GDMS Brandon Hall Group Human Capital Awards 2025

Company garners Brandon Hall Group™ Commendations in Learning & Development and Leadership Development


CHANTILLY, VA – General Dynamics Mission Systems was announced as winners of two Brandon Hall Group™ gold-level Excellence Awards, one in the Best Development Program for Frontline Leaders category and another in the Best Learning Team category, while also securing a silver-level award in the Best Executive Development Program category, August 14.

The 2025 Brandon Hall Group™ HCM Excellence Awards® recognizes best practices for initiatives in Learning and Development, Talent Management, Leadership Development, Talent Acquisition, Human Resources, Sales Performance, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and the Future of Work.

“We are honored to be recognized by the Brandon Hall Group for excellence in human capital management, said Chris Hiltbrand, vice president of People for General Dynamics Mission Systems. “At the heart of our success is a simple truth: we place big bets on people. Having a talented workforce is only the beginning—developing that talent through innovative learning and leadership programs is what sets organizations apart. By investing in our people, we see higher retention, stronger performance, and a deeper bench of leaders ready to guide our company into the future.”

The Best Development Program for Frontline Leaders is an organization’s leadership development strategy for programs that are designed to advance the skills of current frontline supervisors or individual contributors preparing to transition into a frontline leadership role. The Frontline Leader Program (FLP) at General Dynamics Mission Systems, created in partnership with GP Strategies, was developed to fill a critical gap in leadership training for first-time and frontline leaders. FLP provides comprehensive development closely aligned with company leadership expectations, aiming to drive performance, foster innovation, and maintain high levels of employee engagement.

The category Best Learning Team is for the teamwork and accomplishments of a team of learning professionals in workplace learning. General Dynamics Mission Systems has redefined what a high-performing learning team looks like by transitioning from a legacy, compliance-driven training function to a strategic, high-impact Learning & Organizational Development (L&OD) Center of Excellence. Through a combination of strategic leadership programs and courses, AI-driven learning tools, competency-based development frameworks, and scalable hybrid learning solutions, the company has successfully strengthened its leadership pipeline, increased internal talent mobility, and enhanced employee engagement across the enterprise.

The category Best Executive Development Program is for best practices in developing executives. The General Dynamics Mission Systems Apex Program, developed in partnership with ZRG Consulting Solutions, prepares future executive leaders to maximize their personal leadership capacity to drive enterprise transformation, commitments, alignment and results. Apex is a deeply personalized development experience that leverages leadership assessments, individual development plans, dedicated executive coaching relationships, peer-based coaching and tailored activities.

“This recognition from the Brandon Hall Group is a testament to the dedication of our Learning and Organizational Development Team and their commitment to meet the development needs of General Dynamics Mission Systems to drive our business forward, said Connie Klein, senior director of Learning and Organization Development at General Dynamics Mission Systems. “This honor reflects not only the innovation of our learning team, but also the passion of our employees who embrace growth every day. At GDMS, we believe learning is about fostering a culture of continuous learning where every employee is empowered to lead, grow, and reach their full potential. These awards affirm that our investment in leadership development not only prepares tomorrow’s leaders but also drives long-term success.”

“This year's Excellence Award winners exemplify the transformative power of strategic human capital management. Through their innovative approaches to talent development and employee engagement, these organizations have not only achieved remarkable business outcomes but have also redefined what it means to create truly people-centric workplaces. Our comprehensive evaluation process has identified these programs as benchmarks for organizational excellence and innovation," said Brandon Hall Group Chief Operating Officer Rachel Cooke, HCM Excellence Awards® program leader.

Entries were evaluated by a panel of veteran, independent senior industry experts, Brandon Hall Group analysts, and executives based on these criteria:

  • Alignment to their business need and environment.
  • Program design, functionality and delivery.
  • Adoption, integration, user experience, innovation and creativity.
  • Overall effectiveness, impact, and measurable benefits.

Excellence Award winners will continue to be honored at Brandon Hall Group’s HCM Excellence Conference, February 9-12, 2026, at the Hilton West Palm Beach, Florida. Select winners will also serve as presenters in breakout sessions, sharing their leading practices during the conference.

“The 2025 Excellence Award recipients represent the pinnacle of achievement in human capital management. What sets this year's winners apart is their bold embrace of emerging technologies and their commitment to creating meaningful employee experiences that drive tangible business results. These organizations have demonstrated that when you invest in your people with purpose and innovation, the impact resonates throughout the entire enterprise, creating sustainable competitive advantages in today's dynamic business landscape," said Brandon Hall Group™ Chief Executive Officer Mike Cooke.


About the Brandon Hall Group

Brandon Hall Group™ is the only professional development company that offers data, research, insights and certification to Learning and Talent executives and organizations. The best minds in Human Capital Management (HCM) choose Brandon Hall Group™ to help them create future-proof employee development plans for the new era.

General Dynamics Mission Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), provides mission critical solutions to the challenges facing our defense, intelligence and cyber security customers across all domains. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, General Dynamics Mission Systems employs more than 12,000 people worldwide. For more information about the General Dynamics Mission Systems broad portfolio of capabilities, visit gdmissionsystems.com.