has an immediate family member who is, currently employed as an executive officer of another company where any executive officer of General Dynamics currently serves on that company’s compensation committee;

(4)

is not a current partner of, or employee of, a present internal or external auditor of General Dynamics;

(5)

does not have an immediate family member who is a current partner of, or an employee assigned to work personally on General Dynamics’ audit by, a present internal or external auditor of General Dynamics;

(6)

except as otherwise provided in (7) below, is not a current executive officer or an employee, nor has an immediate family member who is a current executive officer, of a company that made payments to, or received payments from, General Dynamics for property or services in an amount that, in the immediately preceding fiscal year, exceeded the greater of $1 million or 2 percent of the consolidated gross revenues of that company; and

(7)

is not an executive officer of a charitable organization that, in the immediately preceding fiscal year, received contributions from General Dynamics in an amount that exceeded the greater of $1 million or 2 percent of the consolidated gross revenues of that organization.

Independence Determinations.  In March of each year and at other times during the year for director nominations or appointments occurring outside of the annual meeting,the Board of Directors considers whether each director and nominee to the Board meets the definition of an “independent director” in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Director Independence Guidelines. The Board has determined that Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Schumacher and Messrs. Crown, deLeon, Haney, Lyles, Malcolm, Nye, Osborn and Wall each qualifies as an independent director. To make these independence determinations, the Board reviewed all relationships between General Dynamics and the directors and affirmatively determined that none of the individuals qualifying as independent has a material business, financial or other type of relationship with General Dynamics, other than as a director or shareholder of the company. Specifically, the Board considered the relationships listed below and the related person transactions listed beginning on page 21 of this Proxy Statement and found them to be immaterial. For each of the relationships that the Board considered for 2016, 2017 and 2018, the payments made or received by General Dynamics, and the charitable contributions made by General Dynamics, fell below the thresholds in our Director Independence Guidelines (the greater of $1 million or 2 percent of the consolidated gross revenues of the other company). Listed below are the relationships that existed in 2018 that were considered by the Board as part of their independence determinations.

Ms. Reynolds and Messrs. Crown, deLeon, Lyles and Osborn serve as members of the boards of trustees or boards of directors of charitable and othernon-profit organizations to which General Dynamics (i) has made payments for memberships, sponsorships, tradeshow exhibit space or tuition in the usual course of our business, (ii) made and received payments for products and services in the usual course of our business or (iii) made contributions as part of our annual giving program. The 2018 payments fell below the greater of $1 million or 2 percent of the consolidated gross revenues of the organizations. None of the 2018 charitable contributions to these organizations exceeded $122,000.

Messrs. Crown, Haney, Nye and Osborn serve as directors of companies, and Mr. Nye and Ms. Schumacher are executive officers of companies, to which General Dynamics has sold products and services, or from which General Dynamics has purchased products and services, in the ordinary course of business. None of the directors had any material interest in, or received any

16     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Governance of the Company

compensation in connection with, these ordinary-course business relationships. Each of the payments made or received by General Dynamics fell below the greater of $1 million or 2 percent of the other company’s revenues.

BOARD MEETINGS, BUSINESS UNIT VISITSAND ATTENDANCE

During 2018, the Board of Directors held 11 meetings. Each of our directors attended 100 percent of the meetings of the Board and committees on which they served in 2018. This included amulti-day meeting in February to review our 2018 operating plan, including the operating plans of each of our business segments. In August 2018, the Board visited facilities of our General Dynamics Land Systems business unit and met with that business unit’s management team. We encourage directors to attend each annual meeting of shareholders, and in 2018 nine of our ten directors attended the annual meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONSOFTHE BOARD

Our Board holds executive sessions of thenon-management directors following all regularly scheduled Board meetings. Thenon-management directors may also meet without management present at other times as requested by anynon-management director. The independent Lead Director serves as chair at the executive sessions.

BOARD COMMITTEESCommittees

The Board of Directors has established the following four standing committees to assist in executing its duties: Audit, Compensation, Finance and Benefit Plans and Nominating and Corporate Governance. The primary responsibilities of each of the committees are described below, together with the current membership and number of meetings held in 2018.2019. Currently, all of our Board committees are composed entirely of independent,non-management directors. Each of the Board committees has a written charter. Copies of these charters are available on our website at www.gd.com/CorporateGovernance, or in print upon request. CorporateGovernance.

Committee Members.  Members

Listed below are the members of each of the four standing committees as of March 7, 2019. Mr. Haney, who joined the Board in March 2019, has not yet been assigned to a committee.9, 2020.

Audit
Committee
Compensation
Committee
Finance and
Benefit Plans
Committee
Nominating and
Corporate Governance
Committee
James S. Crown
Rudy F. deLeon
Cecil D. Haney
Lester L. Lyles

AUDIT

COMMITTEE

COMPENSATION

COMMITTEE

FINANCEAND

BENEFIT PLANS

COMMITTEE

NOMINATINGAND  

CORPORATE  

GOVERNANCE  

COMMITTEE

Mark M. Malcolm
James N. Mattis
C. Howard Nye

  James S. Crown LOGO

LOGOLOGO

LOGO

  Rudy F. deLeon

William A. Osborn

LOGO

LOGO

  Lester L. Lyles

LOGO

LOGO

  Mark M. Malcolm LOGO

LOGO

LOGO

  C. Howard Nye

LOGO

  William A. Osborn LOGO

LOGO

LOGOLOGO

Catherine B. Reynolds LOGO

LOGO

LOGO

Laura J. Schumacher

LOGOLOGO

  Peter A. Wall

LOGO

LOGO

John G. Stratton
Peter A. Wall

LOGO  

Lead Director

LOGO  ChairpersonLOGO  MemberLOGO  

Audit Committee Financial Expert

Chair

Member

Committee Responsibilities

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Governance of the Company

Committee Responsibilities.  Following are descriptions of the primary areas of responsibility for each of the four committees.

AUDIT
COMMITTEE
Members:
Mark M. Malcolm
(Chair)
James S. Crown
Lester L. Lyles
James N. Mattis
C. Howard Nye
William A. Osborn
Catherine B. Reynolds
Meetings in 2019: 8

  AUDIT COMMITTEERESPONSIBILITIES:

NUMBEROF MEETINGSIN 2018: 8        

Provides oversight for accounting, financial reporting, internal control, auditing and regulatory compliance activities

Selects and oversees the independent auditor

Approves audit andnon-audit services provided by the independent auditor,

  Reviews including a review of the scope of the audit to be conducted by the independent auditor

Reviews our consolidated financial statements with management and the independent auditor

Evaluates the performance, responsibilities, budget and staffing of the internal audit function

Evaluates the scope of the internal audit plan

Monitors management’s implementation of the policies, practices and programs of the company with respect to business ethics and conduct

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Governance of the Company

COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
Members:
William A. Osborn
(Chair)
James S. Crown
Rudy F. deLeon
C. Howard Nye
Laura J. Schumacher
Meetings in 2019: 4
  COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
NUMBEROF MEETINGSIN 2018: 5       RESPONSIBILITIES:

Evaluates the performance of the chief executive officer and other officers and reviews and approves their compensation

Evaluates the performance of the chief executive officer and other officers and reviews and approves their compensation
Recommends to the Board the level and form of director compensation and benefits
Reviews and approves incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans
Reviews and monitors succession plans for officers, including the chief executive officer
Has authority to retain and terminate external advisors in connection with the discharge of its duties
Has sole authority to approve compensation consultant fees (to be funded by the company) and the terms of the consultant’s retention

Recommends to the Board the level and form of compensation and benefits for directors

Reviews and approves incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans

Reviews and monitors succession plans for the chief executive officer and other officers

Has authority to retain and terminate external advisors in connection with the discharge of its duties

Has sole authority to approve compensation consultant fees (to be funded by the company) and the terms of the consultant’s retention

  FINANCEAND BENEFIT PLANS COMMITTEENUMBEROF MEETINGSIN 2018: 3       
FINANCE AND
BENEFIT PLANS
COMMITTEE
Members:
Rudy F. deLeon
(Chair)
Mark M. Malcolm
William A. Osborn
Catherine B. Reynolds
John G. Stratton
Peter A. Wall
Meetings in 2019: 3

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Oversees the management of the company’s finance policies to ensure the policies are in keeping with the company’s overall business objectives

  With respect toFor employee benefit plans that name the company or one of its subsidiaries as the investment fiduciary (and for which the company or one of its subsidiaries has not appointed the management investment committee as investment fiduciary):

¡provides strategic oversight of the management of the assets

¡reviews and approves investment policy recommendations made by management

¡reviews and approves the retention of third parties for administration and management services related to trust assets

NOMINATING
AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE
Members:
James S. Crown
(Chair)
Cecil D. Haney
Lester L. Lyles
James N. Mattis
Laura J. Schumacher
Peter A. Wall
Meetings in 2019: 3
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Evaluates Board and management effectiveness
Advises the Board on the appropriate size, composition, structure and operations of the Board and its committees
Reviews and recommends to the Board committee assignments for directors
Advises the Board on corporate governance matters and monitors developments, trends and best practices in corporate governance
Recommends to the Board corporate governance guidelines that comply with legal and regulatory requirements
Identifies qualified individuals as director candidates

  NOMINATINGAND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEENUMBEROF MEETINGSIN 2018: 3       

Evaluates Board and management effectiveness

Advises the Board on the appropriate size, composition, structure and operations of the Board and its committees

Reviews and recommends to the Board committee assignments for directors

Advises the Board on corporate governance matters and monitors developments, trends and best practices in corporate governance

Recommends to the Board corporate governance guidelines that comply with legal and regulatory requirements

Identifies qualified individuals to serve as directors and recommends director nominees

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Governance of the Company

RISK OVERSIGHTRisk Oversight

Our comprehensive risk management program is conducted by senior management and overseen by the Board of Directors. In particular, the Board oversees management’s identification and prioritization of risks that are material to our business. We believe that our risk management processes are well supported by the current board leadership structure.

How We Manage Risk.  ROLES IN RISK MANAGEMENTThe following summarizes the key elements

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board oversees risk management, focusing on the most significant risks facing the company, including strategic, operational, financial, legal, cyber and reputational risks.
The Board assesses the company’s strategic and operational risks throughout the year, with particular focus on these risks at an annual multi-day Board meeting in early February.
Risk management is a standing agenda item at two Board meetings annually. Specific topics vary based on key risks facing the company at the time.
The Board receives briefings from senior management concerning a variety of topics and related risks should they arise between the dedicated risk-focused Board meetings.
The Board reviews, adjusts where appropriate, and approves the annual business unit and business segment goals presented by management and adopts our company operating plan for the year. These plans and related risks are monitored throughout the year as part of periodic financial and performance reports given to the Board by the chief financial officer and executive vice presidents of each business segment.
The Board considers senior management succession planning a core part of the company’s risk management program. At least annually, the Board reviews with the chief executive officer succession planning for senior leadership positions and the timing and development required to ensure continuity and diversity of leadership over the short and long term.
Risk topics discussed in 2019 include: defense budget and acquisition matters; cybersecurity; human capital management, including workforce diversity; environmental, health and safety matters; and specific customer and program developments.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Oversees the company’s policies and practices concerning overall risk assessment and risk management.
Reviews and takes appropriate action regarding the company’s annual and quarterly financial statements, the internal audit program, the ethics program and internal control over financial reporting.
Receives regular briefings from members of senior management on accounting matters; the internal audit plan; internal control over financial reporting matters; significant litigation and other legal matters; and ethics program matters.
Holds separate, regular executive sessions with internal audit and the partners of the KPMG LLP audit team.
FINANCE AND BENEFIT PLANS COMMITTEE
Oversees the management of the company’s finance policies and the assets of the company’s defined benefit plans for employees.
Oversees market risk exposure with respect to assets within the company’s defined benefit plans and related to the capital structure of the company, including borrowing, liquidity, allocation of capital and funding of benefit plans.
To assess risks in its areas, receives regular briefings from our senior management or external advisors on finance policies, pension plan liabilities and funding and asset performance.

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Governance of the Board’s, senior management’s and external advisors’ roles in our risk management program.Company

The Board oversees risk management, focusing on the most significant risks facing the company, including strategic, operational, financial, legal, cyber and reputational risks.

Each Board committee is integral to risk management and reports specific risk-management matters as necessary to the full Board.

Senior management is responsible
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Oversees our executive compensation program to ensure that the program creates incentives for strong operational performance and for the long-term benefit of the company and its shareholders without encouraging excessive risk-taking.
Receives briefings from the chairman and chief executive officer, human resources senior management and outside consultants and advisors on compensation matters.
NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Oversees risks related to the company’s governance structure and processes and risks arising from related person transactions.
Receives briefings from the senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.
Senior Management
Responsible for day-to-day risk management; conducts a thorough assessment of the company’s risk profile through internal management processes and controls.
day-to-day risk management and conducts a thorough assessment of the company’s risk profile through internal management processes and controls.

The chief executive officer and senior management team provide to the Board a dedicated and comprehensive briefing of material risks at least twice per year, and the Board is briefed throughout the year as needed on specific risks facing the company.

At an annual multi-day Board meeting in early February, senior management reports on opportunities and risks in the markets in which the company conducts business. Additionally, each business unit president and each business segment executive vice president presents the unit’s and segment’s respective operating plan and strategic initiatives for the year, including notable business opportunities and risks.
The chief financial officer and executive vice presidents of each business segment give periodic financial and performance reports to the Board.
External Advisors
Provide independent advice on specific risks and review and comment on risk management processes and procedures as necessary.
Support the program by auditing our financial statements.
Review and suggest updates and improvements to our risk management processes and procedures.
Assist in the implementation of Board and senior management responsibilities regarding risk management.
Support and assist with public disclosure regarding risk management and company risks.
HIGHLIGHT ON TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY
Technology and cybersecurity pose a critical risk for nearly all companies. However, the defense industry faces heightened risks simply due to the nature of its work, and our company is no exception. Our Board approaches its risk management role in this area comprehensively, including:
Dedicated briefings on our company-wide cyber risk program as part of its overall risk assessment reports, led by our chief information officer and other members of management;
In-depth discussions about the role of advanced technologies in our businesses, including cybersecurity capabilities and offerings of our businesses; and
Calling upon the extensive experience of directors with unique perspectives given their military and national security backgrounds.

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Board Meetings, Attendance, Business Unit Visits and Executive Sessions

Engaged and Active Board of Directors
8
Board of Director meetings in 20192019 Board meetings included a multi-day meeting in February to review our 2019 operating plan, including the operating plans of each of our business segments. In August 2019, the Board visited facilities of our Electric Boat business unit and met with that business unit’s management team.
100%
Director attendance at 2019 Board meetingsWhen also considering committee meetings, Board members attended in the aggregate at least 86% of the meetings of the Board and committees on which they served in 2019, with 10 of 12 directors attending 100% of their meetings.
100%
Director attendance at the 2019 annual meetingWe encourage directors to attend each annual meeting of shareholders.
100%
Each 2019 Board meeting was followed by a non-management director executive sessionExecutive sessions of the non-management directors are held following all regularly scheduled Board meetings. The non-management directors may also meet without management present at other times as requested by any non-management director. The independent Lead Director chairs the executive sessions.

Shareholder Outreach and Engagement

Our Board is committed to robust shareholder engagement. Shareholder engagement has become an embedded part of our investor relations and governance programs. Conversations throughout the year led by our Investor Relations team are supplemented by an annual outreach dedicated to corporate governance, executive compensation and corporate responsibility topics. In each of the past several years, we have targeted shareholders representing approximately 65% of our outstanding shares to receive their feedback on these topics. Our core shareholder engagement team comprises senior members of our investor relations, corporate governance and human resources (including executive compensation) groups, supplemented by our Lead Director as needed on specific risks facingappropriate. Additionally, an ad hoc group of directors, anchored by the company.chairman and the independent Lead Director, is in place to liaise with significant shareholders. Our Board remains committed to soliciting and understanding shareholder views and responding as appropriate.

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Governance of the Company

OUR SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

Topics discussed in 2018 include our cyber security risk management program, human capital management, data privacy and program-specific matters.

External advisors provide independent advice on specific risks and review and comment on risk management processes and procedures as necessary.

FALL ENGAGEMENT
We receive feedback and updates on shareholders’ governance, executive compensation and corporate responsibility priorities
We provide updates to shareholders on the company’s programs in these areas
Annual Meeting
(May)
Voting results help us calibrate our governance, executive compensation and corporate responsibility programs to our shareholders’ priorities
We target and have engaged annually with holders of
over 65%
of our Common Stock
Proxy Statement Mailed
(March)
We make changes, when appropriate, to our corporate governance and executive compensation programs, and discuss those changes in our proxy statement
SPRING ENGAGEMENT
We offer additional engagement to address proxy statement matters or questions

TheKEY ITEMS DISCUSSED WITH SHAREHOLDERS IN 2019

Board of Directors and
Corporate Governance
Risk Management
Oversight
Executive
Compensation
Corporate
Responsibility
Board Leadership
Tenure and Refreshment
Director Skills and Experience
Self-Assessment Process
Board’s Role in Succession Planning
Shareholder Rights
Supply Chain Management
Cyber Risk Management
Human Capital Management
Strong 2019 Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation
Program Structure, including Role of Equity Compensation
Pay-for-Performance Alignment
Enhanced Disclosure on Annual Incentive Determinations
Workforce Development, Diversity and Sustainability
Environmental Initiatives
Other Sustainability Initiatives

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Director Orientation and Continuing Education

Orientation
Each new director receives an orientation that consists of in-person briefings provided by corporate officers on our business operations; significant financial, accounting and risk-management matters; corporate governance; ethics; and key policies and practices.
Each new director receives briefings on the responsibilities, duties and activities of the committees on which the director will initially serve.
Management Briefings
The general counsel and chief financial officer periodically provide materials and briefing sessions on subjects that assist directors in fulfilling their duties.
Site Visits
New directors also have the opportunity to visit business units within each of our segments and receive briefings from the respective executive vice president and members of business unit management teams.
All directors also visit our business units periodically. These visits allow the directors to interact with the business unit management teams and employees and gain a firsthand view of our operations.
Operating Plan Review
Annually, the Board holds a multi-day meeting with our senior management to review and approve the operating plans of each of our business units and business segments and the company as a whole. This review involves an in-depth strategic and financial review of each business unit and business segment.

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Governance of the Company

Board and Committee Performance Assessments

Our Board of Directors in Risk Management.  The full Board reviews and approves annually a corporate policy addressing the delegation of authority and assignment of management responsibility to ensure that the responsibilities and authority delegated to senior management are appropriate from an operational and risk-management perspective.promotes continuous improvement throughout our company. In addition,this spirit, the Board continually assesses the company’s strategic and operational risks throughout the year,itself for areas of potential improvement.


Non-Management Directors Executive Sessions
At each in-person Board meeting, adedicated session led by our independent lead directorprovides our non-management directors an opportunity to discuss Board and company-related matters freely and without management present.
Our non-management directors alsofrequently communicatedirectly with our lead director and our chairman between Board meetings.
Annual Self-Assessment Process
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee leads aformal self-assessment processannually. During this process, each director assesses the Board and committees on which the director serves. Questions address the Board’s overall role, oversight of the company’s strategy, relations with management, Board composition, individual director participation and contribution, succession planning, director compensation and the number and conduct of meetings.
Each committeealso considers its role and the responsibilities contained in the committee charter, the composition of the committee and the committee’s operation.
Feedback from the self-assessment is discussed at the Board and committee levels.Overall feedback from the directors has been very positive, with directors expressing a view that the Board operates effectively. Recent changes made in response to feedback received from directors have been minor in nature and related to the volume and content of read-ahead materials, committee composition and the balance between presentations and discussion in meetings.

Communications with particular focus on these risks at an annualmulti-day Board meeting in early February. At this meeting, senior management reports on opportunities and risks in the markets in which the company conducts business. Additionally, each business unit president and each business segment executive vice president presents the unit’s and segment’s respective operating plan and strategic initiatives for the year, including notable business opportunities and risks. The Board reviews, adjusts where appropriate, and approves the business unit and business segment goals and adopts our company operating plan for the year. These plans and related risks are monitored throughout the year as part of periodic financial and performance reports given to the Board by the chief financial officer and executive vice presidents of each business segment. The Board also receives briefings from senior management concerning a variety of topics and related risks to the company, including defense budget and acquisition matters, cyber security, human capital management and specific customer or program developments.

In addition, each of the Board committees considers risk as it relates to its particular areas of responsibility.

Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee has responsibility for oversight of the company’s policies and practices concerning overall risk assessment and risk management. The committee reviews and takes appropriate action with respect to the company’s annual and quarterly financial statements, the internal audit program, the ethics program and internal controls over financial reporting. To facilitate these risk oversight responsibilities, the committee receives regular briefings from members of senior management on accounting matters; the internal audit plan; internal control over financial reporting matters; significant litigation and other legal matters; and ethics program matters. The committee also holds regular executive sessions with internal audit and regular executive sessions with the partners of the KPMG LLP audit team.

Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee oversees our executive compensation program to ensure that the program creates incentives for strong operational performance and for the long-term benefit of the company and its shareholders without encouraging excessive risk-taking. The committee receives briefings from the chairman and chief executive officer, human resources senior management and outside consultants and advisors on compensation matters.

Finance and Benefit Plans Committee.  The Finance and Benefit Plans Committee oversees the management of the company’s finance policies and the assets of the company’s defined benefit plans for employees. The committee oversees market risk exposure with respect to assets within the company’s defined benefit plans and related to the capital structure of the company, including borrowing, liquidity, allocation of capital and funding of benefit plans. To assess risks in these areas, the committee receives regular briefings from our senior management or external advisors on finance policies, pension plan liabilities and funding, and asset performance.

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Governance of the Company

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees risks related to the company’s governance structure and processes and risks arising from related person transactions. The committee receives briefings from the senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.

The Role of External Advisors in Risk Management.  The company’s external advisors support the risk management program in a number of ways. Specifically, external advisors support the program by: (1) auditing our financial statements; (2) reviewing and suggesting updates and improvements to our risk management processes and procedures; (3) assisting in the implementation of Board and senior management responsibilities regarding risk management; and (4) supporting and assisting with public disclosure regarding risk management and company risks.

Succession Planning and Risk Management.  The Board considers senior management succession planning a core part of the company’s risk management program. At least annually, the Board reviews with the chief executive officer succession planning for senior leadership positions, and the timing and development required to ensure continuity of leadership over the short and long term.

DIRECTOR ORIENTATIONAND CONTINUING EDUCATION

Within six months of election to the Board, each new director receives an orientation that consists of a series ofin-person briefings provided by corporate officers on our business operations; significant financial, accounting and risk-management matters; corporate governance; ethics; and key policies and practices. The new director receives briefings on the responsibilities, duties and activities of the committees on which the director will initially serve. New directors also have the opportunity to visit business units within each of our business segments and receive briefings from the respective segment executive vice president and members of business unit management teams.

To further support directors, the general counsel and chief financial officer periodically provide materials and briefing sessions on subjects that assist directors in fulfilling their duties. Annually, the Board holds amulti-day meeting with our senior management to review and approve the operating plans of each of our business units and business segments and the company as a whole. Directors also visit our business units periodically. These visits allow the directors to interact with the business unit management teams and employees and gain a firsthand view of our operations.

BOARDAND COMMITTEEPERFORMANCE SELF-ASSESSMENTS

Each year, the directors undertake a self-assessment for the Board and each committee on which they serve to elicit feedback on the performance and effectiveness of the Board and its committees. As part of this self-assessment, the directors are asked to consider the Board’s role, relations with management, composition and meetings. Each committee is asked to consider its role and the responsibilities articulated in the committee charter, the composition of the committee and the committee’s operation. Theself-assessment responses and comments are compiled by the Corporate Secretary and presented to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for initial review. The responses and comments are reviewed with each committee and the full Board.

COMMUNICATIONSWITHTHE BOARD

Any shareholder or other interested party who has a concern or question about the conduct of General Dynamics may communicate directly with ournon-management directors, the chairman or the full Board. Communications may be confidential or anonymous. Communications should be submitted in writing to the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of the Corporate Secretary, General Dynamics Corporation, 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100, Falls Church,11011 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, Virginia 22042.20190. The Corporate Secretary will receive and process all written communications and will refer all substantive communications to the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with guidelines approved by the independent members of the Board. The chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review and, if necessary, investigate and address all such communications and will report the status of these communications to thenon-management directors as a group or the full Board on a quarterly basis.

Our employees and other interested parties may also communicate concerns or complaints about our accounting, internal control over financial reporting or auditing matters directly to the Audit Committee. Communications may be confidential or anonymous and can be submitted in writing or reported by telephone. Written communications should be submitted to the chair of the Audit Committee in care of our ethics officer at the address in the preceding paragraph or at the address in the Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct Handbook provided to all employees. Our employees can call a toll-free helpline number or access the helpline online, each of which is provided to all employees. The ethics officer will review, investigate and address any concerns or complaints unless the Audit

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Governance of the Company

Committee instructs otherwise. The ethics officer will report the status of all concerns and complaints to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may also direct that matters be presented to the full Board and may direct special treatment of any concern or complaint addressed to it, including the retention of outside advisors or counsel.

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Governance of the Company

RANSACTIONS POLICYRelated Person Transactions Policy

Our Board of Directors has adopted a written policy on the review and approval of related person transactions. Related persons covered by the policy are:

(1)

   (1)

executive officers, directors and director nominees;

(2)

   (2)

any person who is known to be a beneficial owner of more than 5 percent5% of our voting securities;

(3)

   (3)

any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons; or

(4)

   (4)

any entity in which any of the foregoing persons has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

A related person transaction is defined by this policy as a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which: General Dynamics will be a participant; the amount involved exceeds $120,000; and any related person will have a direct or indirect material interest. The following interests and transactions are not subject to the policy:

(1)

   (1)

director compensation that has been approved by the Board;

(2)

   (2)

a transaction where the rates or charges are determined by competitive bid; or

(3)

   (3)

a compensatory arrangement solely related to employment with General Dynamics (or a subsidiary) that has been approved by the Compensation Committee or recommended by the Compensation Committee to the Board.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing, approving and, where applicable, ratifying related person transactions. If a member of the committee has an interest in a related person transaction, then he or she will not be part of the review process.

In considering the appropriate action to be taken regarding a related person transaction, the committee or the Board will consider the best interests of General Dynamics and whether the transaction is fair to the company, is on terms that would be obtainable in anarm’s-length transaction or is pursuant to a company discount program for which the related person is eligible, serves a compelling business reason and any other factors it deems relevant. As a condition to approving or ratifying any related person transaction, the committee or the Board may impose whatever conditions and standards it deems appropriate, including periodic monitoring of ongoing transactions.

The following transactions with a related person were determined to pose no actual conflict of interest and were reviewed and approved by the committee or the Board pursuant to our related person transactions policy:

Based upon Schedule 13G filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), BlackRock, Inc., a global provider of investment, advisory and risk management solutions, has reported beneficial ownership of more than 5 percent of our outstanding common stock. An affiliate of BlackRock provides investment management services for certain of our defined benefit plans, including plans acquired in the CSRA acquisition. The agreements with BlackRock were negotiated inarm’s-length transactions and the ownership of General Dynamics stock plays no role in the business relationship between General Dynamics and BlackRock. In addition, we believe the agreements represent standard terms and conditions for investment management services. For providing the services, BlackRock received fees in 2018 totaling approximately $3.1 million. In accordance with the related person transactions policy, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed and approved the services for 2018 and approved the continuation of the services in 2019.

Based upon Schedule 13G filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), BlackRock, Inc., a global provider of investment, advisory and risk management solutions, has reported beneficial ownership of more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock. An affiliate of BlackRock provides investment management services for certain of our defined benefit plans. The agreements with BlackRock were negotiated in arm’s-length transactions and the ownership of General Dynamics stock plays no role in the business relationship between General Dynamics and BlackRock. In addition, we believe the agreements represent standard terms and conditions for investment management services. For providing the services, BlackRock received fees in 2019 totaling approximately $2.8 million. In accordance with the related person transactions policy, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed and approved the services for 2019 and approved the continuation of the services in 2020.
Henry Crown and Company and one of its affiliated entities made payments of approximately $830,000 to the company in 2019 for the purchase of business jet spare parts and aircraft maintenance and services from our subsidiary, Gulfstream Aerospace. Additionally, these companies purchased aircraft services from our subsidiary, Jet Aviation. The amount of payments of approximately $403,000 to the company in 2018 for the purchase of business jet spare parts and aircraft maintenance and services from our subsidiary, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. Additionally, these companies purchased aircraft services from our subsidiary, Jet Aviation. The amount of payments

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Governance of the Company

made to Jet Aviation in 20182019 was approximately $448,000.$456,000. The purchases from Gulfstream and Jet Aviation were in the ordinary course of business and onarm’s-length terms. Henry Crown and Company is an affiliated entity of Mr. Crown.

32       General Dynamics


An affiliated entityTable of Nicholas D. Chabraja, who served as a directorContents

Governance of the company until retiring from the Board in May 2018, made payments of approximately $429,000 to the company in 2018 for the purchase of business jet spare parts and aircraft maintenance from our subsidiary, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. These purchases were in the ordinary course of business and onarm’s-lengthCompany terms.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATIONDirector Compensation

We compensate eachnon-management director for service on the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee reviews director compensation on an annual basis.

2018 Compensation.2019 Compensation

Non-management director compensation for 20182019 was:

Compensation ElementAmount

  COMPENSATION ELEMENT

AMOUNT

Annual Retainer

$85,000

Lead Director Retainer

$25,000

Committee Chair Annual Retainer

$10,000

Attendance Fees

$3,000 for each meeting of the Board of Directors;

$2,000 for each meeting of any committee; and
$3,000 per day for attending strategic or financial planning meetings sponsored by General Dynamics

Annual Equity Award

Approximately $150,000 on the date of award

Per Diem Fee forNon-Employee Directors Performing Specific Projects for the Company

$10,000

As part of the Compensation Committee’s annual review in early 20182019 and at its request, management engaged Aon to conduct a director compensation survey. Aon provided director compensation data for the peer group that we used to benchmark executive compensation. This information showed that the directors’ pay program was approximate to the median of the peer group. Based on this review, the committee recommended no changes to director compensation.

Eachnon-management director has the option of receiving all or part of the annual retainer in the form of Common Stock. The annual retainer, additional committee chair retainer (if any) and attendance fees paid to each director during 20182019 are reflected in the Fees Earned or Paid in Cash column of the Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 20182019 table, irrespective of whether a director took the annual retainer in shares of Common Stock. The annual equity award consists of restricted stock and stock options granted pursuant to our shareholder-approved equity compensation plan and on the same terms, limits and schedule as awards to other plan participants.

In light of the travel required by service on the Board, we also provide each director with accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverage. Payments by General Dynamics for director accidental death and dismemberment insurance premiums are reflected in the All Other Compensation column of the Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 20182019 table.

2019 Compensation.  2020 Compensation

In early 2019,2020, as part of its annual review of director compensation, the Compensation Committee requested that management update its director compensation analysis. Management again engaged Aon to provide survey data for the peer group used to benchmark executive compensation. The committee reviewed the survey data regarding director compensation provided by Aon. This information showed that the company’s director compensation was below the peer median. Based on this review, the committee recommended, no changes to director compensation.and the Board approved, an increase of $10,000 for the annual retainer and an increase of $10,000 for the annual equity award.

