Commitment to Ethics

The foundation of our culture is our Ethos, which shapes how General Dynamics employees act according to our shared values of transparency, trust, alignment and honesty. 

With approximately 70% of our revenue from the U.S. government, and with our Aerospace segment subject to rigorous FAA oversight, we operate in a highly regulated environment. We are subject to regular audit and review by multiple U.S. government agencies to assess our compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards.

The U.S. government also reviews the adequacy of, and compliance with, internal control systems and policies, including our purchasing, property estimating, material, earned value management and accounting systems.

Every employee is expected to uphold our high standards. Each employee hears this message from their first day on the job and throughout their career with GD. Not only do we foster an ethical work environment, we work to create an environment where employees feel safe, empowered and equipped to speak up and do the right thing.

Our board and our key financial professionals are required to follow ethics codes specific to their roles, which they commit to annually. These codes have been carefully crafted by leadership to align with our Ethos. With their signature, our chairman, board members and financial leaders promise to manage our business in accordance with the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Leadership Commitment to Ethics

General Dynamics’ leadership team lives our values and serves as an example to our employees, customers and shareholders.

Our board and our key financial professionals are required to follow ethics codes specific to their roles, which they commit to annually. These codes have been carefully crafted by leadership to align with our Ethos. With their signature, our chairman, board members and financial leaders promise to manage our business in accordance with the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Leaders throughout the company make decisions through an environmental, social and governance lens to foster ethical and sustainable business practices. This perspective is applied to every step in the process of delivering a product, service or solution to a customer and when engaging with the communities in which we live and work.

Readily Available Tools and Resources

Our commitment to ethics is highly visible, readily available and continually reinforced. We equip our employees with the tools and resources they need to do the right thing.

• We provide each employee with our Ethos and Our Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct. Available in 18 languages, the code of conduct establishes our standard that all employees conduct business in accordance with our Ethos, applicable law and our company policies.
• Our leadership teams and the ethics, human resources and legal departments are equipped to assist and provide guidance as needed as confidential resources to raise questions, get advice and express concerns. They strive to foster an open and safe environment and embed our Ethos and commitment to ethics in ongoing communications.
• Each GD facility is equipped with prominent awareness centers that reinforce our commitment to our Ethos, outline tools available to employees, and list the Ethics Help Line website and toll-free number. A message from our CEO is included in each Awareness Center to further demonstrate our position.
• The GD Business Ethics Help Line is a 24-hour helpline, accessible by phone or the web, and available to employees in 13 languages. Questions or concerns can be raised using the Help Line, anonymously or otherwise.  

All reported concerns are investigated promptly and in confidence. If we find that our standards have been violated, we take action, including involuntary termination and disciplinary action; implementing systemwide changes; and notifying governmental offices or agencies, customers and/or suppliers.

We strictly prohibit retaliation against anyone who raises an ethics or compliance issue in good faith.

Ethics Helpline Website

Global Network of Ethics Officers

Each business has one senior ethics officer (EO) who has direct access to leadership to discuss trends, opportunities and communication strategies. These senior EOs also meet regularly as a group to discuss best practices that can be shared across our portfolio. In addition, they work with other EOs in the defense industry through the Defense Industry Initiative to share best practices, which helps us continuously improve our programs.

In support of the EOs, we have nearly 100 part-time local ethics officers (LEOs). Our LEOs, selected by their leadership based on proven character, are embedded in locations
with our largest employee populations. Working side by side with other employees, LEOs are accessible resources who answer questions, provide communications and training, conduct investigations, and further ingrain ethics into the everyday activities within our work environment.

Ethical Business Around the World

As a leader in the aerospace and defense industry, we provide services and products to governments around the world. The laws and regulations relating to doing business with government customers and public officials are complex. As such,

• We provide our employees with the appropriate resources to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• We abide by the laws and restrictions regarding the import and export of our products, information and technical data, including the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Nearly every country has laws and regulations that control the international movement (e.g., imports, exports, re-exports and technology transfers) of specified product information and services.
• We comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other applicable anti-corruption laws around the globe.
• We ensure that we remain current with these laws and regulations.

Our robust anti-corruption compliance program is rooted in our Ethos and tailored to potential risks faced in our business. Designated anti-corruption officers and other compliance professionals at each business unit help carry out the program and serve as a resource. Elements of the program include written policies and procedures, training, risk-based management and third-party due diligence, multiple reporting systems, and compliance audits.

In addition, to promote and advance ethical cultures in companies that provide products and services to the U.S. government, General Dynamics is a founding member of the nonprofit, volunteer organization, the Defense Industry Initiative (DII). Partnering with 16 other working group members, we deliver an annual, in-person Best Practices Forum, offer quarterly webinars to assist ethics officers with their ethics and compliance programs, and host an online community to enable real-time discussions and field questions relating to ethics. We also launched an initiative sponsoring multiple small and medium-sized companies, offering them access to a model supplier code of conduct, a small- business tool kit and the opportunity to network with others in the DII.