- GENERAL DYNAMICS APPOINTS THOMPSON
VICE PRESIDENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUPPORT -

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. --- General Dynamics Land Systems has appointed J. Frank Thompson to the new position of vice president Customer Service and Support reporting to the president. Thompson had been director Advanced Programs since April 1996.

Thompson, 57, will be responsible for all contracts which have as their principal deliverable operations and maintenance, training, field modification, and retrofits. This new position combines into a single business center the Product Support and Services Company and elements of Product Support Engineering that were located in separate areas of the company.

"Customer Service and Support will strive for market leadership through the pursuit of customer intimacy in the service and support of all land and amphibious vehicles operated by our customers," said Arthur J. Veitch, president of General Dynamics Land Systems. "It will emphasize customer knowledge, flexibility, and responsiveness leveraging off our successful fielding of the Abrams tank in the U.S. and overseas."

Thompson joined General Dynamics in 1963 as an engineer in the company’s Convair division, which manufactured aircraft and missile systems. He was their vice president and program manager Tomahawk Cruise Missile from 1988 to 1991, and vice president Operations until 1996.

A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Thompson holds a masters degree in Industrial Management.

General Dynamics Land Systems is a world leader in the development, production, and support of armored vehicles and electronic systems. Its 3,400 employees operate plants and facilities in seven states and at three international locations. More information about General Dynamics Land Systems can be found on the Internet at http://www.gdls.com.

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LS-97-5
3/13/97