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Director Compensation Table

The table below provides total compensation for 2019 for each non-management director serving during the year.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019

Name     Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash(a)
     Stock
Awards(b)
     Option
Awards(c)
     All Other
Compensation(d)
     Total
James S. Crown $186,000 $74,586$75,162     $2,140     $337,888
Rudy F. deLeon$155,000$74,586$75,162$2,140$306,888
Cecil D. Haney(e)$114,111$74,586$75,162$2,504$266,363
Lester L. Lyles$151,000$74,586$75,162$4,080$304,828
Mark M. Malcolm$153,000$74,586$75,162$2,140$304,888
James N. Mattis(e)$61,489$31,184$31,135$3,650$127,458
C. Howard Nye$135,000$74,586$75,162$2,140$286,888
William A. Osborn$161,000$74,586$75,162$4,180$314,928
Catherine B. Reynolds$163,000$74,586$75,162$2,140$314,888
Laura J. Schumacher$135,000$74,586$75,162$2,140$286,888
Peter A. Wall$163,000$74,586$75,162$2,140$314,888
(a)

Messrs. Malcolm and Nye, Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Schumacher elected to receive 100% of their annual retainer in Common Stock; Messrs. deLeon, Lyles and Wall elected to receive 50% of their annual retainer in Common Stock; and Mr. Haney elected to receive 10% of his annual retainer, in Common Stock. Based upon these elections and each director’s length of service for the year, they received the following number of shares of Common Stock with the associated approximate grant date fair value: Mr. deLeon – 237 shares ($42,046); Mr. Haney – 34 shares ($6,125); Mr. Lyles – 237 shares ($42,046); Mr. Malcolm – 477 shares ($84,623); Mr. Nye – 477 shares ($84,623); Ms. Reynolds – 477 shares ($84,623); Ms. Schumacher – 477 shares ($84,623); and Mr. Wall – 166 shares ($29,457).

(b)

The amounts reported in the Stock Awards column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note Q to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 10, 2020. Restricted stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2019, for each director were as follows: 1,690 for Messrs. Crown, deLeon, Lyles, Malcolm, Osborn and Ms. Schumacher; 445 for Mr. Haney; 165 for Mr. Mattis; 695 for Mr. Nye; 1,025 for Ms. Reynolds; and 1,370 for Mr. Wall.

(c)

The amounts reported in the Option Awards column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note Q to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 10, 2020. Option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2019, for each director were as follows: 17,040 for Messrs. Crown, Osborn and Ms. Schumacher; 12,640 for Mr. deLeon; 23,940 for Mr. Lyles; 2,590 for Mr. Haney; 11,280 for Mr. Malcolm; 980 for Mr. Mattis; 4,040 for Mr. Nye; 6,050 for Ms. Reynolds; and 8,170 for Mr. Wall.

(d)

Amounts reflect payments for accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

(e)

Mr. Haney joined the Board in March 2019 and Mr. Mattis joined the Board in August 2019.

DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINESDirector Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Board of Directors believes that each director should develop a meaningful ownership position in General Dynamics. Therefore, the Board of Directors adopted stock ownership guidelines fornon-management directors. Pursuant to these guidelines, eachnon-management director is expected to own shares of our Common Stock having a value equal to at least eight times the annual retainer.Non-management directors are subject to the same holding requirements as our NEOs and are expected to retain shares received upon the vesting of restricted stock or exercise of options until the ownership guidelines are met. Management directors are subject to the ownership requirements discussed under Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Stock Ownership Guidelines.Guidelines and Holding Requirements.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

Advisory Vote on The table below provides total compensation for 2018 for eachSelection of General Dynamics’non-managementIndependent Auditors directors serving during the year. Each director is awarded the same number of shares of restricted stock and stock options each year.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATIONFOR FISCAL YEAR 2018 
  NAME  FEES EARNED
OR PAID IN CASH (a)
   

STOCK

AWARDS (b)

   OPTION
AWARDS (C)
   ALL OTHER
COMPENSATION (d)
   TOTAL 

 

Nicholas D. Chabraja (e)

 

  

 

$

 

 

        258,106

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

        75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

        74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

        450,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

        857,828

 

 

 

 

 

James S. Crown

 

  

 

$

 

 

197,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

2,140

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

348,862

 

 

 

 

 

Rudy F. deLeon

 

  

 

$

 

 

176,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

2,140

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

327,862

 

 

 

 

 

John M. Keane (e)

 

  

 

$

 

 

60,106

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

—  

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

209,828

 

 

 

 

 

Lester L. Lyles

 

  

 

$

 

 

152,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

4,080

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

305,802

 

 

 

 

 

Mark M. Malcolm

 

  

 

$

 

 

172,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

2,140

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

323,862

 

 

 

 

 

C. Howard Nye (f)

 

  

 

$

 

 

52,894

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

50,343

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

49,445

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

2,461

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

155,143

 

 

 

 

 

William A. Osborn

 

  

 

$

 

 

172,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

4,080

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

325,802

 

 

 

 

 

Catherine B. Reynolds

 

  

 

$

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

2,140

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

301,862

 

 

 

 

 

Laura J. Schumacher

 

  

 

$

 

 

146,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

2,140

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

297,862

 

 

 

 

 

Peter A. Wall

 

  

 

$

 

 

182,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

75,017

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

74,705

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

2,140

 

 

 

 

  

 

$

 

 

333,862

 

 

 

 

(a)

Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Schumacher and Messrs. Keane and Nye elected to receive 100 percent of their annual retainer in Common Stock. Messrs. deLeon, Lyles and Wall elected to receive 50 percent of their annual retainer in Common Stock. Based upon these elections and each director’s length of service for the year, they received the following number of shares of Common Stock with the associated approximate grant date fair value: Mr. deLeon — 217 shares ($42,054); Mr. Keane — 150 shares ($31,847); Mr. Lyles — 217 shares ($42,054); Mr. Nye — 286 shares ($52,686); Ms. Reynolds — 437 shares ($84,727); Ms. Schumacher — 437 shares ($84,727); and Mr. Wall — 151 shares ($29,286).

PROPOSAL 2
ADVISORY VOTE ON THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
(b)

The amounts reported in the Stock Awards column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718,Compensation — Stock Compensation. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note P to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, included in our Annual Report on Form10-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2019.Restricted stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2018, for each director were as follows: 1,508 for Messrs. Chabraja and Keane; 1,765 for Messrs. Crown, deLeon, Osborn and Lyles and Ms. Schumacher; 1,455 for Mr. Malcolm; 250 for Mr. Nye; 580 for Ms. Reynolds; and 925 for Mr. Wall.

(c)

The amounts reported in the Option Awards column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note P to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, included in our Annual Report on Form10-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2019.Option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2018, for each director were as follows: 22,146 for Messrs. Chabraja and Keane; 21,350 for Messrs. Crown and Osborn; 10,050 for Mr. deLeon; 25,930 for Mr. Lyles; 8,690 for Mr. Malcolm; 1,450 for Mr. Nye; 3,460 for Ms. Reynolds; 14,450 for Ms. Schumacher; and 5,580 for Mr. Wall.

(d)

Amount for Mr. Chabraja reflects payments for services provided to the company following his retirement from the Board at the May 2018 annual meeting. Amounts for other directors reflect payments by General Dynamics for accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

(e)

Messrs. Chabraja and Keane retired from the Board at the May 2018 annual meeting.

(f)

Mr. Nye joined the Board in May 2018.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     23


ADVISORY VOTEONTHE SELECTIONOF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

(PROPOSAL 2)

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has the sole authority to retain the company’s independent auditors and is responsible for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditors for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The Audit Committee has selected KPMG LLP (KPMG), an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent auditors for 2019.2020. KPMG has been retained as the company’s independent auditors since 2002. In order to assure continuing auditor independence, the Audit Committee periodically considers whether there should be a regular rotation of the independent audit firm. The members of the Audit Committee believe that the continued retention of KPMG to serve as the company’s independent auditors is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.

Your Board of Directors is submitting this selection of KPMG as the independent auditors for 20192020 to an advisory vote of the shareholders. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that the Audit Committee be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the audit work of the independent auditors. Nevertheless, as a good corporate governance practice, your Board has determined to solicit the vote of the shareholders on an advisory basis in making this appointment.

If the shareholders do not vote on an advisory basis in favor of the selection of KPMG as our independent auditors, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to engage KPMG and may ultimately determine to engage that firm or another audit firm without resubmitting the matter to shareholders. Even if the shareholders vote in favor of the selection of KPMG, the Audit Committee may in its sole discretion terminate the engagement of KPMG and direct the appointment of another independent audit firm at any time during the year.

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a voteFOR this proposal.

2020 Proxy Statement       35


Table of Contents

Advisory Vote on The Selection of Independent Auditors

Audit andNon-Audit Fees Fees.  

The following table shows aggregate fees for professional services rendered by KPMG for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements for the years 20182019 and 2017,2018, and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG during those years.

    2018   2017 

Audit Fees (a)

 

  $

 

23,415,000

 

 

 

  $

 

19,967,000

 

 

 

Audit-related Fees (b)

 

   

 

3,149,000

 

 

 

   

 

1,882,000

 

 

 

Tax Fees (c)

 

   

 

1,107,000

 

 

 

   

 

1,226,000

 

 

 

All Other Fees (d)

 

   

 

76,000

 

 

 

   

 

5,000

 

 

 

Total Fees

 

 

  $

 

 

27,747,000

 

 

 

 

 

  $

 

 

23,080,000

 

 

 

 

 

    2019    2018
Audit Fees(a)$25,471,100$23,415,000
Audit-related Fees(b)1,809,0003,149,000
Tax Fees(c)1,602,0001,107,000
All Other Fees(d)229,00076,000
Total Fees$29,111,000$27,747,000
(a)(a)

Audit fees are fees for professional services performed by KPMG for the audit of our consolidated annual financial statements (including the audit of internal control over financial reporting) and review of our consolidated quarterly financial statements. These fees also include fees for services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.

(b)(b)

Audit-related fees are fees for assurance and related services performed by KPMG that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements. These fees consist primarily of fees for professional services for benefit plan audits and evaluation of new accounting standards.

(c)(c)

Tax fees are fees for professional services performed by KPMG for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These fees consist primarily of fees for tax return preparation and review, tax compliance services for expatriates and advice regarding tax implications of certain transactions.

(d)(d)

All other fees are primarily related to professional services performed by KPMG for information technology contract compliance,assessment and advisory services.

Auditor Independence.

The Audit Committee has considered whether the services rendered by KPMG are compatible with maintaining KPMG’s independence. Representatives of KPMG are expected to attend the Annual Meeting, may make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to questions.

Policy onPre-Approval. Pre-Approval

The company and the Audit Committee are committed to ensuring the independence of the independent auditors, both in fact and in appearance. Therefore, in accordance with the applicable rules of the SEC, the Audit Committee has established policies and procedures forpre-approval of all audit and permittednon-audit services provided by the independent auditors. The Audit Committee determines annually whether to approve all audit and permittednon-audit services proposed to be performed by the independent auditors (including an estimate of fees). If other audit or permittednon-audit services not included in thepre-approved services are required during the year, such services must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may delegate authority to grantpre-approvals to its chair or a subcommittee as it deems appropriate, subject to a reporting obligation to the Audit Committee. All audit and permittednon-audit services listed above were pre-approved.

pre-approved.36       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Advisory Vote on The Selection of Independent Auditors

Audit Committee Report

YOUR BOARDOF DIRECTORSUNANIMOUSLYRECOMMENDSAVOTE FORTHISPROPOSAL.

24     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


The following Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement or any portion hereof into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act) or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has furnished the following report.

The following fiveseven directors serve on the Audit Committee: Mark M. Malcolm (Chair), James S. Crown, Lester L. Lyles, James N. Mattis, C. Howard Nye, William A. Osborn and Catherine B. Reynolds.

None of these directors is an officer or employee of General Dynamics. They all meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and Rule10A-3 of the Exchange Act. The Board has determined that Mr.Messrs. Malcolm, Mr.Nye and Osborn and Ms. Reynolds each qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC in Item 407(d) of RegulationS-K. The Audit Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board. In accordance with that charter, the Committeecommittee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of General Dynamics. The Committeecommittee held eight meetings in 2018.2019.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the company’s independent auditors for 2018,2019, KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, the company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018,2019, and for the year ended on that date. Management is responsible for the company’s financial reporting process, including maintaining a system of internal controls, and for preparing the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). KPMG is responsible for auditing those consolidated financial statements and for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the consolidated financial statements with GAAP. In addition, in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and KPMG management’s report on the operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and KPMG’s attestation report on the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Audit Committee has discussed with KPMG the matters required under applicable professional auditing standards and regulations adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. In addition, the Audit Committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and letter from KPMG required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with KPMG its independence, including the compatibility ofnon-audit services with maintaining KPMG’s independence. Based on the foregoing discussions and reviews, the Audit Committee has satisfied itself as to the independence of KPMG.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, the inclusion of the audited consolidated financial statements in the company’s Annual Report on Form10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This report is submitted by the Audit Committee.

Mark M. Malcolm (Chair)

James S. Crown

James N. MattisWilliam A. Osborn
(Chair)Lester L. Lyles

C. Howard Nye

William A. Osborn

Catherine B. Reynolds

February 9, 20196, 2020

General Dynamics 20192020 Proxy Statement       2537



Table of ContentsADVISORY VOTETO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(PROPOSAL 3) Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

PROPOSAL 3
ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are seeking shareholder input on our executive compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. The Board and the Compensation Committee actively monitor our executive compensation practices in light of the industry in which we operate and the marketplace for talent in which we compete. We remain focused on compensating our executive officers fairly and in a manner that emphasizes performance while providing the tools necessary to attract and retain the best talent.

As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, our executive compensation program is designed to create incentives both for strong operational performance in the current year and for the long-term benefit of the company, thereby closely aligning the interests of management with the interests of our shareholders.

For these reasons, the Board recommends shareholders vote in favor of the following resolution:

“Resolved, that the compensation paid to the company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of RegulationS-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

The vote is advisory and is not binding on the Board. However, the Compensation Committee of the Board expects to take into account the outcome of the vote as it continues to consider the company’s executive compensation program.

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a voteFOR this proposal.

YOUR BOARDOF DIRECTORSUNANIMOUSLYRECOMMENDSAVOTE FORTHISPROPOSAL.38

26       General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement



Table of Contents


Compensation Discussion and& Analysis

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYExecutive Summary

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) describes the 20182019 compensation of our Named Executive Officers (NEOs) who are identified below:

Name

               

Title

Tenure in Role

Phebe N. Novakovic

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

7 years

Jason W. Aiken

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

6 years

John P. Casey

Executive Vice President, Marine Systems

Mark C. Roualet

Executive Vice President, Combat Systems

7 years

S. Daniel Johnson*

Mark L. Burns

Executive Vice President Information Technologyof the Company and Mission Systems

4 years

*Mr. Johnson retired from General Dynamics on December 31, 2018. Christopher Marzilli, then-Vice President of the Corporation and President of General Dynamics Mission Systems, succeeded Mr. Johnson as Executive Vice President, Information Technology and Mission Systems on January 1, 2019.

President, Gulfstream Aerospace
Gregory S. Gallopoulos

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOF RESPONSIVENESSTO SHAREHOLDER FEEDBACK

At the 2018 annual meeting, the advisory vote in favor of our executive compensation program received 68 percent support, which is significantly lower than the support shown in recent years. As part of its ongoing consideration of the executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee (the Committee) reviewed this voteSenior Vice President and viewpoints expressed during our extensive shareholder engagement discussions. While the Committee noted that many shareholders support our executive compensation program and the incentives it has created to drive strong company performance, the Committee determined that changes to the long-term incentive portion of our executive compensation program would further enhance thepay-for-performance philosophy at the heart of the program. Accordingly, the Committee implemented changes to the program for our NEOs effective in 2019 as follows:

Doubled the portion of the long-term incentive award represented by performance stock units (PSUs) from 25 percent to50 percent

Added a relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) modifier to be applied to the existing Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) performance metric on the PSUs

Modified the peer group adding eight companies that match well to General Dynamics

The objective of our executive compensation program remains to align NEO compensation with company, business segment and individual performance and provide the incentives necessary to attract, motivate and retain our NEOs to drive company success and increase shareholder value.

Counsel
10 years

28     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

BUSINESS OVERVIEWBusiness Overview

General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in:

Business aviation;

Combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions;

Information technology services;

C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) solutions; and

Shipbuilding and ship repair.

Business aviation;
Combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions;
Information technology services;
C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) solutions; and
Shipbuilding and ship repair.

We operate and manage our ten business units through five business segments as shown below:

LOGO

40       General Dynamics


Table of ContentsCOMPANY PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

FinancialCompensation Discussion & Analysis

2019 Performance Summary.  Highlights

In 2018, the company’s2019, our focused commitment to operational excellence delivered another year of revenue and earnings growth and a double-digit increase in earnings per share for shareholders. The success of our approach under Ms. Novakovic’s leadership is evident in higher revenue atoperating performance drove each of our five business segments which drove growth into deliver higher revenues and earnings from continuing operations. We continueEarnings per share rose to balance$11.98, increasing by 6.8%, on a record-high revenue of $39.4 billion. Our backlog also reached an all-time high of $86.9 billion on strong order intake, driven in part by a $22.2 billion award from the U.S. Navy for the advanced-capability Block V Virginia-class submarine. Our Aerospace business expanded its portfolio of products and its backlog rose by nearly $2 billion due in part to the launch of the Gulfstream G700. To support our focus on operationsgrowing businesses, we continued to invest with a thoughtful capital deployment strategy. As stewards of your capital, in 2018 we enhanced shareholder value through our prudent use$987 million of capital including investmentexpenditures. We increased our dividend by 10% in long-term business opportunities, an increase in2019 over 2018, marking the dividend for the 21st22nd consecutive year, tactical share repurchases and the acquisition of complementary businesses. In the sixth year under Ms. Novakovic’s leadership, the company added new, key contracts, which helped us grow our backlog by over 7 percent, providing the opportunity to deliver strong operating results in the future.annual increase.

CSRA Acquisition.  On April 3, 2018, we completed a $9.7 billion acquisition of CSRA Inc. (CSRA), our largest acquisition to date. The combination of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) and CSRA created a premier provider of technology solutions and mission services to help customers across defense, intelligence and federal civilian markets advance mission performance and transform operations. Integrating these two businesses has enhanced our ability to develop cost-effective, next-generation technology solutions, leverage our expanded and deep experience across multiple agencies and pursue large-scale enterprise solutions for our customers.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     29


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Dividend History

LOGO

REVENUE
(Dollars in millions)

                  

We returned to shareholders over 115 percent of our free cash flow from operationsEARNINGS FROM
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
(Dollars in 2018. In addition to tactical share repurchases over the course of 2018, we raised our quarterly dividend for the 21st consecutive year and paid $1.1 billion in cash dividends.

millions)

Earnings from Continuing

Operations

(in millions)

2018 marked another strong year for growth in earnings from continuing operations. Earnings from continuing operations and operating margin exceeded the challenging target amounts set forth in our operating plan.

LOGO

Diluted Earnings Per Share

from Continuing Operations

In 2018, we achieved record-high diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, an increase of 17 percent from 2017.

LOGO

Return on Invested CapitalDILUTED EARNINGS
PER SHARE FROM
CONTINUING OPERATIONS

We focus our management team on driving Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) because it reflects our ability to generate returns from the capital we have deployed in our operations. 2018 reflects primarily the impact of the increased average invested capital resulting from the acquisition of CSRA.DIVIDEND HISTORY
(Quarterly)

LOGO

†We define ROIC as net operating profit after taxes divided by average invested capital. Net operating profit after taxes is defined as earnings from continuing operations plusafter-tax2020 Proxy Statement        interest and amortization expense. Average invested capital is defined as the sum41


Table of the average debt and shareholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL). ROIC excludes goodwill impairments andnon-economicContents accounting changes as they are not reflective of company performance. See Appendix A for additional information.

30     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and& Analysis

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHYExecutive Compensation Philosophy

Our management team deliversstrives to deliver shareholder returns through disciplined execution on backlog, efficient cash flow conversion and prudent capital deployment. We manage costs and investments, provide thoughtful human capital management and leadership, undertake continuous improvement initiatives and collaborate across our businesses to achieve our goals of maximizing earnings and cash flow and creating value for our shareholders. Management’s focus on these metrics is reflected in the goals set forth in the company’s incentive plans because wegoals. We believe successful execution in these areas, measured by the performance metrics set forth in our incentive plans, directly translates to shareholder value creation. Thus, NEO performance is assessed based on company-wide measures, the key metrics the Committee considers when makingThe ultimate goal of our executive compensation decisions forprogram is to closely link pay to the NEOs. Ultimately, the pay delivered toperformance of our NEOs is based on our long-standing pay-for-performance philosophy.

executives.

ComponentPurpose
Description

Our Executive Compensation Governance PracticesAnnual Base
Salary

Provides competitive, fixed-rate cash compensation

Base Salary is set at or around the median of our peers.

Annual Incentive
Compensation

Provides a cash incentive based on annual performance and aligned with our financial, strategic and operational goals

Targeted at or around the median of our peers, the cash incentive is designed to motivate and align management with annual business goals.
2019 annual incentives were based on financial metrics of earnings from continuing operations (35%) and free cash flow from continuing operations (35%), as well as strategic and operational performance (30%).
Strategic and operational performance measures include, but are not limited to: EPS growth, prudent allocation of capital, human capital management, debt management, segment performance, cost reductions and leadership.

Long-Term
Incentive (LTI)
Compensation

Provides our NEOs with a significant personal stake in the long-term success of the company by tying earned amounts to our multi-year financial and total shareholder return performance; aligns management’s interest with that of shareholders; and facilitates retention of key talent

The LTI program consists of three elements, including Performance Stock Units, or PSUs (50%), Stock Options (30%) and Restricted Stock (20%).
The LTI is targeted as a range around the median of our peers and has multi-year performance metrics designed to align NEOs with the objectives of our company and shareholders.

CEOOTHER NEOs - AVERAGE

42       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Our Executive Compensation Governance Practices

WHAT WE DO     

WHAT WE DON’T DO

What We Do

100% independent Compensation Committee

(the Committee)

Independent compensation consultant reporting to the Compensation Committee

Director and management engagement with shareholders

Market-leading stock ownership requirements (15x salary for the CEO and 8x to 10x salary for the other NEOs)

officers)

Incentive compensation based on clear, measurable goals with key financial and operational metrics that drive business performance

The value of earned long-term incentives is based on our future performance and value creation

Double-trigger change in control arrangements

Clawback, Anti-hedging and Anti-pledging policies

Thoughtfully selected peer group consisting of other aerospace and defense firms (and, starting in 2019,as well as other large-cap companies in related industries)industries with annual Committee review

Starting in 2019, Conduct annual proactive shareholder engagement to discuss executive pay program

50% of theour long-term incentive will beis delivered in performance-based stock units subject to two relevant and objectively measurable metrics, ROICReturn on Invested Capital (ROIC) and Relative TSR

(rTSR)

What We Don’t Do

✓  

No single-trigger equity acceleration on change in control

✓  

No excessive perquisites

✓  

No excise tax gross-ups paid in conjunction with a termination as part of a change in control

✓  

No employment agreements with NEOs

The Compensation Process

The Committee approves and is actively engaged in the design and implementation of the executive compensation program, with the support of the independent compensation consultant and company management. The program is structured to:

Provide market-competitive total target compensation that is pay-for-performance based
Compensate executives subject to clear and challenging performance metrics
Align executive compensation with shareholder value creation
Ensure retention and growth for executives in a competitive environment

The program objective of pay for performance is achieved through the use of short- and long-term incentives. The company targets the median pay of our peers as further discussed in detail below. In addition, through the annual and long-term incentive plans, the NEOs are rewarded for outperforming on company goals.

2020 Proxy Statement       43


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Evaluation and Compensation Process Timeline

November 2018     
Business units present operating goals and plans to the chairman and chief executive officer
The chairman and chief executive officer, in consultation with chief financial officer and executive vice presidents, establishes company operating goals
February 2019
Business units present business plans to the Board of Directors
The Board reviews, adjusts where appropriate, and approves business unit operating goals and adopts the company operating plan
The company operating plan establishes the financial goals for the annual incentive and long-term incentive. Throughout the year, the Board reviews and monitors company performance as compared to the operating plan through a series of financial and operating reports from senior management
The proposed annual incentive payouts for 2018 performance, together with proposed base salary and long-term incentive grant values for 2019, are presented to the Committee on a scorecard for each executive, along with commentary on financial performance accomplishments, strategic and operational performance and any other factors not contemplated at the start of the year

✓  

January – February 2020

No merit pools

Based on company and individual performance for the prior fiscal year, the chairman and chief executive officer calculates a score for each NEO (other than herself)
The Committee evaluates the chairman and chief executive officer’s performance and reviews peer compensation data in preparation for determining an annual incentive payout for the NEOs
The Committee ensures base salaries; theysalary recommendations approximate the market 50th percentile
The proposed annual incentive payouts for 2019 performance, together with proposed base salary and long-term incentive grant values for 2020, are tiedpresented to the peer group median

Committee on a scorecard for each executive, along with commentary on financial performance accomplishments, strategic and operational performance and any other factors not contemplated at the start of the year
March 2020
The Committee reviews NEO scorecards and pay recommendations from management
The Committee approves compensation based on the clearly defined and disclosed performance metrics described in this Proxy Statement. The Committee’s decisions also reflect factors such as the degree of difficulty of goals, market conditions and exceptional individual achievement.
The Committee reviews, refines and approves compensation for the chairman and chief executive officer in executive session
The Committee certifies the results of the 3-year performance measures for PSUs
The Committee reviews, refines and approves financial, strategic and operational goals for the next year

44General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Peer Group and Benchmarking to the Market

Each year the Committee, in consultation with management and with support from its independent compensation consultant, develops a peer group. The peer group was modified in 2019. Based on a review for 2020, the peer group remained the same. It is comprised of companies that are:

In similar industries and where General Dynamics competes for business
Likely sources of or competition for executive talent
Reasonably comparable in size, as measured by revenue and market capitalization
Reasonably similar in organizational structure and complexity
Included as peers of some of our peer companies

Peer group proxy data and survey data provided by Aon are utilized to assess the competitiveness of our executive compensation practices, structures and levels. The Committee reviews and analyzes the peer group annually for reasonableness and alignment with the objectives listed above.

Peer Group Companies     Market
Capitalization
(in millions)*
     Revenue
(in millions)**
     Employee
Population
     Peer of
Peers
3M Company   $101,450      $32,136      96,163   
Accenture plc$133,711$43,215492,000
The Boeing Company$183,335$76,559161,100
Caterpillar Inc.$81,617$53,800104,000
Cisco Systems, Inc.$203,459$51,90475,900
Deere & Company$54,278$39,23373,489
Eaton Corporation plc$39,157$21,390101,000
Emerson Electric Co.$46,588$18,37288,000
Honeywell International Inc.$126,472$36,709113,000
Johnson Controls International plc$31,404$23,968104,000
Lockheed Martin Corporation$109,833$59,812110,000
Northrop Grumman Corporation$57,970$33,84190,000
Raytheon Company$61,193$29,17670,000
Textron Inc.$10,181$13,63035,000
United Technologies Corporation$127,850$77,046243,200
General Dynamics$50,898$39,350102,900
General Dynamics (Percentile Rank)25%57%55%
*As of December 31, 2019
**As of latest annual filing

2020 Proxy Statement       3145


Table of Contents


Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Shareholder Engagement

In 2019, we received 96% approval for our advisory vote on executive compensation. We believe our efforts to engage with shareholders and Analysis

SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

At our 2018 annual shareholders’ meeting, approximately 68 percent of the votes cast werethoughtfully consider and incorporate shareholder feedback are reflected in favor of the advisory resolution to approve our company’s executive compensation program. Thisthis strong level of support was a significant decline fromsupport. As we have for the 2017 vote, when approximately 96 percent of the votes cast were in favor of this proposal. In connection with the 2018 annual meeting,past several years, we conducted an extensive shareholder outreach campaign through which seniortargeted at holders of over 65% of our Common Stock. Senior representatives of our Investor Relations, Corporate Governanceinvestor relations, corporate governance and Human Resources (including Executive Compensation) groups,human resources, supplemented by our Lead Director as appropriate, met in-person or by phone with shareholders representing over 50 percent of our outstanding shares of Common Stock to gather feedback on our governance, executive compensation program, operational performance, sustainability efforts and other business topics.

BasedThe following provides a summary of the most recent enhancements to our program based on the feedback we received we concluded thatover the following two items were of most concern:

The allocation within our long-term incentive compensation plan among performance shares, stock options and restricted stock

The absence of a relative metric applicable to performance shares under our long-term incentive plan

Considering this feedback and the results of the advisory vote on executive compensation at our 2018 annual meeting, senior management and the Committee conducted a comprehensive review of our executive compensation program as applicable to our NEOs. Following this review, significant changes were made as shown below.

last several years:

Shareholder
Feedback

     

Changes Made in Response

AEnhance disclosure and provide greater transparency regarding the annual incentive award
For 2019, we changed the allocation of the annual incentive to more formally incorporate strategic and operational goals in addition to our financial metrics as follows: 35% Earnings from Continuing Operations – 35% Free Cash Flow from Operations – 30% Strategic and Operational Goals.
We also provided a more comprehensive disclosure of our annual incentive metrics, which includes threshold and maximum goals around our targets, commentary regarding goal setting and a more thorough discussion of the performance of each of our NEOs on the financial, strategic and operational goals for the annual incentive award.
Increase proportion of annual equity in the form of PSUs

Starting with 2019 equity awards, annual grants reflect 50 percent50% PSUs, 30 percent30% stock options and 20 percent shares of20% restricted stock.

Prior to 2019, the annual equity allocation was 25% PSUs, 50% stock options and 25% restricted stock.
AIncorporate a relative performance measure should be incorporated into the program

Starting with the 2019 equity awards, a relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR)(rTSR) modifier will be applied against ROIC performance results on performance stock units.PSUs. The TSRrTSR modifier can increase or decrease the PSU payout by as much as one-third depending on the company’s performance ranking relative to the TSRs of the companies in the S&P 500 thus better aligning long-term compensation to the relative stock performance of the company and ensuring alignment with our shareholders.

Peer group should be expanded

The Committee revised the peer group it uses to benchmark executive pay levels. Eight new companies of reasonably similar size, scope and complexity were added, and two companies, Rockwell Collins, Inc. and L-3 Technologies, Inc., were removed. The Committee believes this new peer group of 15 companies is appropriate for our industry and reflects companies with whom we compete for talent.

Revised Peer Group

*Addition for 2019

3M Company*Johnson Controls International plc*
Accenture plc*Lockheed Martin Corporation
Caterpillar Inc.*Northrop Grumman Corporation
Cisco Systems, Inc.*Raytheon Company
Deere & Company*Textron Inc.
Eaton Corporation plc*The Boeing Company
Emerson Electric Co.*United Technologies Corporation
Honeywell International Inc.

In the fall46       General Dynamics


Table of 2018, we continued our shareholder engagement efforts by conducting outreach to holders of approximately 65 percent of our outstanding shares. Once again, our engagement team, comprised of senior management and our Lead Director for select meetings, met with holders representing over 50 percent of our outstanding shares. During these conversations, we discussed the changes made to our executive compensation program for 2019 and other matters of importance to the company and shareholders. Overall, the shareholders with whom we engaged expressed strong support for the changes made to our future pay structure and the increased alignment of pay with company performance.Contents

32     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Components of Executive Compensation and Analysis

THE COMPENSATION PROCESSAlignment with Company Performance

The Committee approves and is actively engaged in the design and implementation of the executive compensation program, with the support of the independent compensation consultant and company management. The program is structured to:

Provide market-competitive total target compensation

Compensate executives subject to clear and challenging performance metrics

Align executive compensation with shareholder value creation

Ensure retention and growth for executives in a competitive environment

The program objective of pay for performance is achieved through the use of short- and long-term incentives. The company targets the median pay of our peers as further discussed in detail below. In addition, through the annual incentive plan, the NEOs are rewarded for achieving annual company goals.

