General Dynamics Board Elects Novakovic to Be President and Chief Operating Officer. General Dynamics announced that its board of directors has elected Phebe N. Novakovic, 54, to be the corporation's president and chief operating officer reporting to Jay L. Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer. The appointment is effective May 2, 2012. In announcing the board's action Johnson said, "The board and I are pleased to promote Phebe to fulfill these new responsibilities. She has performed well in her role as executive vice president of Marine Systems and previously as senior vice president of planning and development, and is more than ready to assume a larger role in the corporation. Novakovic became an executive vice president of General Dynamics in May 2010.