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GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION                                   EXHIBIT 24
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER      1-3671                             POWER OF ATTORNEY
IRS NO.     13-1673581    -----------                          REPORTS ON FORM
          --------------                                       10-K AND 10-Q




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


           KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned
Directors and/or Officers of GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA,
MICHAEL J. MANCUSO, DAVID A. SAVNER, and his true and lawful attorney and agent,
in the name and on behalf of the under-signed, to do any and all acts and things
and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem
necessary or advisable to enable General Dynamics Corporation to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, and the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules
and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) in respect thereof, in connection with annual reports to the
Commission on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports as
required by General Dynamics Corporation, including specifically, but without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the
names of the undersigned in his capacity as Director and/or Officer of General
Dynamics Corporation to reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto,
to any and all amendments, including hereby ratifying and confirming all that
the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, shall do or shall cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set their hands
this 7th day of February 2001.


/s/  Julius W. Becton, Jr.                  /s/ George A. Joulwan
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Julius W. Becton, Jr.                       George A. Joulwan


/s/  Nicholas D. Chabraja                   /s/ Paul G. Kaminski
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Nicholas D. Chabraja                        Paul G. Kaminski


/s/  James S. Crown                         /s/ James R. Mellor
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James S. Crown                              James R. Mellor


/s/  Lester Crown                           /s/  Carl E. Mundy, Jr.
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Lester Crown                                Carl E. Mundy, Jr.


/s/ Charles H. Goodman                      /s/  Carlisle A.H. Trost
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Charles H. Goodman                          Carlisle A.H. Trost