SETTING COMPENSATION LEVELSAND EVALUATING PERFORMANCE

Setting compensation for senior executives is a 16-month process that begins in the fall of each year. The first steps in this process focus on establishing the operating goals for the company for the upcoming year. During this phase, the business units develop challenging but achievable goals which then form the basis of the business segment operating plans. In consultation with the chairman and chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, these plans are presented to the Board of Directors early the next year. After review and, where appropriate, adjustment, by the Board, the company operating plan for the year is adopted. Throughout the year, the Board reviews and monitors company performance as compared to the operating plan through a series of financial and operating reports given by the chief financial officer and the executive vice presidents.

Compensation discussions begin immediately following the execution of the operating plan. Based on company and individual performance for the prior fiscal year, the chairman and chief executive officer calculates and assigns a score to each NEO (other than herself) using a scorecard. The score for the chief executive officer is calculated solely by a review of independent directors. The scores determine the compensation recommendations that are made in the first quarter of the year. In February, the Committee reviews the NEO scorecards, calculates the score for the chief executive officer and reviews the compensation recommendations supported by the scores. As part of this process, the Committee reviews market data to ensure that any base salary increase does not place the NEOs’ annual salary in excess of the 50th percentile of our peer group.

The Committee convenes again in early March to review the final scorecards for the company and approves any base salary increases, annual incentive payments for the prior year’s performance and current-year long-term incentive grants. The Committee reviews, refines and approves compensation for the chairman and chief executive officer in executive session at the March meeting. The Committee approves compensation based on the clearly defined and disclosed performance goals described in this Proxy Statement. The Committee’s decisions also reflect factors such as the degree of difficulty of goals, market conditions and exceptional individual achievement.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     33


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

2018 EVALUATIONAND COMPENSATION PROCESS TIMELINE

November 2017

 Business units present plans to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice Presidents, establishes company operating goals

February 2018

 Business units present business plans to the Board of Directors

 The Board reviews, adjusts where appropriate, and approves business unit operating goals and adopts the company operating plan

 The company operating plan serves as the financial goals for the annual incentive and long-term incentive

January – February 2019

 Based on achievement against the 2018 operating plan, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer proposes an annual incentive payout for each NEO other than herself and the Committee evaluates the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s performance and reviews peer compensation data in preparation for determining an annual incentive payout for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 The proposed annual incentive payouts for 2018, together with proposed 2019 base salary and long-term incentive grant values, are presented to the Committee on a scorecard for each executive, along with commentary on financial performance accomplishments and any factors not contemplated at the start of the year

 The proposed payouts are based on performance against the company’s operating plan, the difficulty of the operating plan and the individual’s contributions to the success of the operating plan

 The Committee ensures base salary recommendations do not exceed the market 50th percentile

March 2019

 The Committee reviews NEO scorecards and pay recommendations and approves 2019 base salary, 2018 earned annual incentive and 2019 long-term incentive amounts

 The Committee reviews, refines and approves compensation for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in executive session

34     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

PEER GROUPAND BENCHMARKINGTOTHE MARKET

Each year the Committee, in consultation with management and with support from its independent compensation consultant, develops a peer group comprised of companies that are:

In similar industries and where General Dynamics competes for business

Likely sources of or competition for executive talent

Reasonably comparable in size, as measured by revenue and market capitalization

Reasonably similar in organizational structure and complexity

Included as peers of some of our peer companies

In 2018, the Committee made material revisions to the peer group to arrive at a peer group of 15 companies. Seven of the nine similarly-sized aerospace and defense companies from the 2017 peer group were retained; two companies were removed: Rockwell Collins, which was acquired by current peer United Technologies, and L-3 due to its smaller size. Eight new companies that met the above-listed criteria were added. Peer group proxy data and survey data provided by Aon are utilized to assess the competitiveness of our executive compensation practices, structures and levels. The Committee reviews and analyzes the peer group annually for reasonableness and alignment with the objectives listed above.

                PEER GROUP COMPANIES*

 

   

Market     
Capitalization     

(in millions)     

      
Revenue     
(in millions)     
  Employee     
Population     
  Peer of Peers

3M Company**

 

  $ 110,949     

 

  $ 32,765     

 

    93,516     

 

  

 

Accenture plc**

 

  $ 108,331     

 

  $ 39,574     

 

  469,000     

 

  

The Boeing Company

 

  $ 183,143     

 

  $ 101,127     

 

  153,000     

 

  

 

Caterpillar Inc.**

 

  $ 74,985     

 

  $ 54,722     

 

  104,000     

 

  

 

Cisco Systems, Inc.**

 

  $ 200,202     

 

  $ 49,330     

 

    74,200     

 

  

 

Deere & Company**

 

  $ 42,783     

 

  $ 37,318     

 

    74,413     

 

  

 

Eaton Corporation plc**

 

  $ 29,757     

 

  $ 21,609     

 

    99,000     

 

  

 

Emerson Electric Co.**

 

  $ 48,128     

 

  $ 17,408     

 

    87,500     

 

  

 

Honeywell International Inc.

 

  $ 97,807     

 

  $ 41,802     

 

  114,000     

 

  

 

Johnson Controls International plc**

 

  $ 27,398     

 

  $ 31,559     

 

  122,000     

 

  

 

Lockheed Martin Corporation

 

  $ 74,474     

 

  $ 53,762     

 

  105,000     

 

  

 

Northrop Grumman Corporation

 

  $ 42,520     

 

  $ 30,095     

 

    85,000     

 

  

 

Raytheon Company

 

  $ 43,640     

 

  $ 27,058     

 

    67,000     

 

  

 

Textron Inc.

 

  $ 11,091     

 

  $ 13,972     

 

    35,000     

 

  

 

United Technologies Corporation

 

  $ 91,933     

 

  $ 66,501     

 

  240,200     

 

  

 

     

General Dynamics

 

  $ 46,558     

 

  $ 36,193     

 

  105,600     

 

   

General Dynamics (Percentile Rank)  

 

  40%  

 

  48%     

 

  65%     

 

   

Peer group data are as of their latest annual filing

**

New addition to peer group

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     35


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

COMPONENTSOF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATIONAND

ALIGNMENTWITH COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Each NEO receives a mix of fixed and variable components of compensation. The following charts summarize the various forms of compensation.

LOGO

  *See discussion regarding the 2019 changes to long-term incentive compensation on page 32

Structural Alignment of Pay with Performance.We demonstrate our commitment to aligning compensation with company performance through the following key elements of the executive compensation program:

Executive compensation is linked strongly to the financial and operational performance of the company. In 2018, over 90 percent of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s total compensation was linked to metrics assessing company or stock performance and therefore meaningfully at risk, while over 80 percent of the other NEOs’ compensation was in line with a similar risk profile. A significant amount of the at-risk compensation is delivered through equity: PSUs, stock options and restricted stock.

To emphasize a culture of ownership and strengthen management’s alignment with long-term shareholder interests, the Committee requires one of the strictest set of stock ownership guidelines across the Fortune 100 for the NEOs. Our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is required to hold General Dynamics stock with a value at least equal to 15 times base salary. The other NEOs are required to hold General Dynamics stock with a value at least equal to 10 times base salary.

The following charts demonstrate the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s target compensation mix and other NEOs’ average target compensation mix.

2018 CEO Target Compensation Mix

2018 Other NEO Target Compensation Mix

LOGOLOGO

36     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Linking Pay Levels to the Market and General Dynamics Performance.NEO compensation is generally targeted toat the median of the peer group by component and in total.component. To the extent compensation exceeds targeted levels, it is directly attributable to performance that increases shareholder value and exceeds measurable, clearly defined performance goals. Conversely, total compensation can be substantially less than target for performance that falls significantly short of pre-established targets.

Setting Challenging Targets Based on Market Conditions.We demonstrate our commitment to aligning compensation with company performance through the following key elements of the executive compensation program:

Executive compensation is linked strongly to the financial and operational performance of the company. In 2019, over 90% of the chairman and chief executive officer’s total compensation was linked to metrics assessing company or stock performance and therefore meaningfully at-risk, while over 80% of the other NEOs’ compensation was in line with a similar risk profile. Over 75% of the at-risk compensation is delivered through equity: PSUs, stock options and restricted stock.
To emphasize a culture of ownership and strengthen management’s alignment with long-term shareholder interests, the Committee requires one of the strictest sets of stock ownership guidelines across the Fortune 100 for the NEOs. Our chairman and chief executive officer is required to hold General Dynamics stock with a value at least equal to 15 times base salary. The other NEOs are required to hold General Dynamics stock with a value at least 8 to 10 times base salary.

Each NEO receives a mix of fixed and variable components of compensation. The annual incentive andfollowing charts summarize the PSUs are based on measurable and objective performance metrics. various forms of compensation.

Components of CompensationDescription
Annual Base Salary (Cash)
Base Salary is set at or around the median of our peers to represent a fixed level of competitive compensation.
Annual Incentive Compensation (Cash)
2019 annual incentives were based on financial metrics of earnings from continuing operations (35%) and free cash flow from continuing operations (35%), as well as strategic and operational performance (30%).
Strategic and operational performance measures include, but are not limited to: EPS growth, prudent allocation of capital, human capital management, debt management, segment performance, cost reductions and leadership.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Performance Stock Units (PSUs):50%
PSUs closely connect NEOs to the company’s financial performance and total shareholder return, and act as a retention tool over the three-year performance period.
Stock Options:30%
Stock options closely connect NEOs to the company’s stock price performance and align our executive team with shareholders over the long term. They also act as a retention tool.
Restricted Stock:20%
Restricted stock closely connects NEOs to the company’s total shareholder return performance over the three-year vesting period and also acts as a retention tool.
Benefits and Perquisites
The company provides market competitive perquisites, retirement, health and welfare benefits and change-in-control arrangements for purposes of recruitment and retention and to ensure the security and accessibility of our executives to facilitate the transaction of business.

2020 Proxy Statement       47


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Annual incentive performance targets were set in early 2018 based on backlog, anticipated order activity and expected market conditions. Three-year target goals for the PSUs were set in early 2018 based on our long-term operating plans. Targets were in line with guidance provided to the market by company management.

ANNUAL BASE SALARYBase Salary

We pay each NEO a base salary that reflectsis set around the peer group median (50th percentile) salary.of our peers. Salaries are reviewed annually, and increases, when they occur, are driven primarily by changes in the market. Consequently, we adjusted the salaries for all our NEOs except the chairman and chief executive officer to reflect the market. We believe that organizations that perform well over the long term, like General Dynamics, make an effort to pay salaries at or near the market median and create opportunities for executives to earn above-median compensation through annual and long-term incentives that are awarded based on performance relative to challenging and clear performance goals. The goal of our base salary is to provide a competitive, fixed-rate of cash compensation.

Name and Title     2018 Base Salary     2019 Base Salary
Ms. Novakovic*
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
   $1,585,000      $1,585,000   
Mr. Aiken
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
$850,000$850,000
Mr. Roualet
Executive Vice President, Combat Systems
$800,000$800,000
Mr. Burns
Vice President and President, Gulfstream Aerospace
$655,000$655,000
Mr. Gallopoulos
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
$720,000$740,000
*Ms. Novakovic’s base salary has remained constant since 2015.

 

NAMEAND TITLE

 

  

 

2017 BASE
SALARY

 

   

 

2018  BASE
SALARY

 

  

 

% INCREASE*

 

 

 

Ms. Novakovic

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

  

 

 

 

 

$ 1,585,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$ 1,585,000

 

  

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

Mr. Aiken

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

  

 

 

 

 

$    770,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$    850,000

 

  

 

 

 

 

10.4

 

 

 

 

Mr. Casey

Executive Vice President, Marine Systems

 

  

 

 

 

 

$    780,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$    800,000

 

  

 

 

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

Mr. Roualet

Executive Vice President, Combat Systems

 

  

 

 

 

 

$    780,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$    800,000

 

  

 

 

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

Mr. Johnson

Executive Vice President, Information Technology and Mission Systems

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$    780,000

 

 

 

 

  

 

$    800,000

 

  

 

 

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

*Ms. Novakovic’s base salary has remained constant since 2015. For 2018, Mr. Aiken’s 10.4 percent increase, as well as the 2.6 percent increases for each of our three Executive Vice Presidents, were made to align their base pay with the market median.

ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATIONAnnual Incentive Compensation

The NEOs are eligible to earn an annual incentive paid in cash based on the company’s and their performance. The incentive is designed to place at risk a significant portion of each NEO’s total target compensation. The incentive is based on performance against specific, measurable goals established at the beginning of the year and approved by the Compensation Committee as well as the Committee’s assessment of each NEO’s individual contribution to company performance during the year. The goals are designed to be difficult but achievable through solid execution. The Committee believes the chosen incentive metrics are good indicators of the company’s overall performance and lead to the creation of long-term value for our shareholders.

NEO PERFORMANCE METRICS

In 2018, the annual incentive for each NEO was determined initially based on the same two financial metrics: company earnings from continuing operations and free cash flow from operations. Because the executive vice presidents play a major role in the overall success of the company in addition to overseeing their business segment, the Committee believes that they should be evaluated on similar company-wide metrics as the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     37


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The Committee approved these target goals, in alignment with our annual operating plan, in 2018 and believes these goals were appropriately challenging considering our business outlook at the time. The 2018 earnings from continuing operations target represented a 9.3 percent growth from the 2017 actual performance for this metric, demonstrating significant goal rigor. The 2018 free cash flow from operations goal was set below 2017 actual performance for this metric because of the anticipated operating working capital growth required to support an international wheeled armored vehicle contract with the Canadian government in our Combat Systems segment and the new G500 and G600 aircraft programs in our Aerospace segment.

NEOSetting Annual Targets and Achievement - 2018Incentive Targets.

Performance Metric

Weighting

Target

Actual

Achievement

Earnings from Continuing Operations

50

$

3,184 million

$

3,358 million

Exceeded

Free Cash Flow from Operations*

50

$

2,830 million

$

2,458 million

Below Target

*

See Appendix A for a discussion of thisnon-GAAP measure.

General Dynamics delivered strong financial results in 2018. Our actual performance in 2018 was above target by 5.5 percent for earnings from continuing operations, reflecting solid performance, but below target for free cash flow from operations. The free cash flow from operations for 2018 was $2.5 billion compared with a target of $2.8 billion or approximately $370 million lower. The modest shortfall versus the free cash flow from operations target was due to delays in payments on the international wheeled armored vehicle contract resulting from diplomatic issues between the Canadian government and its customer on our armored vehicle supply contract referenced above. Absent this issue, we would have exceeded our free cash flow target for 2018.

The annual incentive payouts for 2018 were determined taking into account the company’s outperformance on the earnings from continuing operations goal and the below-target performance on the free cash flow from operations goal. However, the impact of the below-target performance on the free cash flow from operations was tempered somewhat as it resulted from a unique and unexpected diplomatic situation between the Canadian government and its customer on our armored vehicle supply contract and was not reflective of operational issues or management’s deficiency. Ultimately, all of our NEOs exhibited exceptional individual performance and the company delivered solid operational and financial performance in 2018, with all-time highs for revenue, earnings from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations.

Other notable 2018 accomplishments included:

Each of our five segments experienced organic revenue growth. We, once again, achieved double-digit year-over-year growth in diluted earnings per share, which was up 17.4 percent over 2017. We had a book-to-bill ratio of 1:1 on a consolidated basis and ended the year with total backlog of $67.9 billion, up 7.4 percent over 2017.

Our Aerospace segment successfully managed through a new model transition while achieving good order intake, industry leading operating margins and increased deliveries of large cabin aircraft. We achieved FAA certification and began customer deliveries of the all-new G500 business jet. Additionally, we resolved a significant supplier challenge, which will support improved quality and lower costs.

Our Defense businesses demonstrated strong operating performance while continuing to book significant new business. Backlog in the defense segments grew by 11.4 percent over 2017 with each of the segments achieving an organic book-to-bill ratio equal to or greater than 1:1. We embarked on a multi-year capital investment plan to support the substantial growth we anticipate in our Marine Systems segment driven by the Columbia-class submarine program.

With the combination of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) and CSRA, we have created a premier provider of technology solutions and mission services to help customers across defense, intelligence and federal civilian markets advance mission performance and transform operations. Integrating these two businesses has enhanced our ability to develop cost-effective, next-generation technology solutions, leverage our expanded and deep experience across multiple agencies and pursue large-scale enterprise solutions for our customers.

38     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The below table summarizes the NEO’s targets and the Committee’s determination of annual incentives. Annual incentives for 2018 performance reflect an average decline of more than 11 percent from the prior year.

 

 

  NAMEAND TITLE

 

 

 

 

 

   2018 BASE   
   SALARY   

 

 

 

 

   TARGET   
   INCENTIVE   
    (% OF BASE)   

 

 

 

   MAXIMUM   
   INCENTIVE   
   (% OF BASE)   

 

 

 

 

   TARGET   
   INCENTIVE    

 

 

 

 

 

   MAXIMUM   
   INCENTIVE    

 

 

 

 

   ANNUAL   
   INCENTIVE   
    PAYOUT   

 

 

Ms. Novakovic

 

 

 

$ 1,585,000

 

 

 

170%

 

 

 

340%

 

 

 

$ 2,694,500

 

 

 

$5,389,000

 

 

 

$4,727,000

 

 

Mr. Aiken

 

 

 

$   850,000

 

 

 

100%

 

 

 

200%

 

 

 

$   850,000

 

 

 

$1,700,000

 

 

 

$1,275,000

 

 

Mr. Casey

 

 

 

$   800,000

 

 

 

100%

 

 

 

200%

 

 

 

$   800,000

 

 

 

$1,600,000

 

 

 

$1,344,000

 

 

Mr. Roualet

 

 

 

$   800,000

 

 

 

100%

 

 

 

200%

 

 

 

$   800,000

 

 

 

$1,600,000

 

 

 

$1,288,000

 

 

Mr. Johnson

 

 

 

$   800,000

 

 

 

100%

 

 

 

200%

 

 

 

$   800,000

 

 

 

$1,600,000

 

 

 

$1,000,000

 

Each NEO’s target annual incentive, as a percentage of base salary, was determined during our annual compensation benchmarking process and is generally designed to provide total cash compensation near the 50th percentile of the peer group if targets are met. Consistent with peer and market practice, the maximum incentive that can be earned under this plan is two times the target amount. For performance that falls significantly short of thepre-established target, there may be no payout.

NEO Performance Metrics.For 2019, the annual incentive for each NEO was determined based on three performance metrics, two equally-weighted financial metrics totaling 70%: earnings from continuing operations and free cash flow from operations and strategic and operational goals weighted 30%. Because our NEOs play a major role in the overall success of the company in addition to overseeing their business and operational segments, the Committee believes that they should be evaluated on similar company-wide financial metrics as the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer. The performance targets were set in early 2019 based on expected market conditions. The Compensation Committee determines the final payout by considering the NEO’s achievements and contributions during the year as well as company performance, market conditions and difficulty of achieving the goals.

48       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

How We Chose Our Target Goals.The Committee approved the target goals for the two financial metrics, in alignment with our annual operating plan and financial guidance, and believes these goals were appropriately challenging and demonstrated significant goal rigor, considering our business outlook at the time.

The 2019 earnings from continuing operations and free cash flow from operations targets represented 1.1% and 14.7% growth, respectively, from the 2018 actual performance for these metrics. When comparing the targets year over year, the 2019 earnings from continuing operations target was 6.6% higher than the 2018 target. The 2019 free cash flow from operations target was essentially flat with the 2018 target, reflecting the impact of the expected increase in capital expenditures in 2019 within the Marine Systems segment to support anticipated growth at Electric Boat.

ANNUAL TARGETS AND ACHIEVEMENT – 2019

Performance Metric     Threshold     Target     Maximum     Weighting     Payout
(% of Target)

Earnings from Continuing Operations

35%127% of Target
Free Cash Flow from Operations*35%71% of Target
Strategic & Operational

0%

100%

200%

30%See Discussion Below
*See Appendix A for a discussion of this non-GAAP measure.
**Includes a $500 million progress payment collected in early January 2020 following protracted but successful negotiations with an international customer over past due obligations arising prior to 2020 to which management devoted extensive effort toward resolution in 2019.

Financial Performance Commentary.Each NEO had financial goals (shown above) that determined 70% of their total annual incentive score. Our 2019 earnings from continuing operations exceeded target and reflected 3.8% growth from the results we achieved in 2018. Despite a two-year payment delay from an international wheeled vehicle customer in our Combat Systems segment that continued into 2019, we worked diligently and achieved 88% of target free cash flow from operations. Absent this issue, we would have exceeded our free cash flow from operations target for 2019.

Strategic and Operational Goals and Performance Commentary.Each NEO had Strategic/Operational goals that determined 30% of their total annual incentive score. At the beginning of the year, the Committee approved the strategic and operational goals for each NEO. The goals were designed to reflect the significant individual performance expectations for each NEO and fully contemplate that notable achievements beyond the approved goals can be recognized in the individual achievements for the year. Each NEO is expected to contribute to the financial performance of the company beyond that specifically recognized in the financial performance metrics listed in the table above. The following goals, results and contributions were taken into consideration by the Committee to judge the performance of each NEO and are reflected in the individual scores.

2020 Proxy Statement       49


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Phebe N. Novakovic – 200% of Target
Goals
Drive the financial performance of the company while prudently allocating capital
Provide strong leadership of cost reduction initiatives throughout the company 
Effectively manage key leadership transitions
Manage enterprise challenges
Achievements
Drove record-high operating performance in revenue, operating earnings and earnings per share.
Achieved record-high backlog of $87 billion, up 28% from 2018, supporting our long-term growth expectations. Of particular note were the orders for Gulfstream aircraft that increased 57% over 2018 during a period of significant transition to three new models and the $22 billion contract award for Block V of the Virginia-class submarine program, the largest shipbuilding contract in U.S. Navy history.
Made prudent capital allocation decisions during a period of constrained cash due to significant customer payment delays on an international wheeled vehicle contract while managing through a multi-year capital investment plan to support the substantial growth anticipated at Electric Boat.
Led the cost containment and reduction efforts to drive operating margin performance as the company transitions through a mix shift to several new commercial products at Gulfstream Aerospace and contracts within the defense segments.
Managed succession planning through several senior leadership transitions and provided key guidance and oversight to new leaders.
Directed and provided significant leadership as to the direction of the customer negotiations on a significant wheeled vehicle contract.
Provided oversight and guidance to the strategic efforts at Gulfstream Aerospace to manage through a new model transition; within the Marine Systems segment to influence the contract negotiations on the awarded Virginia-class Block V and upcoming Columbia-class submarine program; and at General Dynamics Information Technology as they managed the integration efforts post the 2018 acquisition of CSRA.

Jason Aiken – 200% of Target
Goals
Drive the financial performance of the company including earnings per share growth, effective debt management and tax planning strategies
Lead the financial direction of cost reduction and cash maximization efforts across the company 
Provide leadership, oversight and succession planning guidance to the finance function
Achievements
Drove record-high operating performance in revenue, operating earnings and earnings per share.
Achieved record-high backlog, up 28% from 2018, supporting our long-term growth expectations.
Led efforts to maximize the company’s free cash flow from operations in light of continued payment delays related to an international wheeled vehicle contract. Efforts included reduction strategies in the areas of capital expenditures, cash taxes and working capital to facilitate the repayment of outstanding commercial paper as planned.
One of two lead negotiators on contract amendment with an international wheeled vehicle customer that resolved two-year long delinquent payment issues.
Provided financial leadership and direction over company-wide cost reduction efforts to improve the operating performance across the company.
Actively managed the leadership development and succession planning across the finance organization.

50       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Mark C. Roualet – 190% of Target
Goals
Meet or exceed Combat Systems segment financial goals
Direct segment in driving the reduction of costs
Assist with the resolution of operating challenges and leadership transitions
Thorough management and frequent reporting of business unit risks and opportunities
Achievements
Achieved strong Combat Systems group growth in revenue and operating earnings, 12.3% and 3.5%, respectively, while earning a solid 14.2% operating margin.
Led the segment to maximize their cash flow in light of continued payment delays on an international wheeled vehicle contract.
Provided experienced leadership and oversight of the Combat Systems segment including advice and counsel to the business unit presidents.
Oversaw and directed key operational challenges within the Combat Systems segment resulting in greater manufacturing predictability, delivery improvements and schedule adherence.
Provided significant direction and influence to ensure that succession planning efforts within the Combat Systems segment were timely and executed without management interruption.
Worked in conjunction with the chairman and chief executive officer to manage the business risks and opportunities to position the Combat Systems segment for future growth.

Mark L. Burns – 197% of Target
Goals
Meet or exceed Gulfstream Aerospace financial goals
Exceed new aircraft order goal
Meet major development milestones
Harmonize health and welfare plan offerings
Achievements
Strong Gulfstream Aerospace performance including record-high revenue and operating earnings while managing through a significant transition to new aircraft models and achieving industry-leading operating margins.
Net orders for Gulfstream aircraft increased over 57% from 2018 reflecting significant demand for its three new products - G500, G600 and recently introduced G700.
Met all significant development milestones, achieved U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certification of the G600 and delivered 147 aircraft to customers, a 21% increase over 2018.
Harmonized health and welfare plans to reflect the consolidated offerings.
Certified two consequential safety technologies, runway overrun protection and Enhanced Vision System to land, both industry firsts.
Recognized for significant sustainability efforts to utilize and promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel.

2020 Proxy Statement       51


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Gregory S. Gallopoulos – 200% of Target
Goals
Provide leadership and oversight of the legal function including effective use and management of outside counsel
Contribute significantly to the strategy and resolution of general business and legal matters impacting the company
Provide strategic thought leadership with respect to legal matters and reduction of legal risk to the company
Achievements
Developed sophisticated and innovative legal strategies and options to address significant business issues and areas of legal risk.
Managed legal department talent development and succession planning to provide seamless transitions to business unit general counsels and corporate legal roles.
Supported the chairman and chief executive officer’s strategic and business priorities with thoughtful and timely legal advice and counsel.
Assembled a global team of experts and top-tier legal talent and developed strategies for critical business engagements including negotiations.
Focused on strategies to minimize legal expense while preventing the imposition of liability on matters of key importance.
Emphasized and directed the legal and operations management teams on the importance of adhering to and fostering a culture of compliance.

ANNUAL INCENTIVE PAYOUT

The below table summarizes the NEOs’ targets and the Committee’s determination of earned annual incentives. Annual incentives for 2019 performance reflect a decline of 21% from the prior year reflecting our pay-for-performance philosophy, particularly due to the company’s free cash flow from operations shortfall.

Name2019
Base Salary
Target
Incentive
(% of Base)
Maximum
Incentive
(% of Base)
Target
Incentive
Overall
Achievement
Annual
Incentive
Payout
Prior Year’s
Payout
Percent
Change
Ms. Novakovic   $1,585,000   170%   340%   $2,694,500   129%   $3,482,000   $4,727,000   -26.3%
Mr. Aiken$850,000100%200%$850,000129%$1,098,000$1,275,000-13.9%
Mr. Roualet$800,000100%200%$800,000126%$1,010,000$1,288,000-21.6%
Mr. Burns$655,000100%200%$655,000128%$840,000$1,100,000-23.6%
Mr. Gallopoulos$740,000100%200%$740,000129%$956,000$950,0000.6%

52       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATIONLong-Term Incentive Compensation

Long-term incentive compensation (LTI) is provided to NEOs to align management’s interest with that of shareholders.shareholders, to reward NEOs for achievement of multi-year financial goals and total shareholder return performance, and to retain key talent. LTI comprises a major portion of total target compensation provided to each NEO. This provides the NEOsour executives with a significant personal stake in the long-term success of General Dynamics. By awarding LTI through various types of equity instruments, different elements of shareholder alignment are achieved. The following charts illustratechart illustrates the allocation of LTI in our 2018 annual grants as well as how our LTI allocation changed for 2019 grants:

2019 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE ALLOCATION

Long-Term Incentive Allocation

2018 and Prior

New Long-Term Incentive Allocation

Beginning in 2019

LOGO

LOGO

Setting Long-termLong-Term Grant Amounts.The Committee uses guidelines that are constructed around the market median and balances other considerations such as prior-yearcompany performance, complexity of the role, length of service, future expected contributions to the company and impact on dilution, when determining actual LTI grant amounts. We believe that this approach allows for the consideration of factors in addition to the quantitative metrics that drive annual incentive payments. This allows the Committee to make grant decisions that better meet the needs of our business and shareholders.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     39


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

As shown below, for annual LTI grants awarded in March 2019, the amount of LTI compensation granted to three of the NEOs was comparatively less (10.5% lower vs. 2018) than in the prior yearsyear due primarily to 2018 performance, particularly the company’s free cash flow from operations performance.

Name2018 LTI Grant2019 LTI Grant
Ms. Novakovic     $14,000,000     $12,488,000
Mr. Aiken$3,300,000$2,970,000
Mr. Roualet$3,220,000$2,898,000
Mr. Burns*$2,443,000$2,545,000
Mr. Gallopoulos*$2,306,000$2,451,000
*

At the time the grants were awarded, Messrs. Gallopoulos and Burns were not NEOs, accordingly, their equity allocation was Stock Options (50%), PSUs (25%) and Restricted Stock (25%).

 

NAMEAND TITLE*

 

  

 

2018 LTI

GRANT

 

  

 

2019 LTI

GRANT

 

  

 

% DECREASE

 

Ms. Novakovic

 

  $ 14,000,000

 

  $ 12,488,000

 

  10.8%

 

Mr. Aiken

 

  $   3,300,000

 

  $   2,970,000

 

  10.0%

 

Mr. Casey

 

  $   3,220,000

 

  $   2,960,000

 

  8.1%

 

Mr. Roualet

 

  $   3,220,000

 

  $   2,898,000

 

  10.0%

 

*Mr. Johnson retired December 31, 2018, and therefore is not included above.

PERFORMANCE STOCK UNITS

Performance Stock Units (PSUs)– 50% of LTI.PSUs are a form of equity compensation tied to the achievement of specific performance goals and linked to the long-term performance of the company. This element of executive compensation closely connects NEOs to the company’s financial and stock performance over the long term and acts as a retention tool.

PurposeThis element of executive compensation closely connects NEOs to the company’s financial performance and total shareholder return over the long term and acts as a retention tool.
Performance MetricsThree-year average ROIC** subject to a relative total shareholder return (rTSR) modifier
VestingThree-year cliff vesting
Dividend and Voting RightsDividend equivalents are deemed reinvested in additional stock units, which are earned only if and when the underlying PSU is earned; PSUs do not have voting rights.
ForfeitureNEOs who voluntarily resign or are terminated for cause prior to the end of the applicable performance period immediately forfeit all PSUs that have not vested unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

2016-2018 PSU Achievement.In March 2019, the Committee certified the three-year ROIC achievement for PSUs granted in 2016, against the target established for the 2016 – 2018 performance period. After reviewing company results, the Committee certified our three-year average ROIC of 17.8 percent which was 2.5 percent above the target and translated into a payout of 150 percent of the target number of PSUs granted to each NEO. Because the PSU target did not contemplate the acquisition of CSRA, the Committee excluded the impact of the acquisition from the 2018 ROIC results (see discussion in Appendix A).

2018 PSU GRANT (2018 – 2020 PERFORMANCE CYCLE)

For the 2018 – 2020 performance period, the ROIC target was set at 13.4 percent. This target is modestly below the 15.2 percent target of the previous performance period. In setting the target, the Committee considered the company’s 2018 $9.7 billion acquisition of CSRA and the impact that this important investment will have on ROIC results. In particular, the Committee acknowledged the limitations of comparing the ROIC target to prior-period targets and performance due to the significant amount of capital deployed to fund the CSRA acquisition. The acquisition-related indebtedness increased the company’s invested capital, a key component of the ROIC computation, and therefore decreased the ROIC target for the 2018 – 2020 performance period.

**See Appendix A for additional information.

2020 Proxy Statement       53


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

2019 PSU GRANT (2019 – 2021 PERFORMANCE CYCLE)

HOW WE CHOSE OUR TARGET GOAL

The three-year ROICCommittee and management believe that the target is set onreflects the date of grantmulti-year operating plan for the company and reflects management’s assessment of future company performance and required investments in the best judgmentcompany’s businesses to support the long-term growth of the Committee at that time.

company.

