Phebe Novakovic

As its largest customer—the U.S. government—stabilized its defense budget, this onetime spy, who took over as CEO in 2013, led General Dynamics to profits of $2.5 billion in 2014. That’s up 7% from the previous year. Its Gulfstream jet business, part of its $8.7 billion aerospace division, rebounded from a downturn during the financial crisis as corporate and individual buyers replaced aging fleets. Gulfstream booked almost $1 billion in new orders in 2015’s second quarter, its best performance in seven years.

Read more about Phebe Novakovic in “The spy in General Dynamics' corner office.”