GE’s facility is one the world’s largest steam turbine manufacturing plants.

With Barack Obama announcing that GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt will chair the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, Immelt carries on a long tradition of GE leaders who have served not only their company, but also their countries for the greater good. From Jack Welch providing advice to several presidents to the contributions of the company’s visionary and founder Thomas Edison, that culture of service extends back throughout GE’s 131-year history. As Edison said, “I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give to others.” Here are some examples of GE leaders who, since the company’s early days, have lent their time and expertise to help lead the nation through the Great Depression, two World Wars, a global shift in the U.S. economy and other challenges of the day.

Read more at GE Reports.