The performance target is set to be challenging, yet achievable.

The company operates in a dynamic and competitive environment. As such, the target established each year represents the outlook for the upcoming three-year period and may not be comparable to past targets or prior achievement.

It is set to be a challenging, yet achievable target.

Additionally,The three-year ROIC target is set on the date of grant and reflects the best judgment of the Committee and management believeat that time.

For the 2019 – 2021 performance period, the ROIC target was set at 13.6% which was modestly above the 13.4% target for the 2018 – 2020 performance period. In setting the target, the Committee considered the impact that the company’s continued investment at Electric Boat, product line expansion at Gulfstream Aerospace and working capital build-up at Land Systems due to customer payment delays will have on the projected ROIC. The Committee cautioned against comparing actual one-year ROIC results to the projected three-year target reflectsfor ROIC as the multi-year operating plan forone-year results may not reflect the strategic investments that are required by the company and reflects management’s assessment of future company performance and needed investments in the company’s businesses to support the long-term growth of the company.

achieve its operating plan.

40     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

After the three-year performance period (2018(20192020)2021), the number of PSUs earned will be determined based on our three-year average ROIC subject to a +/- 2.5 percent collar.

the rTSR modifier.

Three-Year Average ROIC PerformancePerformance*

     

PSU Payout AfterPerformance after 3 Years from Grant Date

2.5% or more above target

150% of target PSUs

At target

100% of target PSUs

2.5% below target

50% of target PSUs

More than 2.5% below target

0% of target PSUs

*Performance interpolated between 2.5% below and 2.5% above target.

Payout interpolated for performance between 2.5% below and 2.5% above target

Relative Total Shareholder Return Metric Beginning in 2019.Starting with the 2019 PSU award, theThe resulting percentage earned from three-year average ROIC will be subject to a relative TSRrTSR modifier, which compares our relative TSRrTSR performance to the TSR performance of the other companies in the S&P 500, to produce the final number of earned shares.units. The Committee believes that the S&P 500 provides a more comprehensive comparison for our share price performance compared to our compensation peer group which is a customized benchmark based on a limited number of companies. The relative TSRrTSR modifier will increase or decrease the PSU payout by as much asone-third, resulting in a payout range between zero percent and 200 percent200% of the target units granted.

rTSR Modifier
ROIC Performance (As shown in the chart above) (0—150%)
×Relative TSR PerformancePayout=Maximum Total Payout
75th Percentile and Above133.3%
50th Percentile100.0%
25th Percentile and Below66.7%
Payout interpolated for performance between 25th and 75th percentile

54       General Dynamics

         

  Maximum

 Total Payout

 

 

ROIC PERFORMANCE

(AS SHOWN IN THE
CHART ABOVE)

(0 — 150%)

 

   

TSR Modifier

 

       200%     
   Relative TSR Performance

 

  Payout

 

       LOGO       
 LOGO 75th Percentile and Above

 

  133.3%

 

    LOGO
   50th Percentile

 

  100%

 

     
   25th Percentile and Below

 

  66.7%

 

       0%   
  

Payout interpolated for performance between 25th and 75th percentile

  

RESTRICTED STOCKTable of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

In March 2020, the Committee certified the three-year ROIC achievement for PSUs granted in 2017, against the target established for the 2017 – 2019 performance period.

Performance Metric0% Payout of
Target PSU
50% Payout of
Target PSU
100% Payout of
Target PSU
150% Payout of
Target PSU
Payout*
(% of Target)
3-year Average ROIC Performance148% of Target PSUs
*The 2017 – 2019 performance period did not include the relative TSR modifier which was added for performance periods starting in 2019.
**Because the PSU target did not contemplate the acquisition of CSRA, the impact of the acquisition was excluded from the 2018 and 2019 ROIC results (see discussion in Appendix A).

Restricted Stock – 20% of LTI.Restricted stock awards are a form of equity compensation tied to the completion of a service period.

PurposeThis element of executive compensation closely connects NEOs to the company’s total shareholder return performance over the vesting period and also acts as a retention tool.
VestingThe shares are subject to a three-year cliff vesting period (i.e., 100% of the shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant). The Committee believes that the use of three-year cliff vesting on our restricted stock ensures that executives are focused on long-term value creation while supporting the company’s need to attract and retain executives during all market conditions.
Dividend and Voting RightsDuring the restriction period, NEOs may not sell, transfer, pledge, assign, or otherwise convey their restricted shares. NEOs are eligible to vote their shares and receive dividend payments and other distributions on our Common Stock when declared by the Board of Directors.
ForfeitureNEOs who voluntarily resign or are terminated for cause prior to the end of the applicable vesting period forfeit their restricted stock unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

Stock Options – 30% of executive compensation closely connects NEOs to the company’s stock performance over the vesting period and therefore acts as a retention tool. NEOs who voluntarily resign or are terminated for cause prior to the end of the applicable vesting period forfeit their restricted stock unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

In 2018, the Committee approved the grant of restricted stock to each NEO. The shares are subject to a three-year cliff vesting period (i.e., 100 percent of the shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant). The Committee has determined that the use of three-year cliff vesting on our restricted stock ensures that executives are focused on long-term value creation while supporting the company’s need to attract and retain executives during all market conditions. During the restriction period, NEOs may not sell, transfer, pledge, assign, or otherwise convey their restricted shares. NEOs are eligible, however, to vote their shares and receive dividend payments and other distributions on our Common Stock when declared by the Board of Directors.

LTI.STOCK OPTIONS

Stock options are a form of equity compensation linked to the long-term share performance of the company. This element of executive compensation closely connects NEOs to the company’s stock performance over the long term and acts as a retention tool. A stock option gives our NEOs the right to buy up to a specified number of shares of our Common Stock over the term of the option at a predetermined fixed exercise price. A stock option’s exercise price is the average of the high and low share price of our Common Stock on the date of grant.

In March 2018,2019, the Committee approved a grant of stock options to each NEO. The exercise price of these stock options was set at $223.93. The stock options vest as follows: 50 percent of the grant becomes exercisable after two years and 50 percent becomes exercisable after three years. Vested stock options remain exercisable through the options’ expiration date, which occurs on the tenth$167.61.

PurposeThis element of executive compensation closely connects NEOs to the company’s stock price performance over the long term and acts as a retention tool.
VestingThe stock options vest as follows: 50% of the grant becomes exercisable after two years and 50% becomes exercisable after three years. Vested stock options remain exercisable through the options’ expiration date, which occurs on the tenth anniversary of the grant date. Due to our strenuous stock ownership guidelines, stock options, when exercised, must be held as shares until the ownership requirement is met.
Repricing of Stock OptionsOur equity compensation plan prohibits the repricing of stock options, including the exchange of underwater stock options for another award or for cash, without the approval of shareholders.
ForfeitureAs with restricted stock and PSU awards, NEOs who voluntarily resign or are terminated for cause immediately forfeit all stock options that have not vested unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

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Table of Contents


Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Benefits and Analysis

anniversary of the grant date. Due to our strenuous stock ownership guidelines (10 times base salary and 15 times for the chief executive officer) stock options must be exercised and held as shares until the ownership requirement is met.

As with restricted stock and PSU awards, NEOs who voluntarily resign or are terminated for cause immediately forfeit all stock options that have not vested unless otherwise determined by the Committee. Our equity compensation plan prohibits the repricing of stock options, including the exchange of underwater stock options for another award or for cash, without the approval of shareholders.

BENEFITSAND PERQUISITESPerquisites

BENEFITSBENEFITS

General Dynamics-provided benefits are an important tool used to attract and retain outstanding executives. Benefit levels are reviewed periodically to ensure they are cost-effective, competitive and support the overall needs of our employees. The company makes available medical, dental, vision, life insurance and disability coverage to all of the NEOs.coverage. NEOs can select the level of coverage appropriate for their circumstances. The company also provides NEOs group life insurance coverage worth two times base salary and long-term disability coverage worth 50 percent50% of base salary.

COMPANY-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANSCOMPANY-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS

We provide retirement plans to our eligible employees, including the eligible NEOs, through a combination of qualified andnon-qualified plans. Following is a description of the retirement plans in which the NEOs participate:

General Dynamics 401(k) Plan

Each NEO is eligible to participate in the General Dynamics Corporation 401(k) Plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan. Each NEO is eligible to make before-tax contributions and receive company matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan. During 2019, the 401(k) Plan provided for a company-matching contribution of 100% on contributions up to the first 6% of eligible pay for the NEOs. Our matching contributions during 2019 for the NEOs are included in footnote (d) to the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

Defined-Benefit Retirement Plan.  PlansEach NEO other than Mr. Johnson participates

Ms. Novakovic and Messrs. Aiken and Roualet participate in a company-sponsored defined-benefit plan called the General Dynamics Salaried Retirement Plan.Beginning January 1, 2014, pension accrualsPlan (the Salaried Plan). Benefits under this plan stoppedthe Salaried Plan were frozen for employees at our corporate headquarters, including the participating NEOs.NEOs, as of December 31, 2013.

The benefit under the planSalaried Plan is payable as a life annuity. The Salaried Retirement Plan is a funded,tax-qualified, noncontributory defined-benefit pension plan. It was amended effective January 1, 2007, to exclude any employee initially hired or who incurs a break in service after that date. Thedate.The benefit formula under the Salaried Retirement Plan for employees hired before December 31, 2006,January 1, 2007, is 1.0 percent1.0% times a participant’s highest final average pay frozen as of December 31, 2013, multiplied by years of service earned on or after January 1, 2007, and before January 1, 2014, plus 1.333 percent1.333% times a participant’s highest final average pay frozen as of December 31, 2010, multiplied by years of service earned prior to January 1, 2007. Final average pay for purposes of calculating retirement benefits includes a NEO’s base salary and annual incentive. The company makes contributions to the Salaried Retirement Plan through payments into a trust fund from which the benefits are paid.

Mr. Burns participates in a company-sponsored defined-benefit plan called the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Pension Plan (the GAC Plan). The plan was amended in December 2018, freezing the benefits for Mr. Burns as of December 31, 2018. The GAC Plan is a funded, tax-qualified, noncontributory defined-benefit pension plan. For service prior to January 1, 2004, Mr. Burns has a frozen pension accrued benefit under the GAC Plan that totals approximately $3,400 payable monthly as a single-life annuity. Upon his retirement, this amount will increase with cost of living adjustments up to a maximum of 3% annually. Effective January 1, 2004, the GAC Plan was amended to provide benefits for each month of credited service earned after December 31, 2003, based on 1.125% of the final average monthly pay at or below the monthly integration level plus 1.25% of the excess above the integration level. Final average monthly pay takes into account salary and annual bonus after December 31, 2003, but excludes equity awards. The portion of Mr. Burns’ benefit earned after December 31, 2003, is frozen as of December 31, 2018, is payable monthly as a life annuity and is not subject to cost-of-living adjustments.

Mr. Gallopoulos is not eligible to participate in any of the company’s defined-benefit plans.

56       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Supplemental Retirement Plan.  Plan

The amount of cash compensation used to calculate pension benefits for participants in the Salaried Retirement Plan is limited by the Internal Revenue Code ($275,000280,000 in 2018)2019). To provide a benefit calculated on compensation in excess of this compensation limit, the company provides eligible executives participating in the Salaried Plan with coverage under the General Dynamics Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan. Benefits under the Supplemental Retirement Plan are general unsecured obligations of General Dynamics. Each NEO, other than Mr. Johnson, participatesMs. Novakovic and Messrs. Aiken and Roualet participate in the Supplemental Retirement Plan.Beginning January 1, 2014, pension Pension accruals under this plan stoppedwere frozen for employees at our corporate headquarters including the participating NEOs.NEOs as of December 31, 2013.

Anteon International Corporation Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan.  Mr. Johnson has an account balance under the frozen Anteon International Corporation Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan. Under the plan, certain eligible employees of Anteon could defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual cash compensation prior to the plan being frozen in 2007. Upon his retirement, Mr. Johnson elected to receive the deferred compensation in a lump sum.

401(k) Plan.  Each NEO is eligible to participate in the General Dynamics Corporation 401(k) Plan, atax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan. Each NEO is eligible to makebefore-tax contributions and receive company matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan. During 2018, the 401(k) Plan provided for a company-matching contribution of 100 percent onbefore-tax contributions up to the first 6 percent of a participant’s eligible pay. Our matching contributions during 2018 for the NEOs are included in footnote (d) to the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

42     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Supplemental Savings Plan.  Plan

The company provides a Supplemental Savings Plan to key employees, including each NEO. The purpose of the Supplemental Savings Plan is to allow key executives to defer salary and receive matching contributions on compensation in excess of the compensation limit imposed by the Internal Revenue Service on earnings used to calculate 401(k) contributions. Matching contributions during 20182019 for the NEOs are included in footnote (d) to the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

Other Retiree Benefits.  Benefits

Eligible key executives throughout the company, including the NEOs (other than Mr. Burns), can purchase group term life insurance prior to retiringat retirement of up to two times their base pay. For executives who retire early (prior to age 65), we pay for insurance coverage equal toone-half the executive’s base salary until the executive reaches age 65. For early retirees who elect coverage in excess ofone-half of base pay they will pay monthly premiums for the additional coverage. For executives retiring at or after age 65, we pay for insurance coverage up to two times an executive’s base salary. This coverage is ratably reduced over a five-year period following the executive’s retirement, or beginning at age 65 for early retirees, subject to a maximum coverage level of 25 percent25% of the coverage in effect at the time of retirement.

PERQUISITESPERQUISITES

We provide our NEOs perquisites that the Committee believes are reasonable yet competitive. The company provides perquisites to the NEOs for purposes of recruitment, retention and security. We provide perquisites to ensure the security and accessibility of our executives to facilitate the transaction of business. As a reasonableness test, we compare these perquisites to generally accepted corporate practices.

In 2018,2019, the perquisites provided to our NEOs were financial planning and tax preparation services, physical examinations, home security systems, personal liability and supplemental accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and the personal use of automobiles owned or leased by the company. In addition, personal use of our aircraft was provided only to our chairman and chief executive officer as required by the Board to help ensure her security and accessibility.

We have provided additional information on perquisites in footnote (d) to the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONSOther Considerations

POTENTIAL SEVERANCEPOTENTIAL SEVERANCE AND CHANGE CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS CONTROL BENEFITS

The company has change in control agreements, also known as severance protection agreements, with each of the NEOs. The company believes that these agreements are an important tool for recruiting and retaining highly qualified executives. The agreements are structured to protect the interests of shareholders by including a “double trigger”“double-trigger” mechanism that results in a severance payout only when:

A change of control is consummated, and
The executive’s employment is terminated by the company without cause or by the executive for good reason within 24 months following the change in control.

2020 Proxy Statement       57


Table of control is consummated, andContents

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

The executive’s employment is terminated by the company without cause or by the executive for good reason within 24 months following the change in control.

A “change in control” is defined to include specified stock acquisition, merger or disposition transactions involving General Dynamics. The Committee evaluates and reviews payment and benefit levels under the change in control agreements regularly. These reviews support the view that the agreements are consistent with the practices of our peer group companies. Our severance protection agreements for NEOs exclude any provision for reimbursement of excise taxes that may become due upon a change in control.

Payments and benefits provided to NEOs pursuant to the change in control agreements are described in the Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control section beginning on page 5368 of this Proxy Statement.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     43


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

ROLEROLE OFTHE INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT

The Committee’s charter provides that the Committee has sole authority to engage the services of an independent compensation consultant for the Committee and approve fees paid to the consultant by the company. The Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (Meridian) as an independent compensation consultant to provide advice on executive compensation matters. The Committee found that Meridian provided important perspectives about market practices for executive compensation, peer company analysis and selection, the levels and structure of the compensation program and compensation governance. During 2018,2019, at the Committee’s request, Meridian performed the following specific services:

Attended all Committee meetings

Provided regulatory education to the Committee

Provided information and advice relating to executive compensation matters

Reviewed compensation-related disclosures in the company’s proxy statement

Attended all Committee meetings
Provided regulatory education to the Committee
Provided information and advice relating to executive compensation matters
Reviewed compensation-related disclosures in the company’s proxy statement

Before engaging Meridian, the Committee reviewed the factors influencing independence (as specified by the New York Stock Exchange listing standards) and determined that no conflict of interest exists.

ANTI-HEDGINGANTI-HEDGING AND ANTI-PLEDGING POLICIES ANTI-PLEDGING POLICIES

The company has a longstanding policy in place that prohibits all directors and executive officers from hedging company securities. Since 2014, the company has maintained a policy prohibiting all directors and executive officers from pledging company securities that they own directly.

Mr. Crown has the ownership of certain shares attributed to him that arise from the business of Henry Crown and Company, an investment company where Mr. Crown serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and trusts of which Mr. Crown serves as trustee (Attributed Shares). Mr. Crown disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. The Attributed Shares are distinct from shares owned by Mr. Crown or his spouse individually, or shares held in trusts for the benefit of his children (Crown Personally Held Shares). The company has reviewed the potential pledging of the Attributed Shares with Mr. Crown, recognizes Mr. Crown’s distinct obligations with respect to Henry Crown and Company and the trusts, and believes such shares may be prudently pledged or held in margin loan accounts. Under the company’s anti-pledging policy, Crown Personally Held Shares are considered company securities that are owned directly by Mr. Crown and, accordingly, may not be and are not held in margin accounts or otherwise pledged as collateral, nor may the economic risk of such shares be hedged.

58       General Dynamics


Table of ContentsSTOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES AND HOLDING REQUIREMENTS HOLDING REQUIREMENTS

Our stock ownership and retention guidelines are the most stringent in our peer group. Stock ownership guidelines strongly align the interests of management with the interests of shareholders because executives become shareholders with a considerable investment in General Dynamics.

Our stock ownership and retention guidelines preclude NEOs from selling shares of General Dynamics common stockour Common Stock until they own shares with a market value of eight to 10 times their base salary and 15 times for the chief executive officer. Shares held outright and shares held through our 401(k) plans are counted for purposes of meeting the ownership guidelines. Stock options (whether vested or not), PSUs and unvested shares of restricted stock are not counted in the ownership calculation.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

Chief Executive OfficerOfficers including Other NEOs

Chief Executive Officer

15xBase Salary
8x to 10xBase Salary
 

15x Base Salary

Other NEOs

10x Base Salary

44     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

When exercising options, executives who have not met the ownership guideline may sell shares acquired upon exercise to cover transaction costs and taxes and are expected to hold any remaining shares until the guidelines are met. Similarly, shares received upon vesting of restricted stock and PSUs may not be sold until the ownership guidelines are met. Once an officer attains the required ownership level, the officer must maintain that ownership level until he or she no longer serves as an officer. The stock ownership and retention guidelines are reviewed annually by the Committee. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the total number of shares owned by our CEO and other officers represented 18 times their combined annual salaries.

CLAWBACK POLICYCLAWBACK POLICY

The company has in place an executive compensation recoupment policy, or “clawback” policy, which applies to senior executive officers of the company (referred to as the covered“covered executive officers)officers”), including the NEOs. In the event of a restatement of our financial results due to a covered executive officer engaging in fraud or intentional illegal conduct, the result of which is that any equity or other performance-based compensation paid to that covered executive officer would have been a lower amount had it been calculated based on the restated results, the Committee will have the authority to recover any excess compensation that was awarded to that covered executive officer. In determining the excess compensation, the Committee will take into account its good faith estimate of the value of awarded and actual compensation that may have been affected by the restatement and the events leading to it. This includes all performance-based cash incentives and equity-based grants which may have vested or been exercised during the period in question.

COMPENSATIONCOMPENSATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT RISK MANAGEMENT

With the support of management and the independent compensation consultant, the Committee evaluates the company’s overall risk profile relative to the incentive components of compensation to ensure that NEOs are not overly incentivized to focus on short-term stock performance. The use of long-term equity incentive awards as a significant portion of total direct compensation and robust stock ownership guidelines are structured to ensure management is focused on the long term and not incentivized to take excessive risk.

TAX CONSIDERATIONSTAX CONSIDERATIONS

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally precludes the company from taking a tax deduction for certain executive officers’ compensation in excess of $1 million. Prior to 2018, Section 162(m) exemptedHowever, tax law provides transition relief for certain “performance-based compensation” from the $1 million limitation. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 repealed this exemption effective for our 2018 year, such that compensation paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1 million will not be deductible for 2018 or future years, unless the compensation qualifies for transition relief applicable to certain compensationother arrangements in place as of November 2, 2017. For our arrangements to which transition relief applies,While the Committee will continue to considerconsiders the implications of Section 162(m) when taking any actions concerning outstanding performance-based or other compensation.compensation that may qualify for transition relief and may continue to consider tax deductibility as a factor in making compensation decisions, it retains the flexibility to provide compensation to executives consistent with the company’s compensation programs, even if such compensation would not be fully deductible. 

General Dynamics 20192020 Proxy Statement       4559



Table of ContentsEXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

SUMMARY COMPENSATION Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation

The Summary Compensation Table conforms to requirements of the SEC and shows base salary, annual incentive, equity awards (restricted stock, performance stock units (PSUs) and stock options) and all other compensation, which includes among other things the value of perquisites, 401(k) contributions and tax reimbursements (see footnote (d) to the Summary Compensation Table for a complete listing of categories included in All Other Compensation). The table also includes a column titled Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings. For our eligible NEOs, this includes only the change in pension value (see footnote (c)), which is an actuarial estimate of the present value of the future cost of pension benefits. The value does not reflect a current cash cost to General Dynamics or, necessarily, the pension benefit that an executive would receive, since that is determined by a number of factors, including length of service, age at retirement and longevity.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

Name and
Principal Position
     Year     Salary     Stock
Awards
(a)
     Option
Awards(a)
     Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation(b)
     Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(c)
     All Other
Compensation(d)
     Total
Phebe N. Novakovic
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
2019$1,585,000$8,630,680$3,746,192      $3,482,000           $484,613             $384,719      $18,313,204
20181,585,0007,000,0526,999,7084,727,000408,49420,720,254
20171,585,0006,999,3327,000,3905,300,000300,661316,04621,501,429
Jason W. Aiken
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
2019$850,000$2,052,799$890,624$1,098,000$158,659$73,227$5,123,309
2018830,0001,650,3641,649,5081,275,00066,1585,471,030
2017755,0001,625,7011,624,2281,386,00085,19265,6195,541,740
Mark C. Roualet
Executive Vice President,
Combat Systems
2019$800,000$2,003,157$868,859$1,010,000$542,898$81,760$5,306,674
2018795,0001,610,0571,609,7151,288,00078,1625,380,934
2017773,7501,610,3641,609,3421,404,000330,39683,9265,811,778
Mark L. Burns
Vice President of the
Company and President,
Gulfstream Aerospace
2019$655,000$1,272,160$1,272,817$840,000$267,984$64,524$4,372,485
 
 
Gregory S. Gallopoulos
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel
2019$735,000$1,225,229$1,225,515$956,000$$67,747$4,209,491
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE(a)

  NAMEAND

  PRINCIPAL POSITION

YEARSALARY  STOCK
AWARDS (a)
OPTION
AWARDS (a)
NON-EQUITY
INCENTIVE  PLAN
COMPENSATION (b)
CHANGEIN
PENSION
VALUEAND
NONQUALIFIED
DEFERRED
COMPENSATION
EARNINGS (c)
ALL OTHER
COMPENSATION
(d)
TOTAL

Phebe N. Novakovic

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer


2018 

2017 

2016 


$

1,585,000

1,585,000

1,585,000


$

7,000,052   

6,999,332   

7,079,144   


$

6,999,708 

7,000,390 

7,077,746 


$

4,727,000     

5,300,000     

5,150,000     



$           —     

300,661     

155,239     



$408,494     

316,046     

310,948     



$20,720,254

21,501,429

21,358,077


Jason W. Aiken

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer


2018 

2017 

2016 


$

830,000

755,000

701,250


$

1,650,364   

1,625,701   

1,490,275   


$

1,649,508 

1,624,228 

1,489,540 


$

1,275,000     

1,386,000     

1,200,000     



$           —     

85,192     

38,464     



$  66,158     

65,619     

139,984     



$ 5,471,030

5,541,740

5,059,513


John P. Casey

Executive Vice President,

Marine Systems


2018 

2017 

2016 


$

795,000

773,750

747,500


$

1,610,057   

1,610,364   

1,642,427   


$

1,609,715 

1,609,342 

1,642,472 


$

1,344,000     

1,404,000     

1,400,000     



$           —     

447,894     

242,463     



$  62,389     

63,650     

64,724     



$ 5,421,161

5,909,000

5,739,586


Mark C. Roualet

Executive Vice President,

Combat Systems


2018 

2017 

2016 


$

795,000

773,750

747,500


$

1,610,057   

1,610,364   

1,619,332   


$

1,609,715 

1,609,342 

1,620,593 


$

1,288,000     

1,404,000     

1,400,000     



$           —     

330,396     

168,004     



$  78,162     

83,926     

69,278     



$ 5,380,934

5,811,778

5,624,707


S. Daniel Johnson

Executive Vice President,

Information Technology and

Mission Systems


2018 

2017 

2016 


$

795,000

766,250

713,750


$

1,560,792   

1,560,519   

1,457,671   


$

1,559,036 

1,559,391 

1,457,274 


$

1,000,000     

1,378,000     

1,250,000     



$           —     

—     

—     



$  73,001     

52,508     

54,297     



$ 4,987,829

5,316,668

4,932,992


(a)

The amounts reported in the Stock Awards and the Option Awards columns reflect aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718,Compensation – Stock Compensation. These amounts reflect our calculation of the value of these awards at the grant date and do not necessarily correspond to the actual value that may ultimately be realized by the NEO. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note PQ to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018,2019, included in our Annual Report on Form10-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2019.10, 2020. Stock Awards include awards of restricted stock and performance stock units (PSUs).PSUs. The grant date value of 20182019 PSUs for each NEO, which assumes a 150 percent maximum payout, is $5,250,039$9,199,936 for Ms. Novakovic; $1,237,773$1,187,933 for Mr. Aiken; $1,207,543 for Mr. Casey; $1,207,543$2,134,840 for Mr. Roualet; and $1,170,594$954,120 for Mr. Johnson.Burns; and $918,922 for Mr. Gallopoulos.

(b)

Payments are reported for the fiscal year in which the related services were rendered, although the actual payments are made in the succeeding year.

(c)

The values listed in this column represent the change in the present value of accumulated benefits from December 31 of the prior year to December 31 of the respective year calculated for all the pension plans in which the executive participates. The values are an actuarial estimate of the present value of the future cost of pension benefits for each of the NEOs and do not reflect a current cash cost to the company or, necessarily, the pension benefit that an executive would receive. Pension benefits for NE0sMs. Novakovic and Messrs. Aiken and Roualet were frozen as of December 31, 2013. Pension benefits for Mr. Burns were frozen as of December 31, 2018. Negative changes in pension value were excluded from this column for the NEOs as follows: for Ms. Novakovic, $(140,339) for 2018; for Mr. Aiken, $(65,402) for 2018; for Mr. Casey, $(155,951) for 2018; and for Mr. Roualet $(167,921) for 2018. Mr. Johnson, who retired from the company on December 31, 2018, was not eligible to participate in the company’s pension plans.

4660       General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Table of Contents


Executive Compensation

(d)

All Other Compensation for 20182019 includes the following items:

ALL OTHER COMPENSATION

   

 

ALL OTHER COMPENSATION

 

 

  NAME

  

REIMBURSEMENT
OF TAXES 
(1)

   

RETIREMENT PLAN
CONTRIBUTIONS AND
ALLOCATIONS 
(2)

   

TERM LIFE INSURANCE
PAYMENTS

   

PERQUISITES (3)  

 

  Ms. Novakovic

 

 

   

 

 

$1,773

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$48,200

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$24,793

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$333,728

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Aiken

 

 

   

 

 

$3,337

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$31,900

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$  4,471

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$  26,450

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Casey

 

 

   

 

 

$2,857

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$32,100

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$12,764

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$  14,668

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Roualet

 

 

   

 

 

$3,590

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$32,100

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$  8,811

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

$  33,661

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Johnson

 

 

   

 

 

 

$1,794

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

$32,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

$18,555

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

$  20,552

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name     Reimbursement
of Taxes
(1)
     Retirement Plan
Contributions
and Allocations(2)
     Term Life
Insurance
Payments
     Perquisites(3)
Ms. Novakovic     $1,784          $48,500      $24,793  $309,642  
Mr. Aiken$3,645$33,800$6,210$29,572
Mr. Roualet$3,966$32,800$9,340$35,654
Mr. Burns$$29,900$8,200$26,424
Mr. Gallopoulos$2,116$31,200$8,770$25,661
(1)

Reflects amounts reimbursed for the payment of taxes associated with a company-provided dining room benefit. All employees at our corporate headquarters receive this dining room benefit and associated tax reimbursement.

(2)

Represents amounts contributed by General Dynamics to the 401(k) Plan and allocations by General Dynamics to the Supplemental Savings Plan.

(3)

Noncash items (perquisites) provided to NEOs in 2018,2019, which for one or more NEOs is in the aggregate equal to or greater than $10,000, were as follows: financial planning and tax preparation services, home security systems spousal meals and travel, and, solely for the chairman and chief executive officer, personal use of company aircraft. Perquisites that exceeded the greater of $25,000 or 10 percent10% of the total amount of perquisites for a specific NEO were as follows: Ms. Novakovic — $258,503Novakovic—$254,122 related to personal travel on company aircraft, and $50,608$29,040 related to a home security system for Ms. Novakovic. The aggregate incremental cost to General Dynamics for Ms. Novakovic’s personal travel aboard aircraft owned by the company (products of subsidiary Gulfstream Aerospace), as required by the Board to help ensure Ms. Novakovic’s security and accessibility, is calculated based on the following variable operating costs to the company: fuel costs, trip-related maintenance expenses, landing fees, trip-related hangar and parking fees,on-board catering expenses and crew expenses. No additional direct operating cost is incurred if a family member accompanies an executive on a flight. The aggregate incremental cost to the company for the provision of home security systems represents the amounts paid by the company to third parties for the installation, servicing and monitoring of the systems.security systems and other security services.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     47


Executive Compensation

2018 EQUITY-BASED AWARDSEquity-Based Awards

General Dynamics’Our long-term compensation for senior executives, including the NEOs, consists of equity awards in the form of restricted stock, PSUs and stock options. The following table provides information on the equity awards in 20182019 for the NEOs. The table includes the grant date of each equity award, the number of shares of restricted stock, PSUs and stock options, the exercise price of the stock options, the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of grant and the grant date fair value of the equity awards. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, we use the average of the high and low stock price of our Common Stock on the date of the grant, not the closing price, to value the restricted stock and PSUs and set the exercise price for stock options.

