Phebe Novakovic

Novakovic now runs a government contractor a third more valuable than it was a year ago, benefiting from a political environment favorable toward military outfitters. Still, sales fell slightly in 2016 as defense spending shifted toward aircraft and weapons systems and away from the boots-on-the-ground technology in which the company specializes. But Novakovic’s push to expand cybersecurity capabilities has been a boon, helping GD land new contracts and rec­ord operating earnings and margins last year.

For more on Novakovic, read Fortune’s 2015 feature “The Spy in General Dynamics’ Corner Office.”