Trade Associations

General Dynamics belongs to trade associations that represent a broad array of professional and industrial interests. The majority of the company’s trade association expenditures occur in several large associations: Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and the General Aviation Manufacturing Association (GAMA).

The company’s AIA membership constitutes the largest portion of our annual trade association expenditures. We, along with senior executives of other defense companies, sit on AIA’s executive committee which oversees the association’s activities.

AIA, along with many of the other trade associations to which the company belongs, engages in promoting industry-friendly positions on legislative and policy issues.

2011 Trade Association Dues: $3M*

* Business Development/Customer-related dues greater than $5,000

Process and Oversight

Decisions by the company to join trade associations are based on an evaluation of several factors, including:

• the degree to which membership in the association provides opportunities for continuing education and professional development of the company’s employees;
• whether membership is necessary to qualify for participation in association-sponsored professional opportunities such as development of industry standards that affect the company’s products, trade shows, conferences and other industry events; and
• whether the trade association supports strong national security policies which the company believes are in the best interests of the United States as well as General Dynamics shareholders.

Senior management reviews trade memberships annually to assess the company’s return on investment and subsequently decides if continued membership is appropriate.

The company’s Board of Directors is briefed annually on trade association expenditures.