2020 Proxy Statement       61

GRANTSOF PLAN-BASED AWARDSIN FISCAL YEAR 2018

 

 

  NAME

 

 

GRANT
DATE

 

  

DATEOF
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
ACTION

 

  

ESTIMATED POSSIBLE PAYOUTS  UNDER

NON-EQUITY INCENTIVE  PLAN AWARDS (A)

   

 

 

 

ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS UNDER

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS (B)

   

ALL OTHER
STOCK
AWARDS:
NUMBER OF
SHARESOF
STOCKOR
UNITS

(C)

 

   

ALL OTHER
OPTION
AWARDS:
NUMBEROF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
OPTIONS

 

   

EXERCISE
OR BASE
PRICEOF
OPTION
AWARDS

(D)

 

   

GRANT DATE
FAIR VALUE
OF STOCK
AND OPTION
AWARDS

(E)

 

 
 

THRESHOLD

 

   

TARGET

 

   

MAXIMUM

 

   

THRESHOLD

 

   

TARGET

 

   

MAXIMUM

 

 
  Ms. Novakovic                0    $2,694,500    $5,389,000               
  3/7/18   3/6/18         0    15,630    23,445    15,630           $7,000,052 
  3/7/18   3/6/18                         186,460   $223.93    6,999,708 
  Mr. Aiken                0    $   850,000    $1,700,000               
  3/7/18   3/6/18         0    3,685    5,527    3,685           $1,650,364 
  3/7/18   3/6/18                         43,940   $223.93    1,649,508 
  Mr. Casey                0    $   800,000    $1,600,000               
  3/7/18   3/6/18         0    3,595    5,392    3,595           $1,610,057 
  3/7/18   3/6/18                         42,880   $223.93    1,609,715 
  Mr. Roualet                0    $   800,000    $1,600,000               
  3/7/18   3/6/18         0    3,595    5,392    3,595           $1,610,057 
  3/7/18   3/6/18                         42,880   $223.93    1,609,715 
  Mr. Johnson                0    $   800,000    $1,600,000               
  3/7/18   3/6/18         0    3,485    5,227    3,485           $1,560,792 
   3/7/18   3/6/18                                  41,530   $223.93    1,559,036 

Table of Contents

Executive Compensation

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS IN FISCAL YEAR 2019


Date of
Compensation
Committee
Action



Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(a)
   Estimated Future Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards(b)
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units(c)
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options

Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards(d)

Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards(e)
NameGrant DateThresholdTargetMaximumThresholdTargetMaximum
Ms. Novakovic0$2,694,500$5,389,000
03/06/201903/05/2019037,25574,51014,900   $8,630,680
03/06/201903/05/2019129,090     $167.613,746,192
Mr. Aiken0$850,000$1,700,000
03/06/201903/05/201908,86017,7203,545$2,052,799
03/06/201903/05/201930,690$167.61890,624
Mr. Roualet0$800,000$1,600,000
03/06/201903/05/201908,64517,2903,460$2,003,157
03/06/201903/05/201929,940$167.61868,859
Mr. Burns0$655,000$1,310,000
03/06/201903/05/201903,7955,6933,795$1,272,160
03/06/201903/05/201943,860$167.611,272,817
Mr. Gallopoulos0$740,000$1,480,000
03/06/201903/05/201903,6555,4833,655$1,225,229
03/06/201903/05/201942,230$167.611,225,515
(a)

These amounts represent cash awards that are possible under the company’s annual incentive plan. The value earned can be found in the Summary Compensation Table in theNon-Equity Incentive Plan Awards column.

(b)

These amounts relate to PSUs granted in 2018.2019. Each PSU represents the right to receive a share of Common Stock upon release of the PSU. The exact number of PSUs that may be earned is determined based upon a performance metric set by the Compensation Committee, which for 20182019 grants is the company’s ROIC over the three-year period from 2018-2020,2019-2021, and can range from 0 to 150 percent150% of the PSUs originally awarded. Grants for Ms. Novakovic, Mr. Aiken and Mr. Roualet were also subject to a relative total shareholder return modifier that can increase or decrease the PSU payout by as much as one-third. Dividend equivalents accrue on PSUs during the performance period and are subject to the same vesting conditions based upon performance. For PSUs granted in 2018,2019, the PSUs arewill be released to the participant following the three-year performance period, to the extent earned.

(c)

These amounts relate to shares of restricted stock that are released three years after the grant date, subject to continuous service requirements.

(d)

The exercise price for stock options is the average of the high and low stock price of our Common Stock on the date of grant.

(e)

For PSUs, the grant date fair value is calculated based upon the target payout amount.

OPTION EXERCISESAND STOCK VESTEDOption Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table shows the stock options exercised by the NEOs and restricted stock released to them during 2018.2019. As explained in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, we require officers to retain shares of Common Stock issued to them as compensation, up topre-determined levels, based on their position with General Dynamics. Once an ownership level is attained, the officer must maintain that minimum ownership level until he or she no longer serves as an officer of General Dynamics. The amounts reported in the Value Realized on Exercise and the Value Realized on Vesting columns in the table below arebefore-tax amounts.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2019

OPTION EXERCISESAND STOCK VESTEDIN FISCAL YEAR 2018 
   

 

OPTION AWARDS

 

       

STOCK AWARDS

 

 

  NAME

  

NUMBER OF
SHARES
ACQUIRED ON
EXERCISE

   

VALUE REALIZED
ON EXERCISE

   ��   

NUMBER OF
SHARES
ACQUIRED ON
VESTING

   

VALUE REALIZED
ON VESTING

 

  Ms. Novakovic

 

   

 

54,220  

 

 

 

   

 

$8,496,140

 

 

 

     

 

127,717  

 

 

 

   

 

 

$26,669,365

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Aiken

 

   

 

28,890  

 

 

 

   

 

$4,553,616

 

 

 

     

 

24,811  

 

 

 

   

 

$  5,182,508

 

 

 

  Mr. Casey

 

   

 

45,000  

 

 

 

   

 

$3,610,433

 

 

 

     

 

24,550  

 

 

 

   

 

$  5,124,063

 

 

 

  Mr. Roualet

 

   

 

3,585  

 

 

 

   

 

$   562,813

 

 

 

     

 

21,795  

 

 

 

   

 

$  4,567,580

 

 

 

  Mr. Johnson

 

   

 

77,810  

 

 

 

   

 

$4,938,375

 

 

 

        

 

13,654  

 

 

 

   

 

$  2,915,172

 

 

 

Option AwardsStock Awards
Name     Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
     Value Realized
on Exercise
     Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
     Value Realized
on Vesting
Ms. Novakovic1,199,380$114,004,76866,385$10,825,109
Mr. Aiken45,090$3,356,50013,613$2,222,494
Mr. Roualet65,065$7,258,21714,201$2,322,994
Mr. Burns9,345$966,8344,895$804,329
Mr. Gallopoulos36,740$2,526,24210,206$1,664,229

48     62       General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Table of Contents


Executive Compensation

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDSOutstanding Equity Awards

The following table provides information on outstanding stock option and stock awards held by the NEOs as of December 31, 2018.2019. The table shows the number of stock options that an NEO holds (both exercisable and unexercisable), the option exercise price and its expiration date. For stock awards, the table includes the number of shares of restricted stock and PSUs that are still subject to the restriction period or the performance period (i.e., have not vested). For restricted stock and PSUs, the market value is based on the closing price of the company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2018.2019.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2019 FISCAL YEAR-END

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDSAT 2018 FISCAL YEAR-END

 

   OPTION AWARDS (a)  STOCK AWARDS

  NAME

 

  

NUMBEROF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE

 

  

NUMBEROF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS
UNEXERCISABLE (a)

 

  

OPTION
EXERCISE
PRICE

 

  

OPTION
EXPIRATION
DATE

 

  

NUMBER
OF SHARES
OF STOCK
OR UNITS
THAT
HAVE NOT
VESTED (b
)

 

  

MARKET VALUE
OF SHARESOF
STOCKOR
UNITS THAT
HAVE NOT
VESTED

 

  

EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN AWARDS:
NUMBEROF
UNEARNED
SHARES, UNITS
OR OTHER RIGHTS
THAT HAVE NOT
VESTED (c)

 

  

EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN AWARDS:
MARKETOR
PAYOUT VALUE OF
UNEARNED
SHARES, UNITS
OR OTHER RIGHTS  

THAT HAVE
NOT VESTED

 

  Ms. Novakovic

                85,005    $13,363,636     62,089    $9,761,012 
        186,460    $223.93     3/6/2028            
        211,620    191.71     2/28/2027            
    160,130    160,130    135.85     3/1/2026            
    248,830        136.78     3/3/2025            
    466,380        112.40     3/4/2021            
    

 

733,000

 

 

    

 

 

 

    

 

67.70

 

 

 

    

 

3/5/2020

 

 

            
  Mr. Aiken                18,325    $2,880,873     13,881    $2,182,232 
        43,940    $223.93     3/6/2028            
        49,100    191.71     2/28/2027            
    33,700    33,700    135.85     3/1/2026            
    48,830        136.78     3/3/2025            
    

 

90,180

 

 

    

 

 

 

    

 

112.40

 

 

 

    

 

3/4/2021

 

 

            

  Mr. Casey

                18,590    $2,922,534     14,337    $2,253,920 
        42,880    $223.93    3/6/2028            
        48,650    191.71    2/28/2027            
    37,160    37,160    135.85    3/1/2026            
    47,200        136.78    3/3/2025            
    

 

45,470

 

 

    

 

 

 

    

 

112.40

 

 

    

 

3/4/2021

 

 

            
  Mr. Roualet                18,505    $2,909,171     14,248    $2,239,928 
        42,880    $223.93     3/6/2028            
        48,650    191.71     2/28/2027            
    36,665    36,665    135.85     3/1/2026            
    47,200        136.78     3/3/2025            
    75,640        112.40     3/4/2021            
    

 

65,065

 

 

    

 

 

 

    

 

70.08

 

 

 

    

 

3/19/2020

 

 

            

  Mr. Johnson

                17,440    $2,741,742     13,376    $2,102,841 
        41,530    $223.93     3/6/2028            
        47,140    191.71     2/28/2027            
     

 

 

 

    

 

32,970

 

 

    

 

135.85

 

 

    

 

3/1/2026

 

 

                        
Option AwardsStock Awards
Name  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable(a)
  Option
Exercise
Price
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units That
Have Not
Vested(b)
  Market Value of
Shares of Stock or
Units That Have
Not Vested
  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested(c)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or Payout
Value of Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights That
Have Not Vested
Ms. Novakovic74,840  $13,198,03473,360   $12,937,036
129,090  $167.6103/05/2029
186,460223.9303/06/2028
105,810105,810191.7102/28/2027
320,260135.8503/01/2026
248,830136.7803/03/2025
Mr. Aiken16,955$2,990,01417,305$3,051,737
30,690$167.6103/05/2029
43,940223.9303/06/2028
24,55024,550191.7102/28/2027
67,400135.8503/01/2026
48,830136.7803/03/2025
45,090112.4003/04/2021
Mr. Roualet17,215$3,035,86516,952$2,989,485
29,940$167.6103/05/2029
42,880223.9303/06/2028
24,32524,325191.7102/28/2027
73,330135.8503/01/2026
47,200136.7803/03/2025
75,640112.4003/04/2021
Mr. Burns11,490$2,026,2629,559$1,685,730
43,860$167.6103/05/2029
32,560223.9303/06/2028
15,79515,795191.7102/28/2027
27,600135.8503/01/2026
1,600143.3306/30/2025
11,730136.7803/03/2025
22,410112.4003/04/2021
Mr. Gallopoulos13,095$2,309,3039,404$1,658,395
42,230$167.6103/05/2029
30,700223.9303/06/2028
16,60016,600191.7102/28/2027
49,170135.8503/01/2026
38,300136.7803/03/2025
36,740112.4003/04/2021

2020 Proxy Statement       63


Table of Contents

Executive Compensation

(a)

Of the 129,090 stock options held by Ms. Novakovic with an exercise price of $167.61, 64,545 will become exercisable on March 6, 2021, and 64,545 will become exercisable on March 6, 2022. Of the 186,460 stock options held by Ms. Novakovic with an exercise price of $223.93, 93,230 will becomebecame exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 93,230 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 211,620 stock options held by Ms. Novakovic with an exercise price of $191.71, 105,810 became exercisable on March 1, 2019, and 105,8102020.

Of the 30,690 stock options held by Mr. Aiken with an exercise price of $167.61, 15,345 will become exercisable on March 1, 2020.6, 2021, and 15,345 will become exercisable on March 6, 2022. Of the 320,26043,940 stock options held by Ms. NovakovicMr. Aiken with an exercise price of $135.85, the remaining 160,130 stock options$223.93, 21,970 became exercisable on March 2, 2019.

7, 2020, and 21,970 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 49,100 stock options held by Mr. Aiken with an exercise price of $191.71, 24,550 became exercisable on March 1, 2020.

Of the 43,940 stock options held by Mr. Aiken with an exercise price of $223.93, 21,970 will become exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 21,970 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 49,100 stock options held by Mr. Aiken with an exercise price of $191.71, 24,550 became exercisable on March 1, 2019, and 24,550 will become exercisable on March 1, 2020. Of the 67,400 stock options held by Mr. Aiken with an exercise price of $135.85, the remaining 33,700 stock options became exercisable on March 2, 2019.

Of the 42,880 stock options held by Mr. Casey with an exercise price of $223.93, 21,440 will become exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 21,440 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 48,650 stock options held by Mr. Casey with an exercise price of $191.71, 24,325 became exercisable on March 1, 2019, and 24,325 will become exercisable on March 1, 2020. Of the 74,320 stock options held by Mr. Casey with an exercise price of $135.85, the remaining 37,160 stock options became exercisable on March 2, 2019.

Of the 42,880 stock options held by Mr. Roualet with an exercise price of $223.93, 21,440 will become exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 21,440 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 48,650 stock options held by Mr. Roualet with an exercise price of $191.71, 24,325 became exercisable on March 1, 2019, and 24,325 will become exercisable on March 1, 2020. Of the 73,330 stock options held by Mr. Roualet with an exercise price of $135.85, the remaining 36,665 stock options became exercisable on March 2, 2019.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     49


Executive Compensation

Of the 41,530 stock options held by Mr. Johnson with an exercise price of $223.93, 20,765 will become exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 20,765 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 47,140 stock options held by Mr. Johnson with an exercise price of $191.71, 23,570 became exercisable on March 1, 2019, and 23,570 will become exercisable on March 1, 2020. Of the 32,970 stock options held by Mr. Johnson with an exercise price of $135.85, the remaining 32,970 stock options became exercisable on March 2, 2019.

(b)

Of the 29,940 stock options held by Mr. Roualet with an exercise price of $167.61, 14,970 will become exercisable on March 6, 2021, and 14,970 will become exercisable on March 6, 2022. Of the 42,880 stock options held by Mr. Roualet with an exercise price of $223.93, 21,440 became exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 21,440 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 48,650 stock options held by Mr. Roualet with an exercise price of $191.71, 24,325 became exercisable on March 1, 2020.

Of the 43,860 stock options held by Mr. Burns with an exercise price of $167.61, 21,930 will become exercisable on March 6, 2021, and 21,930 will become exercisable on March 6, 2022. Of the 32,560 stock options held by Mr. Burns with an exercise price of $223.93, 16,280 became exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 16,280 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 31,590 stock options held by Mr. Burns with an exercise price of $191.71, 15,795 became exercisable on March 1, 2020.
Of the 42,230 stock options held by Mr. Gallopoulos with an exercise price of $167.61, 21,115 will become exercisable on March 6, 2021, and 21,115 will become exercisable on March 6, 2022. Of the 30,700 stock options held by Mr. Gallopoulos with an exercise price of $223.93, 15,350 became exercisable on March 7, 2020, and 15,350 will become exercisable on March 7, 2021. Of the 33,200 stock options held by Mr. Gallopoulos with an exercise price of $191.71, 16,600 became exercisable on March 1, 2020.
(b)For awards made prior to 2017, shares of restricted stock were released to participants on the first day of January on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business of the fourth calendar year following the calendar year in which the grant date occurs. Beginning with awards of restricted stock in 2017, shares release to participants on the first day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business after the third anniversary of the day of grant. PSUs that are earned release following certification by the Compensation Committee of the applicable performance result.

Of the 85,005 restricted shares held by Ms. Novakovic, 25,065 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2019, with a market value of $3,901,117; 26,055 restricted shares will be released on January 2, 2020; 18,255 restricted shares will be released on March 2, 2020; 15,630 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021.

Of the 18,325 restricted shares held by Mr. Aiken, 4,915 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2019, with a market value of $764,971; 5,485 restricted shares will be released on January 2, 2020; 4,240 restricted shares will be released on March 2, 2020; 3,685 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021.

Of the 18,590 restricted shares held by Mr. Casey, 4,750 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2019, with a market value of $739,290; 6,045 restricted shares will be released on January 2, 2020; 4,200 restricted shares will be released on March 2, 2020; 3,595 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021

Of the 18,505 restricted shares held by Mr. Roualet, 4,750 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2019, with market value of $739,290; 5,960 restricted shares will be released on January 2, 2020; 4,200 restricted shares will be released on March 2, 2020; 3,595 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021.

Of the 17,440 restricted shares held by Mr. Johnson, 4,520 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2019, with a market value of $703,493; 5,365 restricted shares will be released on January 2, 2020; 4,070 restricted shares will be released on March 2, 2020; 3,485 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021.

(c)

Of the 74,840 restricted shares or units held by Ms. Novakovic, 26,055 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2020, with a market value of $4,637,269; 18,255 restricted shares were released on March 2, 2020, with a market value of $2,946,722; 15,630 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021; and 14,900 restricted shares will be released on March 7, 2022.

Of the 16,955 restricted shares or units held by Mr. Aiken, 5,485 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2020, with a market value of $976,220; 4,240 restricted shares were released on March 2, 2020, with a market value of $684,421; 3,685 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021; and 3,545 restricted shares will be released on March 7, 2022.
Of the 17,215 restricted shares or units held by Mr. Roualet, 5,960 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2020, with a market value of $1,060,761; 4,200 restricted shares were released on March 2, 2020, with a market value of $677,964; 3,595 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021; and 3,460 restricted shares will be released on March 7, 2022.
Of the 11,490 restricted shares or units held by Mr. Burns, 2,245 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2020, with a market value of $399,565; 2,725 restricted shares were released on March 2, 2020, with a market value of $439,870; 2,725 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021; and 3,795 restricted shares will be released on March 7, 2022.
Of the 13,095 restricted shares or units held by Mr. Gallopoulos, 4,005 restricted shares were released on January 2, 2020, with a market value of $712,810; 2,860 restricted shares were released on March 2, 2020, with a market value of $461,661; 2,575 restricted shares will be released on March 8, 2021; and 3,655 restricted shares will be released on March 7, 2022.
(c)Represents PSUs that released in the first quarter of 20192020 or, subject to satisfaction of the performance condition and Compensation Committee determination, may release during the first quarter of 20202021 or 2021.

2022.
For Ms. Novakovic, 19,256 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2020; 16,214 may release during the first quarter of 2021 and 37,890 may release during the first quarter of 2022.
For Mr. Aiken, 4,472 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2020; 3,822 may release during the first quarter of 2021 and 9,011 may release during the first quarter of 2022.
For Mr. Roualet, 4,430 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2020; 3,730 may release during the first quarter of 2021 and 8,792 may release during the first quarter of 2022.
For Mr. Burns, 2,874 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2020; 2,826 may release during the first quarter of 2021 and 3,859 may release during the first quarter of 2022.
For Mr. Gallopoulos, 3,016 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2020; 2,671 may release during the first quarter of 2021; and 3,717 may release during the first quarter of 2022.

For Ms. Novakovic, 27,399 PSUs will release during the first quarter64       General Dynamics


Table of 2019; 18,832 may release during the first quarter of 2020; and 15,858 may release during the first quarter of 2021.Contents

For Mr. Aiken, 5,768 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2019; 4,374 may release during the first quarter of 2020; and 3,739 may release during the first quarter of 2021.

For Mr. Casey, 6,357 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2019; 4,333 may release during the first quarter of 2020; and 3,647 may release during the first quarter of 2021.

For Mr. Roualet, 6,268 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2019; 4,333 may release during the first quarter of 2020; and 3,647 may release during the first quarter of 2021.

For Mr. Johnson, 5,642 PSUs will release during the first quarter of 2019; 2,799 may release during the first quarter of 2020; and 1,178 may release during the first quarter of 2021 (Mr. Johnson’s 2017 and 2018 PSU grants have been prorated due to his retirement).

50     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Executive Compensation

COMPANY-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANSCompany-Sponsored Retirement Plans

General Dynamics offers retirement programs through a combination of qualified and nonqualified Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 plans. The NEOs, other than Mr. JohnsonGallopoulos, participate in each of the retirement programs indicated next to their name in the table below. Mr. Johnson, who retired from the company on December 31, 2018, was not eligible to participate in the company’s pension plans.

Beginning January 1, 2014, pension accruals stopped for employees at our corporate headquarters, including the participating NEOs.

The table shows the actuarial present value as of December 31, 2018,2019, of the pension benefits earned for each NEO over the course of the officer’s career. All retirement plans in the table operate in exactly the same manner for the NEOs as for all other plan participants. A description of the material terms and conditions of each of these plans and agreements follows the table. Pension benefits have been frozen for each NEO for the plans listed below.

PENSION BENEFITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019

 

PENSION BENEFITSFOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

 

 

  NAME

 

  

PLAN NAME

 

  

NUMBER OF
YEARS  CREDITED
SERVICE

 

  

  PRESENT VALUE OF  
ACCUMULATED
BENEFIT (a)

 

  

PAYMENTS DURING
    LAST FISCAL  YEAR    

 

 

  Ms. Novakovic (b)

  Salaried Retirement Plan  13  $   393,491   None 
  

Supplemental Retirement Plan

 

 

  13

 

 

  $1,994,485

 

 

  

  Mr. Aiken (c)

  Salaried Retirement Plan  11  $   186,304   None 
  

Supplemental Retirement Plan

 

 

  11

 

 

  $   194,382

 

 

  

  Mr. Casey (d)

  Salaried Retirement Plan  32  $1,236,042   None 
  

Supplemental Retirement Plan

 

 

  32

 

 

  $2,926,126

 

 

  

  Mr. Roualet (e)

  Salaried Retirement Plan  29  $   927,336   None 
  

Supplemental Retirement Plan

 

 

  29

 

 

  $1,540,274

 

 

  

 

  Mr. Johnson

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

             —

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NamePlan NameNumber of
Years Credited
Service
Present Value
of Accumulated
Benefit(a)
Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year
Ms. Novakovic(b)    Salaried Retirement Plan    13       $473,346    None
Supplemental Retirement Plan13$2,399,243
Mr. Aiken(c)Salaried Retirement Plan11$263,950None
Supplemental Retirement Plan11$275,395
Mr. Roualet(d)Salaried Retirement Plan29$1,131,676None
Supplemental Retirement Plan29$1,878,832
Mr. Burns(e)Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Pension Plan
35$1,656,088None
(a)(a)

The Present Value of Accumulated Benefit under each plan has been calculated as of December 31, 2018,2019, using the company’s FASB ASC Topic 715,Compensation – Retirement Benefits, assumptions as ofyear-end 2018. 2019. For a discussion of this calculation, see Note QR to our consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2019.

10, 2020.
(b)(b)

Ms. Novakovic’s total service is 19 years and credited service is 13 years.

(c)Mr. Aiken’s total service is 18 years and credited service is 13 years.

(c)

Mr. Aiken’s total service is 17 years and credited service is 11 years.

(d)(d)

Mr. Casey’s total service is 40 years and credited service is 32 years.

(e)

Mr. Roualet’s total service is 3738 years and credited service is 29 years.

(e)Mr. Burns’ total service is 36 years and credited service is 35 years.

Salaried Retirement Plan.Plan

The General Dynamics Salaried Retirement Plan (the Salaried Plan) is atax-qualified defined-benefit pension plan that provides benefits as a life annuity to retired participants. A participant’s benefit under the Salaried Retirement Plan increases with each year of service. Participants who leave before they are eligible for early retirement are paid a substantially reduced amount. All the NEOs, other than Mr. Johnson,Ms. Novakovic and Messrs. Aiken and Roualet participate in the Salaried Retirement Plan.

Earnings used to calculate pension benefits (pensionable earnings) include only a participant’s base salary and cash bonus and exclude all other items of income, including equity awards. Under the Internal Revenue Code, the Salaried Retirement Plan does not take into account any earnings over a predetermined compensation limit, which was $275,000$280,000 for 2018,2019, and does not pay annual benefits beyond a predetermined benefit limit, which was $220,000$225,000 for 2018.2019.

Beginning January 1, 2014, pension accruals stoppedBenefits under the Salaried Plan were frozen as of December 31, 2013, for employees at our corporate headquarters, including the participating NEOs. The Salaried Retirement Plan pays a monthly benefit equal to the product of (1) the benefit percentage times (2) the final average monthly pay times (3) the years of credited service. For credited service earned prior to January 1, 2007, the benefit percentage equals 1.333 percent.1.333%. For credited service earned on or after January 1, 2007, the benefit percentage equals 1.0 percent.1.0%. Final average monthly pay is equal to the average of the participant’s highest 60 consecutive months of pensionable earnings out of the participant’s last 120 months of employment. For credited service earned prior to January 1, 2007, the final average monthly pay used in the benefit calculation froze as of December 31, 2010. The normal retirement age under the Salaried Retirement Plan is age 65. The Salaried Retirement Plan benefit is calculated

2020 Proxy Statement       65


Table of Contents

Executive Compensation

as a single-life monthly annuity beginning at age 65 and has multiple

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     51


Executive Compensation

actuarially equivalent payment forms from which participants can choose to take their benefit. A cash lump sum is only available if a participant’s accrued benefit is less than $5,000. None of the eligible NEOs had reached the normal retirement age as of December 31, 2018.2019.

A participant with at least 10 years of service qualifies for early retirement at age 55. Ms. Novakovic and Messrs. Casey andMr. Roualet have qualified for early retirement as of December 31, 2018.retirement. A participant who is eligible for early retirement is entitled to receive the following:

(1)

for benefits based on credited service earned prior to January 1, 2007, if a participant retires between age 55 and 62, his or her age 65 benefit is reduced by 2.5 percent2.5% for each full year that he or she retires prior to age 62. If the participant retires between age 62 and 65, he or she will receive 100 percent100% of his or her age 65 benefit.

(2)

for benefits based on credited service earned on or after January 1, 2007, a participant who is eligible for early retirement and subsequently retires between age 55 and 65 will have his or her age 65 benefit reduced by 4.8 percent4.8% for each full year that he or she retires prior to age 65.

Supplemental Retirement Plan.Plan

The General Dynamics Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan (the Supplemental Retirement Plan) is a nonqualified defined-benefit plan that provides retirement benefits to eligible employees whose salaries exceed the Internal Revenue Code compensation limit or whose annual benefits would exceed the Internal Revenue Code benefit limit. All the NEOs other than Mr. JohnsonMs. Novakovic and Messrs. Aiken and Roualet participate in the Supplemental Retirement Plan.

Beginning January 1, 2014,Benefits under the Supplemental Retirement Plan pension accruals stoppedwere frozen as of December 31, 2013, for employees at our corporate headquarters, including the NEOs who participate in the plan. The Supplemental Retirement Plan provides benefits equal to the difference between (1) the amount that would have been provided under the Salaried Retirement Plan if the annual compensation limit and annual benefit limit did not apply, and (2) the benefit actually paid under the Salaried Retirement Plan. A participant’s pensionable earnings and forms of payment are the same under the Supplemental Retirement Plan as the Salaried Retirement Plan.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Pension Plan

The Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Pension Plan (the GAC Plan) is a tax-qualified defined-benefit pension plan that provides benefits as a life annuity to retired participants. A participant’s benefit under the GAC Plan increases with each year of service. Participants who leave before they are eligible for early retirement are paid a substantially reduced amount. Mr. Burns participates in the GAC Plan.

Earnings used to calculate pension benefits (pensionable earnings) include only a participant’s base salary and cash bonus and exclude all other items of income, including equity awards. Under the Internal Revenue Code, the GAC Plan does not take into account any earnings over a predetermined compensation limit and does not pay annual benefits beyond a predetermined benefit limit.

Benefits under the GAC Plan were frozen as of December 31, 2018, for Mr. Burns. For service prior to January 1, 2004, Mr. Burns has a frozen pension accrued benefit under the GAC Plan that totals approximately $3,400 payable monthly as a single-life annuity. Upon his retirement, this amount will increase with cost of living adjustments up to a maximum of 3% annually. Effective January 1, 2004, the GAC Plan was amended to provide benefits for each month of credited service earned after December 31, 2003, based on 1.125% of the final average monthly pay at or below the monthly integration level plus 1.25% of the excess above the integration level. The portion of Mr. Burns’ benefit earned after December 31, 2003, is payable monthly as a life annuity and is not subject to cost of living adjustments. The normal retirement age under the GAC Plan is age 65. The GAC Plan benefit is calculated as a single-life monthly annuity beginning at age 65 and has multiple actuarially equivalent payment forms from which participants can choose to take their benefit. A cash lump sum is only available if a participant’s present value of accrued benefit is less than $5,000. Mr. Burns did not reach the normal retirement age as of December 31, 2019.

66       General Dynamics


NONQUALIFIED DEFINED-CONTRIBUTION DEFERRED COMPENSATIONTable of Contents

Executive Compensation

A participant with at least 20 years of service at age 50 or with at least 5 years of service at age 60 qualifies for early retirement. Mr. Burns qualified for early retirement as of December 31, 2019. A participant who is eligible for early retirement is entitled to receive the following:

If a participant retires between age 50 and 60, his or her age 65 benefit is reduced by a factor based on a table described in the GAC Plan document for each full year that he or she retires prior to age 60.
If the participant retires between age 60 and 65, he or she will receive 100% of his or her age 60 benefit.

Nonqualified Defined-Contribution Deferred Compensation

As part of General Dynamics’our overall retirement program, the NEOs and other key employees are eligible to participate in a nonqualified defined-contribution plan. The following table illustrates the amounts due to each executive as of December 31, 2018.2019. In addition, the table shows contributions made by both the NEOs and General Dynamics in 20182019 along with the earnings on each executive’s total account.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATIONFOR FISCAL YEAR 2018 
  NAME  

 

EXECUTIVE

  CONTRIBUTIONS  

IN LAST

FISCAL YEAR

   

 

REGISTRANT
CONTRIBUTIONS
IN LAST

  FISCAL  YEAR (a)  

   AGGREGATE
EARNINGS IN  LAST
FISCAL YEAR (b)
  

AGGREGATE
 WITHDRAWALS

DISTRIBUTIONS

  AGGREGATE
BALANCEAT
LAST FISCAL
      YEAR END (c)    
 

 

  Ms. Novakovic

 

  

 

 

 

 

$158,500    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$31,700    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$(114,545

 

 

)     

 

 

 

—  

 

  

 

 

 

 

$1,896,573      

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Aiken

 

  

 

 

 

 

$  15,400    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$15,400    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$  (16,843

 

 

)     

 

 

 

—  

 

  

 

 

 

 

$   183,717      

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Casey

 

  

 

 

 

 

$  78,000    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$15,600    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$    16,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

 

  

 

 

 

 

$   992,500      

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Roualet

 

  

 

 

 

 

$  78,000    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$15,600    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$(250,915

 

 

)     

 

 

 

—  

 

  

 

 

 

 

$   934,739      

 

 

 

 

 

  Mr. Johnson

 

  

 

 

 

 

$  78,000    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$15,600    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$(101,357

 

 

)     

 

 

 

—  

 

  

 

 

 

 

$3,519,777      

 

 

 

 

NameExecutive
Contributions
in Last
Fiscal Year
Registrant
Contributions
in Last
Fiscal Year
(a)
Aggregate
Earnings
in Last
Fiscal Year(b)
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year End(c)
Ms. Novakovic       $158,500         $31,700       $116,174        $2,202,947
Mr. Aiken$17,000$17,000$52,146$269,863
Mr. Roualet$80,000$16,000$138,128$1,168,867
Mr. Burns$65,500$13,100$61,608$357,162
Mr. Gallopoulos$72,000$14,400$84,548$1,003,078
(a)

The registrant contributions of $31,700, $15,400, $15,600, $15,600$17,000, $16,000, $13,100 and $15,600,$14,400 for Ms. Novakovic and Messrs. Aiken, Casey, Roualet, Burns and Johnson,Gallopoulos, respectively, are included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(b)

No amounts shown in the Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year column are reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.

(c)

Certain amounts in the Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End column were previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table in the Salary column (in the case of executive contributions) or in the All Other Compensation column (in the case of registrant contributions) for the NEOs. The amounts previously reported as executive and registrant contributions were as follows: (i) Ms. Novakovic, $806,000$964,500 and $196,650;$227,350; (ii) Mr. Aiken, $47,400$62,800 and $47,400;$62,800; and (iii) Mr. Casey, $326,500Roualet, $319,000 and $72,325; (iv) Mr. Roualet, $241,000 and $51,700; and (v) Mr. Johnson, $183,019 and $36,603.

