10 General Atomics finance leaders
Liam Kelly, SVP & CFO at General Atomics, is one of ten General Atomics finance leaders listed here, alongside people who hold vice president, corporate controller, treasurer and director of FP&A roles at the company. A reader can learn how finance leaders work at General Atomics from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Brian Gallagher
LinkedInExperience: Director of Government Accounting and Compliance · General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Brian Gallagher has been Director of Government Accounting and Compliance at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in San Diego, California, since July 2026. Brian Gallagher was Director of GovCon Advisory at Forvis Mazars US from 2023 to 2026 and held director and manager roles at Capital Edge Consulting, and the profile describes advising government contractors on regulatory compliance, finance and accounting.
Caroline Rye
LinkedInExperience: Director, Financial Planning and Analysis · General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Caroline Rye has been Director, Financial Planning and Analysis at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in San Diego, California, since November 2023, and was Sr. Product Line Finance Manager there from 2020 to 2023. Caroline Rye was Global Hawk International Production Business Manager (2018–2020) and Global Hawk Cost Control Lead (2016–2018) at Northrop Grumman.
Christine Schimmel
LinkedInExperience: Corporate FP&A Director · General Atomics
Christine Schimmel has been Corporate FP&A Director at General Atomics in San Diego, California, since April 2024, and was Corporate FP&A Senior Manager (2020–2024) and Corporate FP&A Manager (2019–2020) there. Christine Schimmel was ASG Business Planning FP&A Manager (2018–2019) and Boeing and Military FP&A and Business Operations Manager (2016–2018) at United Technologies.
Jerry Nelson
LinkedInExperience: Controller · General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Jerry Nelson has been Controller at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in Poway, California, since August 2016. Jerry Nelson was Compliance Manager (2011–2016) and Sr. Finance Manager - Financial Accounting (2004–2010) at BAE Systems, Finance Director at Chromalloy (2010–2011) and Controller at SureBeam Corporation (2000–2004).
John Lacy
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Corporate Controller & Deputy CFO · General Atomics
John Lacy has been Vice President, Corporate Controller & Deputy CFO at General Atomics in San Diego, California, since June 2021. John Lacy was Chief Financial Officer - Boeing Phantom Works from 2020 to 2021 and Director of Accounting Policy - Boeing Global Services from 2017 to 2020, and held FP&A and financial accounting manager roles at Boeing.
Jonathan Elliott
LinkedInExperience: Director of Finance, Product Line Finance & FP&A · General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Jonathan Elliott has been Director of Finance, Product Line Finance & FP&A at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in the San Diego area since 2019. Jonathan Elliott was a Finance Manager at Raytheon from 2015 to 2019 and a Senior Financial Planning Analyst at Boeing, and the profile describes a finance leader specializing in aerospace and defense companies.
Liam Kelly
LinkedInExperience: SVP & CFO · General Atomics
Liam Kelly has been SVP & CFO at General Atomics in San Diego, California, since 2014. Liam Kelly was CFO at GKN Aerospace Sweden from 2012 to 2014 and Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at GKN Aerospace from 2008 to 2012, and held chief financial officer roles at IMI Industrial Automation, including CFO for the Americas.
Matt Archdale
LinkedInExperience: VP FP&A and Corporate Acquisitions · General Atomics
Matt Archdale has been VP FP&A and Corporate Acquisitions at General Atomics in San Diego, California, since April 2024. Matt Archdale was Senior Director, Financial Planning & Analysis and Business Integration (2021–2024), Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis Director (2019–2024) and Manager Corporate Finance and Financial Planning & Analysis (2015–2024) at General Atomics, and the profile lists advanced financial modelling and mergers and acquisitions.
Rhys Williams
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Treasurer, and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions · General Atomics
Rhys Williams has been Vice President, Treasurer, and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at General Atomics in the San Diego area since June 2022. Rhys Williams was VP and Treasurer at Cubic Corporation from 2018 to 2022, serving as Acting Chief Financial Officer there in 2021 and 2022, and was Treasurer at Ancestry from 2013 to 2018.
Steve Gayheart
LinkedInExperience: Director - Finance Solutions · General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Steve Gayheart has been Director - Finance Solutions at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in San Diego, California, since January 2026. Steve Gayheart was Business Program Manager (2023–2026), Program Planning & Operations Manager (2017–2022), Business Systems Analyst IV (2015–2017) and Financial Analyst IV (2013–2015) at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's area, such as corporate FP&A, controllership, treasury and acquisitions, government accounting and compliance, or product line finance, to the question you face. Weigh whether they work at the corporate level or within the aeronautical systems business, since each sees the numbers differently.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01Which financial measures do program and business leaders ask you about most?
- 02How do you plan and forecast when funding timing is uncertain?
- 03What have you learned about government contract accounting and compliance?
Reaching General Atomics finance leaders
How can I contact one of these General Atomics finance leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Atomics, based on profile data retrieved on October 18, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach General Atomics finance leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these General Atomics finance leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
Request a correction or removal