One of the defense leaders who helped bring that industry into the world of information technology has announced his retirement.

Nicholas Chabraja, chairman and chief executive officer at General Dynamics Corp., said he will step down as CEO June 30, 2009. He will remain as chairman through May 2010.

The company’s board has picked Jay Johnson, CEO of Dominion Virginia Power, to succeed Chabraja. Johnson has been on GD’s board since 2003.

Johnson retired from the Navy as an admiral in 2000 and served as chief of naval operations.

Chabraja has been at GD since 1993 and became chairman and CEO in 1997. During his tenure, he orchestrated several acquisitions that turned the company into an IT powerhouse.

Under his leadership, GD purchased GTE’s government business in 1999, Anteon in 2006 and Veridian in 2003. GD’s information systems and technology sector accounted for $9.6 billion of GD’s $27.2 billion in 2007 revenue.

General Dynamics, of Falls Church, Va., ranks No. 7 on Washington Technology’s 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.