$67,300.

General Dynamics Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan.   Plan

The Supplemental Savings Plan is a nonqualifieddefined-contribution plan that provides key employees, including the NEOs, the opportunity to defer a portion of their salary without

52     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Executive Compensation

regard to the limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code on the 401(k) Plan and receive employer matching contributions on a portion of the contributions.

Effective January 1, 2014, for those who elect to participate in the Supplemental Savings Plan, a participant may contribute between 1 percent1% and 10 percent10% of the participant’s base salary to the plan. The company will match the participant’s contributions for the first 2 percent2% of the participant’s base salary on adollar-for-dollar basis. Investment performance mirrors the performance of the funds that are available to participants under the 401(k) Plan.

Supplemental Savings Plan participants, including the NEOs, do not receive any earnings on their Supplemental Savings Plan accounts that are not otherwise paid to all other 401(k) Plan participants with a balance in the same investment fund. Participants receivelump-sum payments six months after their separation from service for balances (including earnings) accumulated on or after January 1, 2005. For balances accumulated prior to January 1, 2005, payment is made as soon as possible after termination and participants will receive alump-sum payment unless they have previously elected to receive a deferredlump-sum payment or annual installment payments.

2020 Proxy Statement       Anteon International Corporation Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan.67  Mr. Johnson has an account balance under the frozen Anteon International Corporation Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan. Under the plan, certain eligible employees


Table of Anteon could defer receipt of allContents

Executive Compensation

Potential Payments Upon Termination or a portion of their annual cash compensation prior to the plan being frozenChange in 2007. Upon his retirement, Mr. Johnson elected to receive the deferred compensation in a lump sum.

POTENTIAL PAYMENTSUPON TERMINATIONOR CHANGEIN CONTROLControl

The following are estimated payments and benefits that would be provided to the NEOs in the event of termination of the executive’s employment assuming a termination date of December 31, 2018. On December 31, 2018, Mr. Johnson retired from the company. The payments and benefits provided to Mr. Johnson in connection with his retirement reflect standard benefits discussed on pages 42 and 43.2019.

We have calculated these amounts for different termination scenarios based on our existing benefit plans and the General Dynamics Corporation equity compensation plan currently in effect (the Equity Compensation Plan). The actual amounts of the payments and costs of the benefits, however, can only be determined at the time of an executive’s separation from General Dynamics and, depending on the payment or benefit, may extend over several years.

For each termination and change in control scenario discussed below, the NEO would also be entitled to:

(1)

the pension benefits described in the Pension Benefits for Fiscal Year 20182019 table, for those NEOs who are eligible to receive benefits; and

(2)(2)

the amounts listed in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal Year 20182019 table.

The estimated totals presented in the table on the next page do not include these pension benefit and nonqualified deferred compensation amounts, nor do the totals include items that are provided to all employees, such as payment of accrued vacation.

Change in Control Agreements – Double Trigger.Double-Trigger

For a change in control situation, we have change in control agreements (also referred to as severance protection agreements) with key employees, including each of the NEOs. We have estimated the payments and benefits the NEOs could receive under our existing benefit plans, change in control agreements and the equity compensation plans. Our calculations assume the executive was terminated on December 31, 2018,2019, and that this date was within 24 months following a change in control, thereby satisfying the “double-trigger” requirement under the change in control agreements. The actual amounts of the payments and costs of the benefits, however, can only be determined at the time of an executive’s separation from General Dynamics and depending on the payment or benefit may extend over several years. As discussed under Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Other Considerations – Potential Severance and Change in Control Benefits the change in control agreements contain a “double-trigger” mechanism that is triggered only under certain circumstances. Our severance protection agreements do not provide for excise taxgross-ups. Rather, the agreements provide that, in the event change in control benefits would trigger an excise tax under Section 280G and Section 4999, then the value of the benefits will be either (1) delivered in full or (2) subject to a cutback, whichever provides the executive officer the greatest benefit on anafter-tax basis (with the excise tax being the responsibility of the executive to pay).

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Executive Compensation

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

POTENTIAL PAYMENTSUPON TERMINATIONOR CHANGEIN CONTROL

 

 
  SCENARIOAND PAYMENT TYPE   MS. NOVAKOVIC      MR. AIKEN      MR. CASEY     MR. ROUALET  
  Termination For Cause or Voluntary Resignation

 

               

 

Retiree Life Insurance Benefit (a)

 

  

 

 

 

 

$      424,558

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$              —

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$     245,868

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$     250,841  

 

 

 

 

 

Retiree Medical and Dental Benefit (b)

 

  

 

 

 

 

         32,596

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

48,949

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

98,351  

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Stock

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

 

 

PSUs

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

  

 

 

 

 

$      457,154

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$              —

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$      294,817

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$      349,192  

 

 

 

 

  Death (c)

 

               

Life Insurance Benefit

 

   

 

$   3,170,000

 

 

 

   

 

$  1,700,000

 

 

 

   

 

$   1,600,000

 

 

 

   

 

$   1,600,000  

 

 

 

 

Stock Options (d)

 

  

 

 

 

 

3,420,377

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

719,832

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

793,738

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

783,164  

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Stock (d)

 

  

 

 

 

 

13,363,636

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

2,880,873

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

2,922,534

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

2,909,171  

 

 

 

 

 

PSUs (d) (e)

 

  

 

 

 

 

7,112,076

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

1,560,938

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

1,644,364

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

1,630,373  

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

  

 

 

 

 

$    27,066,089

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$ 6,861,643

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$ 6,960,636

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$ 6,922,708  

 

 

 

 

  Retirement, Termination without Cause or Disability (c)

 

 

               

Retiree Life Insurance Benefit (a)

 

   

 

$       424,558

 

 

 

   

 

$              —

 

 

 

   

 

$       245,868

 

 

 

   

 

$       250,841  

 

 

 

 

Retiree Medical and Dental Benefit (b)

 

  

 

 

 

 

32,596

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

              —

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

48,949

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

98,351  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options (g) (h)

 

  

 

 

 

 

3,402,010

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

715,967

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

789,475

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

778,959  

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Stock (f) (h)

 

  

 

 

 

 

12,541,140

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

2,690,622

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

2,732,996

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

2,720,064  

 

 

 

 

 

PSUs (e) (h)

  

 

 

 

 

7,112,076

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

1,560,938

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

1,644,364

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

1,630,373  

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

  

 

 

 

 

$  23,512,380

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$     4,967,527

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$     5,461,652

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$     5,478,588  

 

 

 

 

  Change in Control, with Qualifying Termination

 

 

               

Annual Incentive (i)

   $    5,300,000    $    1,386,000    $    1,404,000    $    1,404,000   

Severance (j)

   20,586,150    6,685,640    6,589,960    6,589,960   

Life, medical, dental and long-term disability benefits (k)

 

   

 

83,279

 

 

 

   

 

71,429

 

 

 

   

 

83,067

 

 

 

   

 

84,701  

 

 

 

Retiree life, medical and dental benefits (l)

 

   

 

375,023

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

236,818

 

 

 

   

 

273,740  

 

 

 

Outplacement services (m)

   10,000    10,000    10,000    10,000   

Financial counseling and tax planning services (n)

   30,000    30,000    30,000    30,000   

Supplemental retirement benefit (o)

 

   

 

135,102

 

 

 

   

 

85,743

 

 

 

   

 

88,282

 

 

 

   

 

88,282  

 

 

 

Stock Options (p)

 

   

 

3,420,377

 

 

 

   

 

719,832

 

 

 

   

 

793,738

 

 

 

   

 

783,164  

 

 

 

Restricted Stock (p)

 

   

 

13,363,636

 

 

 

   

 

2,880,873

 

 

 

   

 

2,922,534

 

 

 

   

 

2,909,171  

 

 

 

PSUs (p)

 

   

 

9,760,854

 

 

 

   

 

2,181,918

 

 

 

   

 

2,253,605

 

 

 

   

 

2,239,614  

 

 

 

Total

 

   

 

$  53,064,421

 

 

 

   

 

$  14,051,435

 

 

 

   

 

$  14,412,004

 

 

 

   

 

$  14,412,632  

 

 

 

Scenario and Payment Type     Ms. Novakovic     Mr. Aiken     Mr. Roualet     Mr. Burns     Mr. Gallopoulos
Termination For Cause or Voluntary Resignation
       Retiree Life Insurance Benefit(a)     $ 519,519$$297,779$     $ 275,769
       Retiree Medical and Dental Benefit(b)58,82871,119
       Stock Options
       Restricted Stock
       PSUs
              Total519,519$$356,607$71,119275,769
Death(c)
       Life Insurance Benefit3,170,000$1,700,000$1,600,000$1,310,0001,480,000
       Stock Options(d)1,128,247268,231261,676383,336369,090
       Restricted Stock(d)13,198,0342,990,0143,035,8652,026,2622,309,303
       PSUs(d)(e)7,529,3221,767,6741,736,4601,065,9181,064,390
              Total25,025,603$6,725,919$6,634,001$4,785,5165,222,783
Retirement, Termination without Cause or Disability(c)
       Retiree Life Insurance Benefit(a)519,519$$297,779$275,769
       Retiree Medical and Dental Benefit(b)58,82871,119
       Stock Options(f)(h)302,21671,84870,087102,67898,859
       Restricted Stock(g)(h)12,569,6042,840,6062,889,9751,872,2972,161,063
       PSUs(e)(h)7,529,3221,767,6741,736,4601,065,9181,064,390
              Total20,920,661$4,680,128$5,053,129$3,112,0123,600,081
Change in Control, with Qualifying Termination
       Annual Incentive(i)5,059,000$1,287,000$1,364,000$1,100,000950,000
       Severance(j)19,865,5606,389,6306,470,3603,510,0005,053,100
       Life, medical, dental and long-term
       disability benefits(k)
82,47276,47689,59546,85673,231
       Retiree life, medical and dental benefits(l)455,670290,83248,706238,821
       Outplacement services(m)10,00010,00010,00010,00010,000
       Financial counseling and tax planning services(n)30,00030,00030,00020,00030,000
       Supplemental retirement benefit(o)134,72989,16789,72648,02183,576
       Stock Options(p)1,128,247268,231261,676383,336369,090
       Restricted Stock(p)13,198,0342,990,0143,035,8652,026,2622,309,303
       PSUs(p)12,937,0363,051,7372,989,3091,685,7301,658,395
              Total52,900,74814,192,25514,631,3638,878,91110,775,516
(a)

Assumes the executive elects the maximum oftwo-times-pay coverage at retirement. The estimated cost is calculated using the assumptions made for financial reporting purposes for valuing post-retirement life insurance at December 31, 2018.2019. The life insurance benefit is further described under Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Other Retiree Benefits.

(b)

The estimated cost for this coverage is based on the difference between the COBRA rate that the executive would pay and the higher expense we must recognize for financial reporting purposes. We provide retiree medical and dental coverage only until an executive reaches age 65. Ms. Novakovic and Messrs. Aiken and Gallopoulos were not eligible for retiree medical and dental coverage at December 31, 2019.

(c)

In situations where an executive has completed a full calendar year of service to the company, for certain termination scenarios not involving a change in control, the executive may remain eligible for an annual incentive for performance during the year, though whether a bonus is paid in the future, and the amount, if any, would be subject to Compensation Committee approval. No future bonus payment is guaranteed, and the amount of any bonus would be determined as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. The NEO may also be eligible for $2 million of proceeds under accidental death and dismemberment insurance, depending upon the circumstances.

(d)

Under the terms of the Equity Compensation Plan, unvested stock options held by the executive would be treated as if the executive remained employed with General Dynamics throughout the option term. The options would be exercisable by the executive’s estate in accordance with the terms of the original option

54     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Executive Compensation

grant. PSUs granted would be evaluated for achievement relative to goals and if earned, a pro rata amount (determined as set forth in the respective award agreements) will vest and be released within two andone-half months following the death vesting date. The unvested stock options vest immediately, and the restricted stock held by the executive would be transferred to the estate and released at the time of death. The value of the

2020 Proxy Statement       69


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Executive Compensation

unvested options reflected in the table represents the difference between the closing share price of $157.21$176.35 on December 31, 2018,2019, and the option grant price, multiplied by the number of retained unvested options. The value of the restricted stock represents the number of restricted shares held on December 31, 2018,2019, multiplied by the closing share price of $157.21$176.35 on December 31, 2018.2019.

(e)

The value of the prorated PSUs represents the number of earned units as of December 31, 2018,2019, multiplied by the closing share price of $157.21$176.35 on December 31, 2018.2019.

(f)

The present value of the restricted stock represents the number of restricted shares held on December 31, 2018, multiplied by the closing share price of $157.21 on December 31, 2018, and applying a discount rate factor to account for the restriction periods.

(g)

The present value of the unvested stock options reflected in the table represents the difference between the closing share price of $157.21$176.35 on December 31, 2018,2019, and the option grant price, multiplied by the number of retained unvested options, and applying a discount factor to account for the option exercise dates.

(g)

The present value of the restricted stock represents the number of restricted shares held on December 31, 2019, multiplied by the closing share price of $176.35 on December 31, 2019, and applying a discount rate factor to account for the restriction periods.

(h)

Under the terms of the Equity Compensation Plan, most participants qualify for retirement treatment after reaching age 55 with at least five years of continuous service with the company. For participants who are elected officers of the company and who have reached age 55, the plan provides for retirement treatment with the consent of the company’s chief executive officer or, in the case of the chief executive officer, the Compensation Committee. For purposes of this Proxy Statement, we assume that any required consents for retirement treatment have been obtained. Since Ms. Novakovic and Messrs. CaseyBurns, Gallopoulos and Roualet are eligible to retire, they would forfeit a portion of their unvested stock option awards based on days of service during the three-year period beginning on January 1 of the year of grant for options granted before 2017 and as of the grant date for options granted after 2017.date. The retained options would be exercisable in accordance with the terms of the original grant. The restricted stock award will pro rata vest at the end of the original restriction period if retirement occurs prior toone-year one year from grant. The restricted stock award would be released at the end of the original restriction period if retirement occurs on or afterone-year one year from grant. The PSUs would be prorated (as set forth in the respective award agreements) and will be released within two andone-half months following their respective scheduled vesting date, if earned based on the applicable performance goals. Because Mr. Aiken was not eligible to retire at December 31, 2018,2019, the equity values in these scenarios would apply only in the case of disability.

(i)

Any annual incentive amount paid in a change in control situation would be determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable change in control agreement. Since we assume that a change in control and triggering event had occurred on December 31, 2018,2019, the change in control scenarios identify the March 2019 bonus amounts (or the average of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 bonus amounts.amounts, if higher).

(j)

Calculated in accordance with the applicable change in control agreement. For the NEOs other than Mr. Burns, this amount equals 2.99 times their annual salary and annual incentive. For Mr. Burns, the multiple is 2.00 times.

(k)

Represents an additional 36 months of life, medical, dental and long-term disability benefits.benefits for the NEOs other than Mr. Burns. These costs reflect an amount equal to three times the 20182019 annual employer premiums for these benefits. For Mr. Burns, the amount represents an additional 24 months and the costs reflect an amount equal to two times the 2019 annual employer premiums for these benefits.

(l)

The costs of Ms. Novakovic’s, Messrs. Casey’s and Roualet’s retiree benefits for Ms. Novakovic and Messrs. Burns, Gallopoulos and Roualet are reduced in this scenario because the 36 months (24 months for Mr. Burns) of continued active coverage described in Note (k) defers the commencement date of this coverage. Ms. Novakovic and Mr. Gallopoulos are not eligible for retiree medical and dental benefits; therefore, the amount shown represents retiree life only. Mr. Burns is not eligible for retiree life; therefore, the amount represents medical and dental benefits only.

(m)

Represents the estimated outplacement services costs, obtained from an outplacement vendor, for 12 months for a senior executive.

(n)

Represents financial counseling and tax planning services for 36 months (for NEOs other than Mr. Burns) or 24 months (for Mr. Burns) following the termination date, at a total cost not to exceed $30,000$10,000 per year for each NEO.

(o)

Represents a supplemental retirement benefit payable in cash equal to an additional 36 months (24 months for Mr. Burns) of company contributions to each defined-contribution plan in which the executive participates.

(p)

Our Equity Compensation Plan and the applicable award agreements contain a “double-trigger” mechanism for all participants, including the NEOs. This mechanism provides that if, within two years following a change in control, a participant’s employment is terminated by the company for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in the plan) or by the executive for Good Reason (as defined in the plan), then all outstanding awards that have not vested will immediately vest and become exercisable and all restrictions on awards will immediately lapse.

70General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     55


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Executive Compensation

PAY RATIO RESULTSPay Ratio Results

The chief executive officer pay ratio figures below are a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of RegulationS-K under the Exchange Act.

Due to the acquisition of CSRA and divestitures within GDIT in 2018, there hasThere have been a changeno changes in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements in 2019 that we reasonably believe would result in a significant change in our pay ratio disclosure. Therefore, we havere-identified based our pay ratio calculation for 2019 using compensation for the same median employee identified for 2018, using the same methodology we employed in 2017:

We determined that as of December 3, 2018 (our Determination Date), our total number of U.S. employees was approximately 93,000 and our total number ofnon-U.S. employees was approximately 14,000. We excluded from this employee population a total of 5,251 employees from: Mexico (2,451), Spain (859), Germany (531), Singapore (305), United Arab Emirates (247), Saudi Arabia (197), Italy (118), Estonia (74), Brazil (72), Colombia (70), Argentina (47), Netherlands (35), Russian Federation (30), France (28), Philippines (28), Bermuda (27), Israel (26), Malaysia (25), India (20), New Zealand (17), Jamaica (14), Guyana (6), Bahamas (4), Barbados (4), Czech Republic (3), Indonesia (3), Malta (3), Chile (1), Ecuador (1), Ethiopia (1), Peru (1), Portugal (1), Trinidad (1) and Turkey (1) as the total number of employees from thesenon-U.S. jurisdictions was less than 5 percent of our total employee population.

To determine ourwhich median employee was identified under the process described in our 2018 pay we chose base salary as our consistently applied compensation measure. We then calculated an annual base salary for each employee, annualizing pay for those employees who commenced work during 2018 and any employees who were on leave for a portion of 2018. For hourly employees, we used a reasonable estimate of hours worked to determine annual base pay. We used a clustered sampling methodology to identify the median base salary within this employee population.ratio calculation.

Total 2019 annual compensation for the median employee was valued at $86,432$116,510 and total annual compensation for the chief executive officer was valued at $20,720,254,$18,313,204, resulting in a ratio of median employee total annual compensation to chief executive officer total annual compensation of 1:240.157. Total annual compensation for the median employee and the chief executive officer is calculated according to the disclosure requirements of the Summary Compensation Table and includes base salary, annual incentive, equity awards, change in pension values and other compensation such as perquisites and company-paid healthcare benefits.

Compensation Committee Report

56     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


The following Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement or any portion hereof into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has furnished the following report.

The following fourfive directors serve on the Compensation Committee: William A. Osborn (Chair), James S. Crown, Rudy F. deLeon, C. Howard Nye and Laura J. Schumacher.

None of these directors is an officer or employee of General Dynamics. They all meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board. In accordance with that charter, the Compensation Committee is responsible for evaluating the performance of the chief executive officer and other General Dynamics officers as well as reviewing and approving their compensation. The Committee also establishes and monitors company-wide compensation programs and policies, including the incentive compensation plans.policies. The Committee’s processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive compensation are explained in greater detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on this review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement in accordance with Item 407(e) of RegulationS-K.

This report is submitted by the Compensation Committee.

William A. Osborn (Chair)

James S. Crown

Rudy F. deLeon

Laura J. Schumacher

William A. Osborn(Chair)C. Howard Nye
James S. CrownLaura J. Schumacher
Rudy F. deLeon

March 5, 20193, 2020

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Table of Contents

SECURITYOWNERSHIPOF MANAGEMENT Security Ownership

Security Ownership of Management

The following table provides information as of March 7, 2019,9, 2020, on the beneficial ownership of Common Stock by (1) each of our directors and nominees for director, (2) each of the NEOs and (3) all of our directors and executive officers as a group. The following table also shows Common Stock held by these individuals through company-sponsored benefits programs. Except as otherwise noted, the persons listed below have the sole voting and investment power for all shares held by them, except for such power that may be shared with a spouse.

Common Stock Beneficially Owned(a)   Common Stock
Equivalents
Beneficially
Owned(b)
   Total Common
Stock and
Equivalents

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER

  

 

COMMON STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED(a)

  

COMMON STOCK
EQUIVALENTS

BENEFICIALLY  OWNED
(
b
)

 

   

        TOTAL COMMON         
        STOCKAND        
        EQUIVALENTS        

 

 

SHARES OWNED

 

   

OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
WITHIN 60 DAYS

 

   

PERCENTAGE OF

CLASS

 

 
Name of Beneficial Owner   Shares Owned   Options Exercisable
within 60 Days
   Percentage
of Class
   Common Stock
Equivalents
Beneficially
Owned(b)
   Total Common
Stock and
Equivalents

Directors and Nominees

Directors and Nominees

 

James S. Crown (c)

   15,611,526    18,225    

 

5.4

 

 

 3,048    15,632,799 15,542,84013,4555.4%3,11715,559,412

Rudy F. deLeon

   3,033    6,925    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   9,958 3,5019,055*012,556

Cecil D. Haney

   445    

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   445 9640*0964

Lester L. Lyles

   8,179    18,225    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   26,404 8,64713,455*022,102

Mark M. Malcolm

   4,900    5,565    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   10,465 5,8627,695*013,557
James N. Mattis6500*0650

Phebe N. Novakovic

   
450,929
 
   1,874,280    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   
2,325,209
 
729,722873,940*01,603,662

C. Howard Nye

   981    0    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   981 1,9430*01,943

William A. Osborn

   30,685    18,225    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   48,910 36,36913,455*049,824

Catherine B. Reynolds

   1,726    0    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   1,726 2,6881,730*04,418

Laura J. Schumacher

   4,825    11,325    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   16,150 5,58613,455*019,041
John G. Stratton3,5330*03,533

Peter A. Wall

   1,822    1,795    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   3,617 2,2964,585*06,881

Other NEOs

Other NEOs

 

Jason W. Aiken

   73,593    230,960    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   304,553 86,082232,390*0318,472

John P. Casey

   102,663    191,315    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   293,978 

Mark C. Roualet

   128,167    285,560    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   413,727 130,539266,260*0396,799

S. Daniel Johnson (d)

   66,363    56,540    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

   122,903 
         
Mark L. Burns44,425111,210*0155,635
Gregory S. Gallopoulos114,237172,760*0286,997

Directors and Executive Officers as a Group

Directors and Executive Officers as a Group

 

(25 individuals)

   16,965,025    3,709,080    7.1 3,048    20,677,153 17,013,3982,256,2056.6%3,11719,272,720
*

Less than 1 percent.

1%.
(a)

Includes shares in the 401(k) Plan held by the executive officers and shares of Common Stock subject to resale restrictions, for which restrictions have not expired.

(b)

Reflects phantom stock units that were received on December 1, 1999, upon termination of benefits under the former retirement plan for directors and additional phantom stock units resulting from the reinvestment of dividend equivalents on the phantom stock units.

(c)

Based solely on information provided on behalf of Mr. Crown. Of the 15,611,52615,542,840 shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by Mr. Crown, (i) he disclaims beneficial ownership as to 15,528,880 shares, except to the extent of his beneficial interest in entities that own these shares; and (ii) a total of 501,8923,510,667 shares held indirectly by entities in which Mr. Crown holds interests are pledged as collateral for bank borrowings (and for which Mr. Crown disclaims beneficial ownership).

(d)

Information for Mr. Johnson is as of December 31, 2018, when he retired from the company.

5872       General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Table of Contents


Security Ownership

SECURITY OWNERSHIPOF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERSSecurity Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

Except as otherwise noted, the following table provides information as of March 7, 2019,9, 2020, with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock owned by each person known by General Dynamics to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent5% of our Common Stock.

 

 

COMMON STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED (a)

 

  NAMEOF BENEFICIAL OWNER

 

 

       SHARES OWNED

 

 

       PERCENTAGE OF  CLASS       

 

Longview Asset Management, LLC (b)

222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601

 

 

 

32,898,410

 

 

 

 

11.4

 

%

 

Capital Research Global Investors (c)

333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071

 

 

 

22,446,969

 

 

 

 

7.8

 

%

 

The Vanguard Group (d)

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355

 

 

 

21,561,226

 

 

 

 

7.5

 

%

 

Newport Trust Company (e)

570 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1903
New York, New York 10022

 

 

 

20,709,927

 

 

 

 

7.2

 

%

 

BlackRock, Inc. (f)

55 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10055

 

 

 

17,225,288

 

 

 

 

6.0

 

%

 

Common Stock
Beneficially Owned(a)
Name of Beneficial Owner     Shares
Owned
     Percentage
of Class
Longview Asset Management, LLC(b)
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 6060132,690,64411.3%
Capital Research Global Investors(c)
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 9007123,304,2198.0%
The Vanguard Group(d)
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, Pennsylvania 1935520,569,6057.1%
Newport Trust Company(e)
570 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1903
New York, New York 1002219,883,5686.9%
BlackRock, Inc.(f)
55 East 52ndStreet
New York, New York 1005515,605,0015.4%
(a)

Share information for The Vanguard Group, Capital Research Global Investors and BlackRock, Inc. is as of December 31, 2018.

2019.
(b)

This information is based solely on information provided by Longview Asset Management, LLC (Longview). Longview manages investment portfolios for clients who own Common Stock, which include accounts of clients related to Mr. Crown. Pursuant to its investment advisory agreements, Longview has voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock held in its clients’ accounts and is deemed to beneficially own 32,898,41032,690,644 shares of Common Stock, including the 15,528,880 shares included in Mr. Crown’s beneficial ownership amount for which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Clients of Longview disclaim that they are a group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and disclaim that any one of them is the beneficial owner of shares owned by any other person or entity.

(c)

This information is based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed by Capital Research Global Investors with the SEC on February 14, 2019.

2020.
(d)

This information is based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed by The Vanguard Group with the SEC on February 11, 2019.

12, 2020.
(e)

Newport Trust Company (Newport) is the independent fiduciary and investment manager for the assets of the General Dynamics Stock Fund under the General Dynamics Corporation 401(k) Plan Master Trust. Newport has shared voting power over the shares held in the General Dynamics Stock Fund. Share information for Newport is based solely on information provided on behalf of Newport.

(f)

This information is based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock, Inc. with the SEC on February 4, 2019.

5, 2020.

2020 Proxy Statement       EQUITY C73


Table of Contents

Security Ownership

OMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATIONEquity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2018,2019, regarding Common Stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans.

  (A) (B) (C)

   PLANCATEGORY

 

 

NUMBER OF SECURITIES TO BE
ISSUEDUPONTHEEXERCISE
OFOUTSTANDINGOPTIONS,
WARRANTSANDRIGHTS

 

 

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
EXERCISEPRICEOF
OUTSTANDING OPTIONS,
WARRANTS AND RIGHTS

 

 

NUMBER OF SECURITIES REMAINING
AVAILABLEFORFUTUREISSUANCE
UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
(EXCLUDING SECURITIES REFLECTED IN
COLUMN (A))

 

  Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders

 

 

 11,594,984 (a)

 

 

 $143.43  (b)

 

 

 27,499,790

 

 

  Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders

 

 

 — 

 

 

 —  

 

 

            —

Total

 

 11,594,984 

 

 

 $143.43  

 

 

 27,499,790

 

 

(A)(B)(C)
Plan Category     Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon the
Exercise of Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
     Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
of Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
     Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities Reflected
in Column (A))
Equity compensation plans approved            10,619,715(a)          $161.54(b) 25,631,368
by shareholders
Equity compensation plans not approved
by shareholders
Total10,619,715$161.5425,631,368
(a)

Includes 10,765,1959,767,749 stock options, 38,35451,082 shares issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units (including dividend equivalents thereon) (RSUs), and 763,302785,734 shares issuable upon vesting of PSUs (assuming achievement at the maximum payout and including dividend equivalents thereon); and 28,13315,150 shares of the company’s Common Stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units subject to terms and conditions in equity compensation plans assumed by the company in connection with the acquisition of CSRA Inc. in 2018 (Converted CSRA RSUs). No additional awards or grants may be made under those CSRA plans.

(b)

RSUs, PSUs and Converted CSRA RSUs do not have an exercise price and, therefore, are not taken into consideration in calculating the weighted average exercise price.

74General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     59



Table of ContentsAPPROVALOFTHE

GENERAL DYNAMICS UNITED KINGDOM SHARE SAVE PLAN Shareholder Proposal – Special Shareholder Meetings

(PROPOSAL 4)

We currently have in place a Share Save Plan (the Prior U.K. Plan) approved by our shareholders in May 2009. The Prior U.K. Plan expires in March 2019. As a result, in February 2019, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved, the amended and restated General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan (the 2019 U.K. Plan) on terms substantially similar to the Prior U.K. Plan and recommended submission of the 2019 U.K. Plan to shareholders for their approval. The purpose of the 2019 U.K. Plan is to continue to provide our employees in the United Kingdom the opportunity to acquire an ownership position in General Dynamics and more closely align their interests with the interests of our shareholders.

If the shareholders approve the 2019 U.K. Plan, no new options will be granted under the Prior U.K. Plan. Any options previously granted under the Prior U.K. Plan will remain outstanding and will, among other things, continue to be exercisable in accordance with their original terms and conditions.

The 2019 U.K. Plan is being submitted to shareholders for approval. Your Board of Directors believes it is in the best interests of General Dynamics and its shareholders to approve the 2019 U.K. Plan.

SUMMARYOFTHE PLAN

The principal features of the 2019 U.K. Plan are summarized below. The summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete text of the 2019 U.K. Plan is set forth as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.

Plan Administration.  The 2019 U.K. Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee.

Eligibility.  Participation in the 2019 U.K. Plan may be extended to our eligible employees in the United Kingdom. There are approximately 1,450 employees eligible to participate in this plan. Currently, this plan does not benefit any NEO or other executive officer or director of General Dynamics.

Shares Subject to the Plan.  The 2019 U.K. Plan provides that 450,000 shares of Common Stock will be available for issuance under the plan.

Benefits.  Under the 2019 U.K. Plan, a participant is invited to invest a designated amount in a savings account each month and receive a correspondingtax-free bonus payment. The bonus payment is set at the outset of a participant’s savings contract. The participant may be granted an option to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at an exercise price not less than 80 percent of the fair market value of Common Stock as of the later of the date on which the participant is invited to participate in the 2019 U.K. Plan, or the date on which the participant is notified of the exercise price. In practice, the exercise price has historically been set at 85 percent of the fair market value. We may grant options that can be exercised three or five years after the date of the grant. The participant may exercise his or her options but can only purchase the Common Stock with the proceeds of his or her savings account (including thetax-free bonus). Alternatively, the participant may elect to take the proceeds of his or her savings contract in cash or choose to exercise only part of the option and receive the rest in cash. Benefits under the 2019 U.K. Plan depend on the participant’s election to participate and the fair market value of the Common Stock at various future dates. As a result, it is not possible to determine future benefits that will be received by participants.

Amendment and Termination.  The Compensation Committee may amend the 2019 U.K. Plan. The 2019 U.K. Plan will terminate on the 10th anniversary of the date of adoption, or earlier by resolution of the Compensation Committee.

Tax Consequences of Awards.  Under U.K. law, no income tax is due upon receipt of an option to purchase Common Stock under the 2019 U.K. Plan. Further, no income tax is due upon the exercise of the option by a participant unless the option is exercised within three years of its date of grant for reasons other than the death, injury, disability, layoff or retirement of the participant. If any

60     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


UK Share Save Plan

income tax liability does arise, it will be based on the fair market value of the shares less the exercise price. If a participant exercises an option to purchase Common Stock and then sells the Common Stock, capital gains tax may be due on the proceeds of the sale. Under U.K. law, however, a certain amount of capital gains are excludable from taxable income each year. The bonus payments aretax-free, but early termination of the savings contract will lead to the savings being either subject to tax or interest or there will be no return on the savings. Under U.K. law, we will be able to deduct the costs of establishing the 2019 U.K. Plan.

