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General Dynamics Amphibious Systems / USMC Team Wins Packard Award for Second Time

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- General Dynamics Amphibious Systems and the United States Marine Corps Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) team, co-located in Woodbridge, Virginia, have won the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award for the second time in three years.

The award was presented May 23 at the Pentagon to the Marine Corps Weapons System Mark 46 Development Team for using interoperability to significantly reduce total ownership costs per unit. The Mk 46 is an automated 30mm gun weapon station. The U.S. Navy has selected it for their new LPD-17 class amphibious ship.

The Packard Award was established to recognize DoD civilian and/or military organizations, groups, or teams, who have made highly significant contributions which demonstrated exemplary innovation and best acquisition practices. Nominations are for organizations, groups, or teams that have exhibited superior accomplishments significantly contributing to defense acquisition reform initiatives and acquisition programs.

This year, three Packard awards were presented by Dr. Jacques S. Gansler, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. On the award certificate, Dr. Gansler stated that "the Mark 46 Weapons System is a world-class model of acquisition reform exemplifying the principles of cost as an independent variable, interoperability, and integrated product and process development to improve warfighter capability while reducing total ownership cost."

Receiving the award on behalf of the Mark 46 Team were General James Jones, Commandant of the Marine Corps; the Honorable Dr. H. Lee Buchanan, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development and Acquisition; and Colonel Blake Robertson, Direct Reporting Program Manager, Advanced Amphibious Assault.

Representing General Dynamics Amphibious Systems were its vice president, John Wosina; Kenneth Mick, Mark 46 program manager; Ronald Cole, Fire Control IPT lead; and Chuck Hamrick, Turret Assembly IPT lead.

Amphibious Systems is a unit of General Dynamics Land Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 43,000 people worldwide and has annualized sales of approximately $10 billion. The company has leading market positions in business aviation, information systems, shipbuilding and marine systems, and land and amphibious combat systems.

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Any "forward-looking statements" contained in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

General Dynamics Corporation (ticker: GD, exchange: NYSE)
News Release - Wednesday, May 24, 2000
Press Contact: (703) 876-3190