Defense Contractor Achieves Gain

General Dynamics,one of the largest U.S. defense contractors,has delivered a good report for Q4.GD's net income rose 18.7%,to 2.46 billion dollars from 2.07 year over year.Its order backlog rose by 13.6 billion.Higher gains in its Gulfstream business jet unit,as well as its shipbuilding division,bumped its profit up about 6% to 612 million.On the minus side,its combat systems unit,which builds armored vehicles for the Army and Marine Corps,saw a drop in sales as its contract for the Iraq war wound down with the war itself.GD's overall sales rose 4.5% to 7.85 billion.It is headquartered in Falls Church,Virginia.

Retired Admiral to Lead GD

Jay L. Johnson,a retired admiral who served as Chief of Naval Operations from 1996-2000,has been selected to head General Dynamics(GD),a major defense contractor.Mr.Johnson will become CEO on 1 July,2009.He has been with Dominion Virginia Power since 2000.General Dynamics builds ships and submarines for the Navy,as well as Gulfstream business jets and the Light Armored Vehicle for the Marine Corps.Mr.Johnson served two tours in Vietnam as a naval aviator and commanded a carrier battle group.He is 61.