YOUR BOARDOF DIRECTORSUNANIMOUSLYRECOMMENDSAVOTE

FOR

THISPROPOSAL.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     61


SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL – INDEPENDENT BOARD CHAIRMAN

(PROPOSAL 5)

PROPOSAL 4
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL – SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

We have been advised by John Chevedden, 2215 Nelson Ave., No. 205, Redondo Beach, California 92078,90278, owner of at least 10050 shares of Common Stock, that he intends to present the following shareholder proposal at the Annual Meeting. We are not responsible for the accuracy or content of the proposal and supporting statement, presented below, as received from the proponent. Our reasons for opposing the proposal are also presented below.

PROPOSALAND SUPPORTING STATEMENTProposal and Supporting Statement

Proposal 54Independent Board ChairmanMake Shareholder Right to Call Special Meeting More Accessible

Shareholders requestResolved, Shareowners ask our Board of Directorsboard to adopt as policy, andtake the steps necessary to amend our bylaws and each appropriate governing documents as necessary,document to require henceforth thatgive the Chairowners of a total of 15% of our outstanding common stock the Board of Directors, whenever possible,power to be an independent member of the Board. The Board would have the discretion to phase in this policy for the next Chief Executive Officer transition, implemented so itcall a special shareowner meeting. This proposal does not violate any existing agreement.impact our board’s current power to call a special meeting.

IfTo address the Board determinesobjection of a number of companies that a Chairman, who was independent when selected is no longer independent,lower stock ownership threshold could allow one shareholder to call a special meeting, adoption of this proposal topic could include a provision that a 20% stock ownership threshold would apply if a single shareholder calling for a special meeting owned 10% or more of General Dynamics stock.

Special shareholder meetings allow shareowners to vote on important matters, such as electing new directors that can arise between annual meetings.

A more accessible ability of shareholders to call a special meeting could give shareholders greater standing to improve the Board shall select a new Chairman who satisfies the requirementscomposition of the policy within a reasonable amountour board of time. Compliance with this policy is waived if no independent director is available and willing to serve as Chairman. This proposal requests that all the necessary steps be taken to accomplish the above.

Caterpillar is an example of a company changing course and naming an independent board chairman. Caterpillar had opposed a shareholder proposal for an independent board chairman at its annual meeting. Wells Fargo also changed course and named an independent board chairman.

It is especially important to have an independent board chairman when our Lead Director lacks independence.directors. For instance, James Crown was Lead Director in spite of31-years long-tenure. Long-tenure 32-years long-tenure and Mr. Crown received the highest negative votes of any GD director in 2019. Independence can impairbe the most important attribute in a Lead Director. Ironically Mr. Crown also chairs the Nomination/Governance Committee which considers the merits of this proposal. Mr. Crown is also on 2 other important board committees.

This proposal received 40%-support at General Dynamics in 2018 in spite of Mr. Crown’s opposition to it. This 40%-support would have been majority support if our management had simply allowed shareholders to make up their own minds.

The current ownership threshold of 25% can mean that more than 50% of shareholders must be contacted during the prescribed short window of time to simply call a special meeting. Plus many shareholders, who are convinced that a special meeting should be called, can make a small paperwork error that will disqualify them from counting toward the 25 ownership threshold that is needed for a special meeting.

Any claim that a shareholder right to call a special meeting can be costly – may be moot. When shareholders have a good reason to call a special meeting – our board should be able to take positive responding action to make a special meeting unnecessary.

Making the right to call a special meeting more accessible to shareholders is showing increased support. For instance this proposal topic won 51%-support at O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (ORLY) in 2019 – up form [sic] 41%-support in 2018.

Please vote yes:

Make Shareholder Right to Call Special Meeting More Accessible – Proposal 4

2020 Proxy Statement       75


Table of Contents

Shareholder Proposal

Statement by Your Board of Directors against the Shareholder Proposal

This proposal seeks to amend our company’s current special shareholder meeting right. Our current Bylaws provide that your Board will call a special meeting upon the written request of the following:

a single stockholder holding 10% of our outstanding Common Stock, or
one or more stockholders holding 25% of our outstanding stock, without any material restrictions.

Given the company’s current shareholder base, shareholders have the ability to call a special meeting at both thresholds. Your Board understands the importance that the right to call a special meeting can provide to the company’s shareholders, but also acknowledges that reasonable provisions must be in place so that the right serves its purpose without a risk of misuse.

The proposal requests that the threshold for calling a special shareholder meeting be set at 15% of the outstanding common stock. Your Board of Directors has considered this proposal and believes its adoption is redundant as our existing special meeting bylaw strikes an appropriate balance between the right of shareholders to call a special meeting and the interests of our company and shareholders in promoting the appropriate use of corporate funds and resources.

Your Board proposes the following responses to the proponent’s letter:

Appropriate Threshold for Special Meetings

The Board has concluded that a 15% threshold is too low for a group of investors to call a special meeting and that our current requirement is reasonable and appropriate for our company at this time, particularly when a single shareholder owning 10% can call a meeting under our current structure. In our recent engagement with a majority of our shareholders, we have continued to solicit input on this topic. While some shareholders support lower thresholds, most have conveyed support for levels that are in line with our current provision. Importantly, a 25% threshold is the most prevalent level among General Dynamics’ peers, as well as S&P 500 companies. In fact, the majority of General Dynamics’ peers have this threshold in place. In addition, 37% of S&P 500 companies require a 25% ownership threshold, as compared to only 8% for the 15% level (source: SharkRepellent as of July 1, 2019). Moreover, General Dynamics’ current special shareholder meeting provision not only matches the prevalent practice but goes further by granting a single 10% shareholder the right to call a special meeting.

Director Independence

As has become the proponent’s perennial custom, rather than focusing on the actual merits of special meeting rights for shareholders, the proponent engages in a diatribe that confuses director tenure with director independence. His assertion that James Crown lacks independence is without merit and without basis in applicable rules or regulations. Further, it is directly contradictory to the Board’s reasoned judgment of Mr. Crown’s independence. Your Board strongly objects to the proponent’s suggestion that the independence of a director no matter how well qualified. Independence is anall-important qualification for a Lead Director.

board member may be impaired merely because of length of service. We believe that the tenure of directors like Mr. Crown also had an oversized influence since he chaireddemonstrates strong commitment to our nomination committee and was on our executive pay and audit committees. The shareholder approval of General Dynamic’s executive pay dropped precipitously from 97% in 2017 to 68% in 2018 – apparently not helped by Mr. Crown’s oversight as a member of the executive pay committee.

Plus we had 2 directors who came from the same military culture that emphasizes following orders. Retired military could be consultants instead of directors.

Meanwhile there are challenges that face our company that need to be managed well and prevented from reoccurring that could be helped by having an independent chairman to run the Board of Directors and address the above director issues while our CEO focuses onday-to-day challenges like these:

Complaint over alleged misclassification and underpayment of call center employees – General Dynamics Information Technology Inc.

July 2018

Criticisms over alleged role in controversial U.S. family separation policy

June 2018

Elimination ofchange-of-control excise taxgross-up in severance agreement of Phebe Novakovic – Chairman and CEO

October 2016

An independent Chairman is best positioned to build up the oversight capabilities of our directors while our CEO addresses the challengingday-to-day issues facing the company. The roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO are fundamentally different and should not be held by the same person. There should be a clear division of responsibilities between these positions to insure a balance of power and authority on the Board.

Please vote yes:

Independent Board Chairman – Proposal 5

62     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Shareholder Proposal

STATEMENTBYYOUR BOARDOF DIRECTORS AGAINSTTHE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal. The Board believes that our shareholders’ interests are best served when we retain the ability to select the appropriate person to serve in the chairman’s role and that our current leadership structure is effective in its independent oversight of General Dynamics. Additionally, instead of confining discussion to the actual topic of board leadership structure, the proponent resorts to baseless, irrelevant and impertinent invective that redefines the proposal as a vote on ancillary points and not the core governance topic. This calumny should be rejected with a vote against the proposal.

Our Robust Lead Independent Director Role Provides Meaningful Independent Leadership and Oversight at the Board Level. Among the several shareholder protections in the company’s corporate governance structure is a robust and clearly defined independent Lead Director role. Elected annually, the independent Lead Director’s authority and responsibilities include the following:

Acts as chair at board meetings when the chairman is not present, including meetings of thenon-management directors;

Has the authority to call meetings of thenon-management directors;

Coordinates activities of thenon-management directors and serves as a liaison between the chairman and thenon-management directors;

Works with the chairman to develop and agree to meeting schedules and agendas, and agree to the nature of the information that will be provided to directors in advance of meetings; and

Is available for consultation and communication with significant shareholders, when appropriate.

Our current independent Lead Director, James Crown, performs each of the substantive responsibilities outlined above as well as the following additional duties:

Meets regularly with our chief executive officer to delve deeply into matters of interest to the Board, to provide feedback on past Board meetings and to seek specific information for future Board meetings;

Consults regularly with Board members, particularly thenon-management directors, to ensure strong communication among each Board member; and

Leads, as chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board’s annual self-evaluation process.

Our Current Approach Allows the Board to Select the Most Appropriate Leadership Structure and Leaders for General Dynamics. The current policy on election of the Board’s chairman, consistent with the company’s Bylaws, is simple – the Board elects the best person to lead the Board in its mission to represent the interests of shareholders.

While our current chairman is also the chief executive officer, that arrangement is simply a reflection of the Board’s view that Phebe Novakovic is the right person for those roles currently, and that the company and its shareholders, would not be well served by splittingproviding your Board with valuable insight into the roles at this time.

General Dynamics’ Corporate Governance Guidelines provide thatlong-term business cycles and the complex operations of our company. Also, your Board will adopt a leadership structure that best servesreviews the independence of each director annually to confirm compliance with the company’s needs at any particular time,Director Independence Guidelines and that such arrangement could involve either the separate or combined roles of chairman and chief executive officer.

Accordingly, as part of the selection process each year the Board considers whether the roles should be separated and whether the company and its shareholders are best served by the individual(s) serving the role(s).

Our Strong Corporate Governance Practices Ensure Management Accountability and Provide Effective Independent Oversight of General Dynamics. In addition to the strong role and significant responsibilities of our independent Lead Director, the Board has in place many other mechanisms to ensure management accountability and a balanced governance structure:

The Board’s four standing committees are each chaired by independent directors and are 100% independent.

The Board’snon-management directors meet in executive session without management present at every Board meeting.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     63


Shareholder Proposal

All directors, except the current chief executive officer, meet the independence requirementsrules of the New York Stock Exchange Listing StandardsExchange. Mr. Crown, who is affiliated with our largest shareholder and regularly engages with some of our largest shareholders, serves as our independent lead director, providing an important, shareholder-aligned voice on our Board. To balance long-tenure in the company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

board room, your Board maintains strong refreshment, with six new independent directors having been appointed over the last four years.

76       General Dynamics


Table of Contents

Shareholder Proposal

Prior Shareholder Vote Rejecting a Lower Threshold

The full Board and each committee have authorityproponent references the vote outcome of this same topic submitted by him in 2018. At that time, our shareholders rejected the proposal with 59% votes cast against the proposal. The proponent’s claim that shareholders were not allowed to retain“make up their own independent outside legal, financial or other advisors,minds” is baseless as the members deem necessary.

proposal was on our proxy ballot for a shareholder vote in 2018, and his assertion that the proposal would have passed under his proposed circumstances is factually inaccurate.

Our Provisions Comply with Applicable Laws and Regulations and Are Not Onerous

The fullYour Board participates in performance managementfollows standard guidelines established by applicable laws and assessment of both senior managementregulations and itself.

Our shareholders enjoy strong shareholder rights, includingallows for sufficient time for the right to request a special meeting of shareholders and proxy access (the abilityrequest to nominate director candidates, and have those nominees included in our proxy statement).

The Corporate Governance Concerns Raised by the Proponent are Unfounded and Do Not Accurately Reflect the Company’s Leadership and Governance Practices.

First, the proponent asserts that our independent Lead Director “lacks independence” because of his substantial tenure on the Board. Mr. Crown is independent under all applicable independence standards and has continuously received very strong support from shareholders in his annual election to the Board. Additionally, Mr. Crown’s tenure and experience enable him to bring valuable and independent views to the boardroom, where he provides thoughtful leadership for both fellow directors and senior management.

Second, for the second yearbe conducted effectively. Any “small paperwork error” could be corrected in a rowtimely manner and, thus, shareholders would be allowed sufficient time to process the proponent suggests that he takes objection to anyone with a military background serving as a director. Directors with prior military service provide our Board with an unparalleled understanding of the requirementsrequest.

Shareholder Meetings ARE Costly

Special meetings are expensive, time-consuming and priorities of several of the company’s key customers. With the U.S. Government representing on average 60 percent of our revenues over the past several years, intimacy with our customer’s prioritiesrequire significant management attention and demands is critical. Our directors with prior military service play an irreplaceable roleshould occur only in advising our businesses on how to ensure that our products and services remain effective and responsive to our customers in supporting national security and defense programs. Furthermore, these directors are actively engaged in the Board’s deliberations and each exercises his own independent judgment in fulfilling fiduciary duties and maximizing shareholder value.

Additionally, the proponent invokes three entirely irrelevant topics labeled as company challenges. A proposal concerning Board leadership structure should not be an avenue for debating unrelated issues. There is no demonstrable or intuitive link between the items listed by the proponent and the Board’s leadership structure. Two of the items invoked by the proponent, without a full discussion of the issues concerned, are misleading and, in the case of the call center business, relates to a business that is no longer owned by the company. The third item, regarding the company’s elimination of excise taxgross-up payments, is unquestionably favorable to shareholders and cannot logically be criticized as evidencing a problem with the Board’s governance.

Conclusion: Our Current Structure of a Combined Chief Executive Officer and Chairman with a Strong Lead Independent Director Enhance Your Board’s Ability to Govern the Company in Shareholders’ Best Interests.

Yourextraordinary circumstances. Accordingly, your Board believes that the decisionexpenditure of whocorporate funds and resources associated with a special meeting should serveonly be incurred when shareholders meet an appropriate, meaningful threshold of ownership interest in the roles of chairman and chief executive officer, and whether these roles should be combined,our company, which is the responsibility of the Board. This decision is not appropriately addressed with a“one-size-fits-all” approach that assumeswhy our current special meeting bylaw requires a single leadership structure works10% shareholder or group of shareholders owning at all times.

least 25% to call a special meeting.

Your Board regularly evaluatesFor the corporate governance structures in place at our company, including the roles of chairman and chief executive officer.

While the Board has in the past and may again in the future determinereasons stated above, we believe that the interests ofcompany’s current Bylaw provision granting shareholders the company would be best served by separating the roles of chairman and chief executive officer, the Board believes that, on balance,ability to call a combined role works best at this time.

Your Board will continue to evaluate these structures to determinespecial meeting provides the appropriate board leadership structure forright to ensure that shareholders have a meaningful avenue to vote on important matters.


  Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a voteAGAINST this shareholder proposal.

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Information Regarding the company. This model best serves our dynamicAnnual Meeting and successful company.

YOUR BOARDOF DIRECTORSUNANIMOUSLYRECOMMENDSAVOTE

AGAINSTTHISSHAREHOLDERPROPOSAL.

64     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


INFORMATION REGARDINGTHE ANNUAL MEETINGAND VOTINGVoting

All shareholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2019,9, 2020, are entitled to vote their shares of Common Stock at the Annual Meeting. On the record date, General Dynamics had 288,769,918290,212,900 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

Following are questions and answers about the annual meeting and voting.

ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDANCEAnnual Meeting Attendance

Will I need to provide documentation to attend the Annual Meeting?Yes. All shareholders will need an admission ticket and personal photo identification for admission. You may print your own admission ticket and you must bring it to the meeting. Tickets can be printed by accessing Shareholder Meeting Registration at www.ProxyVote.com and following the instructions provided. If you are unable to print your tickets, please call Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (Broadridge) at844-318-0137 toll-free or925-331-6070 international toll for assistance.

How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?A quorum of shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting. A quorum is the presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the record date. If you submit a properly completed proxy in accordance with one of the voting procedures described below or appear at the Annual Meeting to vote in person, your shares of Common Stock will be considered present. For purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, abstentions and brokernon-votes (as described below) will be counted as present. Once a quorum is present, voting on specific proposals may proceed. In the absence of a quorum, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned.

How are proxy materials being distributed for the Annual Meeting?As permitted by the rules of the SEC, we are providing the proxy materials for our 20192020 Annual Meeting via the Internet to most of our shareholders. Use of the Internet will expedite receipt of the 20192020 proxy materials by many of our shareholders and help to keep mailing costs for our Annual Meeting as low as possible. For shareholders who are participants in our 401(k) plans we are required generally to deliver proxy materials in hard copy. On March 21,26, we initiated delivery of proxy materials to our shareholders of record in one of two ways: (1) a notice containing instructions on how to access proxy materials via the Internet or (2) a printed copy of those materials. If you received a notice in lieu of a printed copy of the proxy materials, you will not automatically receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail. Instead, the notice provides instructions on how to access the proxy materials on the Internet and how to vote online or by telephone. If you received such a notice and would also like to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials, the notice includes instructions on how you may request a printed copy.

VOTINGVoting

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?You must be a shareholder of record on the record date, which is March 7, 2019,9, 2020, to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting.

How do I vote my shares?How you vote your shares will depend on whether you are a shareholder of record or a beneficial owner of your shares.

Shareholders of record.Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote on all matters presented at the Annual Meeting for each share of Common Stock held. You are considered a shareholder of record if your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as of the record date. If you are a shareholder of record, Broadridge provides proxy materials to you on our behalf. If your shares are registered in different names or held in more than one account, you may receive more than one proxy card or set of voting instructions. In that case, you will need to vote separately for each set of shares in accordance with the following voting procedures.

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Information Regarding the Annual Meeting and Voting

Shareholders of record may cast their vote in one of the following ways:

You May Cast Your Vote:
YOU MAY CAST YOUR VOTE:By Internet:     

  By Internet:

access www.ProxyVote.com and follow the instructions

By Telephone:

call1-800-690-6903 and follow the instructions

By Mail:

sign and date each proxy card received and return each card using the prepaid postage envelope

In Person:

attend the Annual Meeting and vote by ballot

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     65


Annual Meeting Information

The telephone and Internet voting systems are available 24 hours a day. They will close at 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 30, 2019.May 5, 2020. Please note the voting deadline differs for participants in our 401(k) plans, as described below. All shares represented by properly executed, completed and unrevoked proxies that are received on time will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the specifications made in the proxy card.

If You Return A Signed Proxy Card But Do Not Specifically Direct The Voting Of Shares, Your Proxy Will Be Voted As Follows:
IF YOU RETURN A SIGNED PROXY CARD BUT DO NOT SPECIFICALLY DIRECT THE VOTING
OF SHARES, YOUR PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS FOLLOWS:FOR
FORthe election of directors as described in this Proxy Statement
FORthe selection, on an advisory basis, of KPMG LLP as the independent auditors of the company
FORthe approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the named executive officers
FORAGAINST the approval of the General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan
AGAINSTthe shareholder proposal
IN ACCORDANCE WITHthe judgment of the proxy holders for other matters that properly come before the Annual Meeting

Beneficial Owners.If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other holder of record (sometimes referred to as holding shares in “street name”), the bank, broker or other holder is the shareholder of record and you are the beneficial owner of those shares. Your bank, broker or other holder of record will forward the proxy materials to you. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct the voting of your shares by following the voting instructions provided with these proxy materials. Please refer to the proxy materials forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see which voting options are available to you.

401(k) Plan Participants.Fidelity Management Trust Company (Fidelity), as trustee, is the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock held in our 401(k) plans – the General Dynamics Corporation 401(k) Plan and the General Dynamics Corporation 401(k) Plan for Represented Employees. If you are a participant in one of these plans and in the fund that invests in shares of Common Stock, you are the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock credited to your plan account. As beneficial owner and named fiduciary, you have the right to instruct Fidelity, as plan trustee, how to vote your shares. If you do not provide Fidelity with timely voting instructions then, consistent with the terms of the plans, Newport Trust Company (Newport), will direct Fidelity, in Newport’s discretion, how to vote the shares. Newport serves as the independent fiduciary and investment manager for the General Dynamics Stock Fund of the 401(k) plans.

Broadridge provides proxy materials to participants in these plans on behalf of Fidelity. If you are a plan participant and also a shareholder of record, Broadridge may combine the shares registered directly in your name and the shares credited to your 401(k) plan account onto one proxy card. If Broadridge does not combine your shares, you will receive more than one set of proxy materials. In that case, you will need to submit a vote for each set of shares. The vote you submit via proxy card or the telephone or Internet voting systems will serve as your voting instructions to Fidelity.To allow sufficient time for Fidelity to vote your 401(k) plan shares, your vote, or anyre-vote, must be received by 9:00 a.m. eastern time on April 29, 2019.May 4, 2020.

Can I change or revoke my proxy vote?A shareholder of record may change or revoke a proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by:

A Proxy May Be Revoked By:
A PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY:Sending

Sendingwritten notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary

Submittinganother proxy card that is dated later than the original proxy card

Re-votingby using the telephone or Internet voting systems, or

Attendingthe Annual Meeting and voting by ballot (attendance at the Annual Meeting alone will not act to revoke a prior proxy).

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Information Regarding the Annual Meeting and Voting

Our Corporate Secretary must receive notice of revocation, or a subsequent proxy card, before the vote at the Annual Meeting for a revocation to be valid. Except as described above for participants in our 401(k) plans, are-vote by the telephone or Internet voting systems must occur before 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 30, 2019.May 5, 2020. If you are a beneficial owner, you must revoke your proxy through the appropriate bank, broker or other holder of record.

66     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Annual Meeting Information

VOTE REQUIREDVote Required

What is a brokernon-vote?A brokernon-vote occurs when a bank, broker or other holder of record holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because that holder does not have discretionary voting power for the proposal and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Banks, brokers and other holders of record have discretionary authority to vote shares without instructions from beneficial owners only on matters considered “routine” by the New York Stock Exchange, such as the advisory vote on the selection of the independent auditors. Onnon-routine matters, such as the election of directors, executive compensation matters approval of an equity compensation plan and the shareholder proposal, these banks, brokers and other holders of record do not have discretion to vote uninstructed shares and thus are not “entitled to vote” on such proposals, resulting in a brokernon-vote for those shares. We encourage all shareholders that hold shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record to provide voting instructions to those holders to ensure that their shares are voted at the Annual Meeting.

What is the vote required for each proposal, and what is the effect of an abstention or brokernon-vote on the voting?

Vote Requirements and the Effect of Abstentions or Broker Non-Votes
ProposalVoting StandardEffect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
VOTE REQUIREMENTSAND
THE EFFECTOF ABSTENTIONSOR BROKER NON-VOTES

   PROPOSALVOTING STANDARD

EFFECTOF ABSTENTIONSAND

BROKERNON-VOTES

Proposal 1:


Election of the Board of

Directors of the Company

Directors will be elected by a majority of the votes cast and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. A “majority of the votes cast” means the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that director’s election. You may vote for, vote against or abstain from voting for any or all nominees.

Abstentions and brokernon-votes will not be counted as a vote cast “for” or “against” a director’s election.

Proposal 2:


Advisory Vote on the

Selection of Independent

Auditors

This proposal requires an affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting to be approved. You may vote for, vote against or abstain from voting on this matter.

Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against this proposal. Brokernon-votes do not occur for this proposal because banks, brokers and other holders of record have authority under the New York Stock Exchange rules to vote in their discretion on the selection of independent auditors.

Proposal 3:

Advisory Vote to Approve

Executive Compensation

This proposal requires an affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting to be approved. You may vote for, vote against or abstain from voting on this matter.

Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against the proposal. Brokernon-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

Proposal 4:

Approval of the General

   Dynamics United Kingdom

   Share Save Plan

Shareholder Proposal

This proposal requires an affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting to be approved. You may vote for, vote against or abstain from voting on this matter.

Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against the proposal. Brokernon-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

Proposal 5:

Shareholder Proposal

This proposal requires an affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting to be approved. You may vote for, vote against or abstain from voting on this matter.

Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against the proposal. Brokernon-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

Who will count the votes?Representatives of American Election Services, LLC, will tabulate the vote at the Annual Meeting.

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Information Regarding the Annual Meeting and Voting

Who is soliciting votes for the Annual Meeting?The Board of Directors is soliciting proxies from shareholders. Directors, officers and other employees of General Dynamics may solicit proxies from our shareholders by mail,e-mail, telephone, facsimile or in person. In addition, Innisfree M&A Incorporated (Innisfree), 501 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, is soliciting brokerage firms, dealers, banks, voting trustees and their nominees.

We will pay Innisfree approximately $15,000 for soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting and will reimburse brokerage firms, dealers, banks, voting trustees, their nominees and other record holders for theirout-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners of Common Stock. We will not provide compensation, other than their usual compensation, to our directors, officers and other employees who solicit proxies.

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Table of ContentsOTHER INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER MATTERS Other Information

Additional Shareholder Matters

If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the individuals named in the proxy card will have discretionary authority to vote the shares they represent on those matters, except to the extent their discretion may be limited under Rule14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCEDelinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, as well as anyone who is a beneficial owner of more than 10 percent10% of a registered class of our stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange, and to furnish us with copies of these forms.Exchange. To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5 submitted to us,that are publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR filing system, all of our executive officers and directors complied with all filing requirements imposed by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during 2018.2019, except that Mr. Mattis, Kevin Graney and Robert Smith each filed one untimely report on Form 4.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALSAND DIRECTOR NOMINEESFOR 2020 ANNUAL MEETINGOF SHAREHOLDERSShareholder Proposals and Director Nominees For 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

If you wish to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials to be distributed in connection with the 20202021 annual meeting, your written proposal must comply with the rules of the SEC and be received by us no later than November 22, 2019.26, 2020. The proposal should be sent to the Corporate Secretary, General Dynamics Corporation, 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100, Falls Church,11011 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, Virginia 22042.20190.

If you intend to present a proposal at the 20202021 annual meeting that is not to be included in our proxy materials, including director nominations, you must comply with the various requirements established in our Bylaws. Among other things, the Bylaws require that a shareholder submit a written notice to our Corporate Secretary at the address in the preceding paragraph no earlier than January 2, 2020,6, 2021, and no later than February 1, 2020.5, 2021.

In addition, our Bylaws permit a shareholder or a group of up to 20 shareholders who have owned 3 percent3% or more of our outstanding shares of capital stock continuously for three years to submit director nominees for inclusion in our proxy statement if the shareholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our Bylaws. These requirements can be found in Article II, Section 10 of our Bylaws, and include the requirement that the applicable notice be received by the company no earlier than October 23, 2019,27, 2020, and no later than November 22, 2019.26, 2020.

ANNUAL REPORTON FORMAnnual Report on Form 10-K

The Annual Report, which includes our Form10-K and accompanies this Proxy Statement, is not considered a part of the proxy solicitation material. We will furnish to any shareholder, without charge, a copy of our 20182019 Annual Report, as filed with the SEC. A request for the report can be made verbally or in writing to Investor Relations, General Dynamics Corporation, 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100, Falls Church,11011 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, Virginia 22042,20190, (703)876-3000 or through our website. The Form10-K and other public filings are also available through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.gd.com/SECFilings.

DELIVERYOF DOCUMENTSTO SHAREHOLDERS SHARINGAN ADDRESSDelivery of Documents to Shareholders Sharing an Address

We will deliver only one Annual Report and Proxy Statement to shareholders who share a single address unless we have received contrary instructions from any shareholder at the address. In that case, we will deliver promptly a separate copy of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement. For future deliveries, shareholders who share a single address can request a separate copy of our Annual Report and Proxy Statement. Similarly, if multiple copies of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement are being delivered to a single address, shareholders can request a single copy of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement for future deliveries. To make a request, please call703-876-3000 or write to the Corporate Secretary, General Dynamics Corporation, 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100, Falls Church,11011 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, Virginia 22042.20190.

68     82       General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement



APPENDIX A

USEOF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURESTable of Contents

Appendix A: Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(DOLLARSINMILLIONS) MILLIONS)

This Proxy Statement containsnon-GAAP financial measures, as defined by Regulation G of the SEC.

We emphasize the efficient conversion of net earnings into cash and the deployment of that cash to maximize shareholder returns. As described below, we use free cash flow from operations and ROIC to measure our performance in these areas. While we believe these metrics provide useful information, they are not defined operating measures under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and there are limitations associated with their use. Our calculation of these metrics may not be completely comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential differences in the method of calculation. As a result, the use of these metrics should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, other GAAP measures.

Free Cash Flow.We define free cash flow from operations as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. We believe free cash flow from operations is a useful measure for investors because it portrays our ability to generate cash from our businesses for purposes such as repaying maturing debt, funding business acquisitions, repurchasing our Common Stock and paying dividends. We use free cash flow from operations to assess the quality of our earnings and as a performance measure in evaluating management. The following table reconciles the free cash flow from operations with net cash provided by operating activities:

Year Ended December 31

   2018    2017    2016��     2019     2018     2017

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $3,148   $3,876   $2,163 $2,981$3,148$3,876

Capital expenditures

   (690   (428   (392(987)(690)(428)

Free cash flow from operations

  $2,458   $3,448   $1,771 $1,994$2,458$3,448

Return on Invested Capital.We believe ROIC is a useful measure for investors because it reflects our ability to generate returns from the capital we have deployed in our operations. We use ROIC to evaluate investment decisions and as a performance measure in evaluating management. We define ROIC as net operating profit after taxes divided by average invested capital. Net operating profit after taxes is defined as earnings from continuing operations plusafter-tax interest and amortization expense, calculated using the statutory federal income tax rate. Average invested capital is defined as the sum of the average debt and shareholders’ equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss. ROIC excludes goodwill impairments andnon-economic accounting changes as they are not reflective of company performance. ROIC is calculated as follows:

Year Ended December 31     2019     2018     2017
Earnings from continuing operations$3,484$3,358$2,912
After-tax interest expense37329576
After-tax amortization expense28725851
Net operating profit after taxes$4,144$3,911$3,039
Average invested capital$29,620$25,367$18,099
Return on invested capital14.0%15.4%16.8%

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Appendix A: Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Year Ended December 31

   2018    2017    2016 

Earnings from continuing operations

  $3,358   $2,912   $2,679 

After-tax interest expense

   295    76    64 

After-tax amortization expense

   213    51    57 

Net operating profit after taxes

  $3,866   $3,039   $2,800 

Average invested capital

  $25,367   $18,099   $17,168 

Return on invested capital

   15.2   16.8   16.3

In evaluating the company’s ROIC performance for the 2016201720182019 period, the Compensation Committee excluded the effects of the early 2018 CSRA acquisition since the acquisition was not contemplated at the time the target ROIC was set in 2016. Additionally, the calculation of 2016 ROIC for purposes of the PSU performance evaluation reflects ROIC as reported in the company’s Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on February 6, 2017, which did not include the effects of the company’s adoption of ASC Topic 606,Revenue from Contracts with Customers.2017. Accordingly, the following table shows the calculation of ROIC as used by the Compensation Committee in determining the appropriate ROIC performance over the three-year 201620172018 period.2019 period for an average of 17.6%.

