General Dynamics Chief Executive Jay L. Johnson is now also chairman of the defense-contracting giant that owns Electric Boat in Groton and other operations in Connecticut.
General Dynamics’ board of directors on Wednesday elected Johnson chairman, effective immediately. He succeeds Nicholas D. Chabraja, who has served as chairman since 1997.
Johnson has been president and CEO of General Dynamics since last July 1. Â He had been vice chairman since September 2008, when he joined the company as part of a succession plan in preparation for Chabraja’s retirement. Chabraja stays on the board.
Johnson has been a member of the General Dynamics board since 2003, while he was an executive of Dominion Virginia Power and Dominion Resources Inc., owner of the Millstone nuclear power station in Waterford.
Based in Falls Church, Va., General Dynamics, employs approximately 91,200 people worldwide.
Last September, the company paid $643 million to acquire former Axsys Technologies Inc., a Rocky Hill maker of electronic surveillance gear.