Year Ended December 31     2019     2018     2017
Earnings from continuing operations$3,477$3,399$2,912
After-tax interest expense11710476
After-tax amortization expense596451
Net operating profit after taxes$3,653$3,567$3,039
Average invested capital$20,931$19,328$18,099
Return on invested capital17.5%18.5%16.8%

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Table of Contents































Appendix A

Year Ended December 31

   2018    2017    2016 

Earnings from continuing operations

  $3,399   $2,912   $3,062 

After-tax interest expense

   104    76    64 

After-tax amortization expense

   64    51    57 

Net operating profit after taxes

  $3,567   $3,039   $3,183 

Average invested capital

  $19,328   $18,099   $17,619 

Return on invested capital

   18.5   16.8   18.1

A-2     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


Table of ContentsAPPENDIX B

GENERAL DYNAMICS UNITED KINGDOM




SHARE SAVE PLAN

(as amended and restated on February 9, 2019)

HM Revenue and Customs Reference: SRS 104410

Adopted by the Company on March 4, 2009

Approved by HM Revenue and Customs on August 11, 2009

Renewed by the Company for a further ten year period from March 4, 2019 on February 9, 2019, incorporating, inter alia, (a) amendments that took effect automatically from July 17, 2013 by virtue of section 14 of and Schedule 2 to the Finance Act 2013 and (b) amendments that took effect automatically from April 6, 2014 by virtue of section 51 of and Schedule 8 to the Finance Act 2014

1.

Definitions

In these Rules the following words and expressions shall have, where the context so admits, the following meanings:

“Accounting Period”

an accounting reference period of the Company;

“Act”

the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;

“Acquiring Company”

where the conditions of paragraph 38 of Schedule 3 are met, such company as shall be at any time the “acquiring company” as defined in that paragraph;

“Adoption Date”

the date on which the Plan is adopted by a resolution of the Board;

“Announcement Date”

the date on which the results of the Company are announced for any period;

“Application”

an application for an Option in the form as approved by the Committee from time to time;

“Approval Date”

the date upon which HM Revenue and Customs approves the Plan;

“Associated Company”

has the same meaning as in paragraph 47 of Schedule 3;

“Auditors”

the auditors for the time being of the Company (acting as experts and not as arbitrators);

“Board”

the board of directors of the Company or a duly constituted committee thereof at which a quorum is present;

“Bonus Date”

where repayments under the relevant Savings Contract are taken as including the Maximum Bonus, the earliest date on which the Maximum Bonus is payable and in any other case the earliest date on which a bonus is payable under the relevant Savings Contract;

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     B-1


Appendix B

“Committee”

the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company comprising two or more members of the Board of Directors, all of whom shall be“non-employee directors” or the Board of Directors of any Participating Company to which such authority is delegated by the Compensation Committee;

“Company”

General Dynamics Corporation or save for Rules 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10.2;

(i)

the Acquiring Company; or

(ii)

some other company falling withinsub-paragraph (b) orsub-paragraph (c) of paragraph 10 of Schedule 3 over whose shares a New Option has been granted;

“Common Stock”

General Dynamics Corporation Common Stock;

“Control”

has the same meaning as in section 719 of the Act;

“Date of Grant”

the date on which an Option is, was or is to be granted under the Plan, pursuant to Rule 4.1, or on which an Option is or was treated as being granted pursuant to Rule 4.3;

“Dealing Day”

a day on which The New York Stock Exchange is open for the transaction of business;

“Eligible Employee”

any employee or director of any Participating Company who:

    (a)

(i)

in the case of a director, normally devotes more than 25 hours per week to his duties (exclusive of meal breaks);

(ii)

has earnings from his office or employment which meet (or would meet if there were any) the requirements set out in paragraphs 6(2)(c) of Schedule 3;

(iii)

is employed by any Participating Company on the date on which the Committee grants an Option pursuant to Rule 4.1 below;

    (b)

has been nominated by the Committee either individually or as a member of a category of directors or employees for participation in the Plan;

    (c)

is not prohibited from participating by the provisions of Paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 (whether falling within (a) or (b) above);

“Exercise Price”

the amount as determined by the Board and expressed in dollars, which a Participant shall pay to acquire Common Stock on the exercise of an Option being, subject to Rule 4.3 and Rule 8 not less than 80% or other such percentage as is for the time being permitted by statute or other statutory provision of Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the day the Invitation was issued pursuant to Rule 2 if the Exercise Price is specified in the Invitation or, if the Exercise Price is notified to the Eligible Employees after the Invitations are issued but before the Options are granted in accordance with Rule 2.2, on the date the Eligible Employees are so notified;

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Appendix B

“Fair Market Value”

on any day an amount equal to the closing middle market quotation of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the immediately preceding Dealing Day or if on that day the Shares are not so listed, the market value of Common Stock determined in accordance with the provisions of Part VIII of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 and agreed with HM Revenue and Customs Shares and Assets Valuation on or before that day, in either case determining (if so required for the purposes of any relevant provisions in Schedule 3) the market value of Common Stock that is subject to a Restriction as if it was not subject to any Restriction;

“Group”

the Company and its Subsidiary companies and the phrase “Group Company” shall be construed accordingly;

“Group Employee”

a director or employee of any Group Company;

“ICTA”

means the Income and Corporate Taxes Act 1988;

“Injury or Disability”

the cessation of employment or office by reason of injury or disability provided the Committee are satisfied, on production of such evidence as it may reasonably require:

(i)

that the individual has ceased to exercise and, by reason of injury or disability, is incapable of exercising that office or employment; and

(ii)

that the individual is likely to remain so incapable for the foreseeable future;

“Invitation”

a letter of invitation to participate in the Plan in a form approved by the Committee from time to time;

“Invitation Period”

subject to Rule 10.6 any time following the Approval Date;

“Maximum Bonus”

the bonus payable to the Participant at the maturity of a Savings Contract which matures after seven years;

“New Option”

an option over shares meeting the requirements ofsub-paragraphs 39 (4)(a) to (d) of Schedule 3, granted in consideration for the release of a Subsisting Option within the relevant period specified in paragraph 58(3) of Schedule 3;

“Nominated Savings Authority”

the savings authority or the savings authorities (as the case may be) nominated by the Company for the purposes of the Plan;

“Non-UK Company Reorganisation Arrangement”

has the same meaning as in paragraph 47A of Schedule 3;

“Option”

a right to purchase Common Stock granted or to be granted pursuant to Rules 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3;

“Option Certificate”

an option certificate in a form approved by the Committee from time to time;

“Participant”

a person who has been granted an Option or (where the context admits) his legal personal representative(s);

“Participating Company”

any Group Company nominated by the Committee to participate in the Scheme from time to time;

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     B-3


Appendix B

“Recognised Exchange”

a recognised stock exchange within the meaning of section 109 of the Finance Act 2007 or a recognised investment exchange within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

“this Plan” or “the Plan”

the General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan constituted and governed by the Rules with, and subject to any amendments thereto properly effected;

“Redundancy”

the cessation of employment or office by reason of redundancy within the meaning of the Employment Rights Act 1996;

“Renewal Date”

March 4, 2019;

“Restriction”

a restriction within the meaning given to that term by paragraph 48(3) of Schedule 3;

“Retirement”

the cessation of employment or office by reason of retirement

“Rules”

the rules of the Plan as the same may be amended from time to time and “Rule” shall be construed accordingly;

“Savings Contract”

a 3 or 5 year contract under a certified contractual savings scheme (within the meaning of section 702 of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 entered into by an Eligible Employee with a Nominated Savings Authority;

“Schedule 3”

Schedule 3 to the Act;

“Schedule 3 SAYE Option Scheme”

has the same meaning as in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3;

“Specified Age”

age 65;

“Standard 3 Year Bonus”

the bonus (if any) payable to the Participant under a Savings Contract which matures after three years;

“Standard 5 Year Bonus”

the bonus (if any) payable to the Participant under a Savings Contract which matures after five years;

“Subsidiary”

a company which is under the Control of the Company and which is a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006;

“Subsisting Option”

an Option which has been granted and which has not lapsed, been surrendered, renounced or been exercised in full.

1.1

In these Rules, except insofar as the context otherwise requires:

(i)

words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;

(ii)

words importing a gender shall include every gender and references to a person shall include bodies corporate and unincorporated and vice versa;

(iii)

reference to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as from time to time amended, modified, extended orre-enacted and shall include any orders, regulations, instruments or othersub-ordinate legislation made under the relevant enactment;

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Appendix B

(iv)

words have the same meanings as in Schedule 3 unless the context otherwise requires; and

(v)

headings and captions are provided for reference only and shall not be considered as part of the Plan.

1.2

This Plan is intended to be a Schedule 3 SAYE Option Scheme for the purposes of the Act and this Plan and any Option granted under it shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner that is consistent with that intention and in the case of any conflict between the Rules and the provisions of sections 516 to 519 and Schedule 3 (the “legislation”), the legislation shall prevail so that this Plan may be treated as a Schedule 3 SAYE Option Scheme.

2.

Invitation to apply for Options

2.1

The Committee may during any Invitation Period but not later than the tenth anniversary of the Renewal Date invite every Eligible Employee by issuing an Invitation to apply for the grant of an Option, providing that at the intended Date of Grant the Common Stock satisfies the conditions of paragraphs 18 to 22 inclusive of Schedule 3.

2.2

Each Invitation shall specify:

(i)

the date, being not less than 14 days after the issue of the Invitation, by which an application must be made;

(ii)

whether or not the Eligible Employee may take out a 3 or 5 year Savings Contract;

(iii)

the Exercise Price or that the Exercise Price will be notified to Eligible Employees at a reasonable time prior to the closing date for Applications;

(iv)

whether or not for the purpose of determining the number of shares of Common Stock over which an Option may be exercised, the repayment under the Savings Contract is to be taken:

(a)

as including the Maximum Bonus;

(b)

as including only the Standard 5 Year Bonus or the Standard 3 Year Bonus;

(c)

as not including a bonus;

(v)

the maximum permitted aggregate monthly savings contribution being the lesser of the maximum amount specified in Paragraph 25 of Schedule 3 or such other maximum as may be determined by the Committee, and be permitted by HM Revenue and Customs pursuant to Schedule 3 and by the Nominated Savings Authority;

and the Committee may determine and include in the Invitations details of the maximum value on the date of the issue of the Invitation of shares of Common Stock over which Options may be granted on that occasion and a statement that in the event of excess Applications, each Application may be scaled down in accordance with the Rules.

2.3

Each Invitation shall be accompanied by an Application which shall provide for the applicant to state:

(i)

the monthly savings contribution being a multiple of £1 and not less than £5 which he wishes to make under the related Savings Contract;

(ii)

whether or not he wishes to take out a 3 or 5 year Savings Contract;

(iii)

that his proposed monthly savings contribution, when added to any monthly savings contributions then being made under any other Savings Contract will not exceed the maximum permitted aggregate monthly savings contribution specified in the Invitation;

(iv)

his election as to whether for the purpose of determining the maximum value of shares of Common Stock over which an Option is to be granted, the repayment under the Savings Contract is to be taken as including the Maximum Bonus, the Standard 5 Year Bonus, or the Standard 3 Year Bonus or as not including a bonus,

and shall authorise the Committee to enter on the Savings Contract such monthly savings contributions, not exceeding the maximum stated on the Application, as shall be determined pursuant to Rule 3 below.

2.4

Each Application shall be deemed to be for an Option to acquire such number of shares of Common Stock as can be bought at the Exercise Price with the repayment under the related Savings Contract.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     B-5


Appendix B

3.

Scaling Down

3.1

If the Committee receives valid Applications over an aggregate value of Common Stock which exceeds the amount stated pursuant to Rule 2.2 or any limitation determined pursuant to Rule 5, then the following steps shall be carried out successively to the extent necessary to eliminate the excess:

(i)

the excess over £5 of the monthly savings contribution chosen by each applicant shall be reduced pro rata to the extent necessary;

(ii)

each election for a Maximum Bonus to be included in the repayment under the Savings Contract shall be deemed to be an election for the Standard 5 Year Bonus to be included;

(iii)

each election for a Standard 5 Year Bonus or a Standard 3 Year Bonus to be included in the repayment under the Savings Contract shall be deemed to be an election for the bonus to be excluded;

(iv)

applications will be selected by lot, each based on a monthly savings contribution of £5 and the inclusion of no bonus in the repayment under the Savings Contract.

3.2

If after applying the provisions of Rule 3.1(i) to (iii) inclusive the value of Common Stock available is still insufficient to enable an Option based on monthly savings contributions of £5 to be granted to each Eligible Employee who made a valid Application the Committee may, as an alternative to selecting by lot as in (iv) above, determine in its absolute discretion that no Options shall be granted.

3.3

If the Committee so determines the provision in Rule 3.1(i) to (iv) inclusive may be modified or applied in any manner as may be permitted by Schedule 3.

3.4

Each Application shall be deemed to have been modified or withdrawn in accordance with the application of the foregoing provisions and the Committee shall complete each Savings Contract proposal form to reflect any reduction in monthly savings contributions resulting therefrom.

4.

Grant of Options

4.1

Within 30 days of the first day by reference to which the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock is determined (or within 42 days of that day when Rule 3 applies and Options cannot be granted within the 30 day period), the Committee shall grant to each applicant who is still an Eligible Employee an Option over such number of shares of Common Stock as can be purchased on the date of exercise of that Option with the repayment under the relevant Savings Contract.

4.2

If the Company is prevented by statute, order, regulation or government directive from granting Options within any such periods, then the Committee may grant Options within twenty one days of the lifting of such restrictions providing the grant takes place not more than 30 days following the date on which Fair Market Value was determined for the purposes of the Option grant in question or not later than 42 days following the date Fair Market Value was determined if Applications have been scaled down pursuant to Rule 3.1.

4.3

Where the circumstances noted in Rule 7.4 apply New Options may be granted within the terms of paragraph 38(1) Schedule 3 in consideration for the release of Options previously granted under this Plan. Such New Options are deemed to be equivalent to the old Options and to have been granted within the terms of this Plan.

4.4

No Option may be transferred, assigned or charged and any purported transfer, assignment or charge shall be void ab initio. Each Option Certificate shall carry a statement to this effect. For the avoidance of doubt, this Rule 4.4 shall not prevent the Option of a deceased Participant being exercised by his personal representative(s) within the terms of these Rules.

4.5

As soon as possible after Options have been granted the Committee shall issue an Option Certificate specifying the Date of Grant and the Exercise Price. If the shares of Common Stock which are the subject of an Option are subject to any Restriction, the Committee shall as soon as practicable after the Date of Grant notify Participants of that fact and the details of any such Restriction.

5.

Limitations on Grant

5.1

Before Invitations are issued on any occasion, the Committee may determine a limit on the value of shares of Common Stock which are to be available in respect of that issue of Invitations.

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Appendix B

5.2

Further, subject to any adjustment as contemplated by Rule 8, the total number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued and/or delivered under this Plan is (a) 600,000 in respect of theten-year period from the Adoption Date, and (b) 450,000 in respect of theten-year period from the Renewal Date. The Committee may not grant Options which would cause this limit to be exceeded. In determining this limit, no account shall be taken of any Options to the extent they have ceased to be exercisable.

6.

Exercise of Options

6.1

Subject to each of the succeeding sections of this Rule 6 and Rule 9 any Subsisting Option may be exercised by the Participant or, if deceased, by his personal representatives in whole or in part at the time of or at any time following the occurrence of the earliest of the following events:

(i)

the Bonus Date;

(ii)

the death of the Participant;

(iii)

upon the Participant ceasing to be a Group Employee where that cessation was by reason of Injury, Disability, Redundancy,or Retirement or by reason of a relevant transfer within the meaning of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006;

(iv)

an opportunity to exercise the Option pursuant to Rule 7;

(v)

upon the Participant ceasing to be a Group Employee, where that cessation was by reason only that his employing company which is an associated company of the Company (within the meaning given to that term in paragraph 35(4) of Schedule 3) ceases to be such an associated company by reason of a change of control (as determined in accordance with sections 450 and 451 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010), or that the office or employment relates to a business or part of a business which is transferred to a person who is neither an Associated Company of the Company nor a company of which the Company has Control where the transfer is not a relevant transfer within the meaning of the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.

6.2

An Option shall lapse and become thereafter incapable of exercise on the earliest of the following events:

(i)

except where the Participant has died, the expiry of six months following the Bonus Date;

(ii)

where the Participant has died within six months following the Bonus Date, the first anniversary of the Bonus Date;

(iii)

where the Participant has died before the Bonus Date, the first anniversary of his death;

(iv)

unless the Participant has died, on the expiry of six months after the Option has become exercisable by virtue of Paragraph (iii) or (v) of Rule 6.1;

(v)

immediately following the Participant ceasing to be a Group Employee save when the Participant ceases to be a Group Employee in the circumstances in Rule 6.1(ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above, and save when the Participant ceases to be a Group Employee but continues to be an employee or director of any Associated Company or company of which the Company has Control;

(vi)

the expiry of six months after the Option has first become exercisable in accordance with Rule 7;

(vii)

the Participant being adjudicated bankrupt;

(viii)

upon the Participant giving notice, (or under the terms of his Savings Contract being deemed to have given notice), to the Nominated Savings Authority that he intends to stop paying monthly contributions under his Savings Contract prior to the date upon which a right to exercise the Option shall arise;

(ix)

on the winding up other than a voluntary winding up of the Company; and

(x)

six months following a voluntary winding up of the Company.

6.3

If a Participant continues to be employed by a Group Company after the date on which he reaches the Specified Age he may exercise any Subsisting Option which was granted before July 17, 2013 within six months following that date.

6.4

No person shall be treated for the purposes of this Rule 6 as ceasing to be a Group Employee until he is no longer a director or employee of the Company, and Associated Company of the Company or a company of which the Company has Control.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     B-7


Appendix B

7.

Take-overs, Reconstructions and Liquidations

7.1

If any person obtains Control of the Company as a result of making:

(i)

a general offer to acquire the whole of the issued share capital of the Company (other than that which is already owned by him) which is unconditional or which is made on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person making the offer will have Control of the Company; or

(ii)

a general offer to acquire all the shares (other than shares which are already owned by him) in the Company which are of the same class as Common Stock subject to a Subsisting Option

then the Committee shall notify all Participants as soon as is practicable of the offer in accordance with Rule 10.4. Any Subsisting Option may be exercised from the date of the receipt of that notification up to the expiry of a period ending six months from the time when the person making the offer has obtained Control of the Company and any condition subject to which the offer is made has been satisfied.

7.2

If under Section 900 of the Companies Act 2006 it is proposed that the Court sanctions a compromise or arrangement applicable to or affecting (i) all of the ordinary share capital of the Company or all of the shares in the Company which are of the same class as Common Stock which may be acquired by exercise of Options, or (ii) all the shares, or all the shares of the same class which are held by a class of shareholders identified otherwise than by reference to their employment or directorships or their participation in a Schedule 3 SAYE Option Scheme, then the Company shall give notice thereof to all Participants at the same time as it sends notices to members of the Company calling the meeting to consider such a compromise or arrangement. Any Subsisting Option may be exercised by a Participant subject to the terms of this Rule before the expiry of six months from the date on which the Court sanctions such compromise or arrangement. Subject to Rule 7.6, at the end of the relevant period an unexercised Option shall lapse. If any person obtains Control of the Company as a result of aNon-UK Company Reorganisation Arrangement which becomes binding on the shareholders covered by it any Subsisting Options may be exercised before the expiry of six months from the date on which suchNon-UK Company Reorganisation Arrangement becomes binding. For the purposes of this Rule 7.2, the reference to the ordinary share capital of the Company does not include any capital already held by the person making the offer or a person connected with that person, and the reference to the shares does not include any shares already held by the person making the offer or a person connected with that person.

7.3

If any person becomes bound or entitled to acquire Common Stock under sections 976 to 981 or 983 to 985 of the Companies Act 2006 (or similar circumstances occur which are acceptable to HM Revenue and Customs) any Subsisting Option may be exercised at any time when that person remains so bound or entitled.

7.4

If as a result of the events specified in Rules 7.1 or 7.2 an Acquiring Company has obtained Control of the Company, or if an Acquiring Company has become bound or entitled as mentioned in Rule 7.3, the Participant may, if the Acquiring Company so agrees, release any Subsisting Option he holds in consideration for the grant of a New Option. A New Option issued in consideration of the release of an Option shall be evidenced by an Option Certificate which shall import the relevant provisions of these Rules. A New Option shall, for all other purposes of this Plan, be treated as having been acquired at the same time as the corresponding released Option. An exchange of Options pursuant to this Rule 7.4 shall not alter the fact that this Plan remains that of the Company as the original scheme organiser.

7.5

If a resolution is passed at a general meeting for the voluntarywinding-up of the Company, an Option shall notwithstanding Rule 6.1(i) be exercisable in whole or in part for a period of six months after which the Option shall to the extent unexercised thereupon lapse.

7.6

An Option whether or not exercisable prior to or as a result of the occurrence of an event specified in Rule 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 or 7.5 shall if an event so specified occurs lapse in accordance with the relevantsub-rule of Rule 7, or if earlier, as determined by Rule 6.2(i) to (x), save that in the case of any Option granted on or after April 6, 2014 which has become exercisable under Rules 6.2(ii) and (iii), such Option shall not lapse in accordance with Rules 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 but shall lapse only on the expiry of the relevant 12 month period under Rules 6.2(ii) and (iii). Where prior to the date an Option lapses there occurs one or more further events specified in Rules 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 or 7.5 an Option shall lapse on the earlier of the date determined by the preceding part of this Rule 7.6 and the date of lapse relevant to the further event or events.

7.7

For the purpose of this Rule 7 other than Rule 7.4 a person shall be deemed to have obtained Control of a Company if he and others acting in concert with him have together obtained Control of it.

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Appendix B

7.8

The exercise of an Option pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Rule 7 shall be subject to the provisions of Rule 9.

7.9

A New Option shall not be exercisable by virtue of the event pursuant to which it was granted.

7.10

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, where this Rule 7 applies or is expected to apply, and in consequences of an event specified in Rule 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 or 7.5, the Common Stock no longer meets, or is not expected to meet, the requirements of paragraphs 17 to 20 and 22 of Part 4 of Schedule 3, the Committee may determine that Options may be exercised within a period of 20 days ending on such specified event (conditional upon and with effect from that event occurring) or a period of 20 days after such event. The Committee shall act fairly and reasonably in exercising its discretion under this Rule.

8.

Variation of Share Capital

8.1

In the event of any variation of the share capital of the Company affecting the Common Stock, including, but without prejudice to the generality of the preceding words, any capitalisation or rights issue or any consolidation,sub-division or reduction of capital by the Company, the number and nominal amount of Common Stock subject to any Option and the Exercise Price may be adjusted by the Committee in such manner as the Auditors confirm in writing to be, in their opinion, fair and reasonable provided that:

(i)

the aggregate amount payable on the exercise of an Option in full is neither materially changed nor increased beyond the expected repayment under the Saving Contract at the Bonus Date;

(ii)

at any time when the Plan remains approved by HM Revenue and Customs no adjustment shall take effect without the prior approval of HM Revenue and Customs;

(iii)

following the adjustment the Common Stock shall continue to satisfy the conditions specified in paragraphs 10 to 14 inclusive of Schedule 3; and

(iv)

the total Fair Market Value of Common Stock subject to any Option is immediately after the adjustment or adjustments substantially the same as what it was immediately before the adjustment or adjustments.

8.2

Such variation shall be deemed to be effective from the record date at which the respective variation applied to other stock of the same class as Common Stock. Any Options exercised within that period shall be treated as exercised with the benefit of the variation confirmed by the Auditors.

8.3

If an adjustment is made pursuant to Rule 8.1 above with the intention that the Plan shall cease to be approved by HM Revenue and Customs, the Company shall immediately notify HM Revenue and Customs.

8.4

The Committee shall take such steps as it considers necessary to notify Participants of any adjustment made under Rule 8.1 and may call in, cancel, endorse, issue or reissue any Option Certificate consequent upon such adjustment.

9.

Manner of Exercise of Options

9.1

No Option may be exercised whilst the Plan is approved by HM Revenue and Customs unless the Common Stock satisfies the conditions specified in paragraphs 18 to 22 inclusive of Schedule 3.

9.2

An Option may only be exercised over as a maximum, the number of shares of Common Stock which may be acquired with the sum obtained by way of payment under the related Savings Contract converted into US dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the day preceding the date on which the Option is exercised.

9.3

An Option shall be exercised by the Participant, or as the case may be by his personal representatives, delivering notice in writing to the Committee, detailing the number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which he wishes to exercise the Option accompanied by the appropriate payment (which shall not exceed the sum obtained by way of repayment under the related Savings Contract) or authority to the Company to withdraw and apply monies from the Savings Contract to acquire the Common Stock over which the Option is to be exercised and the relevant Option Certificate and shall be effective on the date of its receipt by the Committee. The Group Company which employs the Participant shall meet or procure the meeting of any stamp duty liability on the exercise of an Option.

9.4

Where an Option is exercised, the number of shares of Common Stock specified in the notice of exercise given in accordance with Rule 9.3 shall be transferred to the participant within 30 days of the date of exercise and the Company shall arrange for the delivery of evidence of title thereof. Save for any rights determined by reference to a record date preceding the date of transfer, such Common Stock shall rank pari passu with the other Common Stock of the same class in issue.

General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement     B-9


Appendix B

9.5

When an Option is exercised only in part, it shall lapse to the extent of the unexercised balance.

9.6

For the purpose of Rules 9.2 and 9.3 above, any repayment under the Savings Contract shall exclude the repayment of any contribution the due date for payment of which falls after the date on which repayment is made unless provided for in the terms of the Savings Contract.

9.7

For so long as Common Stock is quoted on The New York Stock Exchange, the Company shall apply for Common Stock in respect of which an Option has been exercised to be quoted if it were not so quoted already.

9.8

Where Common Stock is listed or dealt in or any Recognised Exchange no Option may be exercised in contravention of any securities transactions rules of the Recognised Exchange as may from time to time be in force.

10.

Administration and Amendment

10.1

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee whose decision on all disputes shall be final save where the Rules require the concurrence of the Auditors.

10.2

The Committee may from time to time amend these Rules provided that:

(i)

no amendment to a “key feature” (as defined in paragraph 40B(8) of Schedule 3) shall have effect whilst the Plan is and is intended to remain a Schedule 3 SAYE Option Scheme, and if such status is not to be maintained, this Rule shall not apply; and

(ii)

the Company shall provide such information and make such declarations to HM Revenue and Customs in relation to any amendment to “a “key feature” (as defined in paragraph 40B(8) of Schedule 3) as is required for the purposes of Schedule 3.

10.3

The cost of establishing and operating the Plan shall be borne by the Group Companies in such proportions as the Board shall determine.

10.4

Any notice or other communication under or in connection with the Plan may be given by the Committee either personally or by post, and to the Committee either personally or by post to the Secretary of the Committee; items sent by post shall bepre-paid and shall be deemed to have been received 72 hours after posting.

10.5

The Company shall at all times keep available sufficient Common Stock to satisfy the exercise to the full extent still possible of all Subsisting Options.

10.6

The Plan shall terminate upon the tenth anniversary of the Renewal Date or at any earlier time by the passing of a resolution of the Committee. Termination of the Plan shall be without prejudice to the subsisting rights of Participants.

10.7

The rights and obligations of any individual under terms of his office or employment with any Group Company shall not be affected by his participation in the Plan or any right which he may have to participate therein, and an individual who participates therein shall waive any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of his office or employment for any reason whatsoever insofar as those rights arise or may arise from his ceasing to have rights under or be entitled to exercise any Option under the Plan as a result of such termination.

10.8

Neither the grant of an Option nor any benefit which may accrue to a Participant on the exercise of an Option shall form part of that Participant’s pensionable remuneration for the purposes of any pension scheme or similar arrangement which may be operated by any Group Company.

B-10     General Dynamics 2019 Proxy Statement


LOGO


GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION

2941 FAIRVIEW PARK DRIVE

FALLS CHURCH,
11011 SUNSET HILLS ROAD
RESTON, VA 2204220190

VOTE BY INTERNET -www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 30, 2019May 5, 2020 for shares held directly and by 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time on April 29, 2019May 4, 2020 for shares held in a Plan. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

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VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903


Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions. Vote by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 30, 2019May 5, 2020 for shares held directly and by 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time on April 29, 2019May 4, 2020 for shares held in a Plan. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

VOTE BY MAIL


Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

SHAREHOLDER MEETING REGISTRATION


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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
E94453-P31414-Z76071KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION

  GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal:

1.Election of Directors
 

For

Against

Abstain

Nominees:
    

1.  Election of Directors

1a.
James S. Crown
   

Nominees:

1b.
Rudy F. deLeon
 For Against Abstain

1a.   James S. Crown

1b.  Rudy F. deLeon

1c.

Cecil D. Haney

1d.  Lester L. Lyles

1e.   

Mark M. Malcolm

1e.James N. Mattis
1f.Phebe N. Novakovic

1g.C. Howard Nye

1h.William A. Osborn

1i.Catherine B. Reynolds

1j.Laura J. Schumacher

1k.John G. Stratton
1l.Peter A. Wall


The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals:

For

Against

Abstain

2.Advisory Vote on the Selection of Independent Auditors

3.Advisory Vote to approve Executive Compensation

4.  Approval of General Dynamics United Kingdom Share Save Plan

The Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST the following proposal:

5.  

ForAgainstAbstain
4.Shareholder Proposal to require an Independent Board Chairman

reduce the ownership threshold required to call a Special Shareholder meeting

NOTE:Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

For

For

Against

Against

Abstain

Abstain

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such.

Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.


Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.

  

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

Date

 

Signature (Joint Owners)                                                  Date

Date



Table of Contents




DIRECT DEPOSIT NOTICE

General Dynamics Corporation and Computershare remind you of the opportunity to have your quarterly dividends electronically deposited into your checking or savings account. The main benefit of direct deposit to you is knowing that your dividends are in your account on the payable date.

Telephone inquiries regarding stock, including registration for direct deposit of dividends, should be made to Computershare’s automated Toll-Free Telephone Response Center at 1-800-519-3111.

General Dynamics Corporation encourages you to take advantage of one of the convenient ways by which you can vote these shares for matters to be covered at the 20192020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. You can vote these shares electronically through the Internet or by telephone, either of which eliminates the need to return the proxy card. If you do not wish to vote through the Internet or by telephone, you can vote by mail by following the instructions on the proxy card on the reverse side.


Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:


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E55371-P17143-Z73849      



E94454-P31414-Z76071



Proxy — GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION

PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, MAY 1, 2019

6, 2020
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION

The undersigned hereby appoints PHEBE N. NOVAKOVIC, JASON W. AIKEN and GREGORY S. GALLOPOULOS, and each of them, as proxy or proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, upon the matters set forth on the reverse side and upon such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting, all as more fully described in the Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED AND TIMELY RETURNED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN. ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES NAMED ABOVE, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED AND TIMELY RETURNED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE HEREON, THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2, 3 AND 4, AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 5.

If you are a participant in the Company’s 401(k) plans, this proxy card constitutes your instructions to Fidelity, the trustee of the plans, as to the vote of the shares of Company common stock in your plan accounts. If you do not submit valid and timely voting instructions, Newport Trust Company, the independent fiduciary and investment manager for the Company common stock in your plan accounts, will direct the vote of your plan shares in its discretion.

PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE YOUR PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED.

The undersigned hereby appoints PHEBE N. NOVAKOVIC, JASON W. AIKEN and GREGORY S. GALLOPOULOS, and each of them, as proxy or proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, upon the matters set forth on the reverse side and upon such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting, all as more fully described in the Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED AND TIMELY RETURNED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN. ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES NAMED ABOVE, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED AND TIMELY RETURNED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE HEREON, THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3, AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 4.

If you are a participant in the Company’s 401(k) plans, this proxy card constitutes your instructions to Fidelity, the trustee of the plans, as to the vote of the shares of Company common stock in your plan accounts. If you do not submit valid and timely voting instructions, Newport Trust Company, the independent fiduciary and investment manager for the Company common stock in your plan accounts, will direct the vote of your plan shares in its discretion.

PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE YOUR PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE POSTAGE-PAIDENVELOPE PROVIDED.