8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                -----------------



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 31, 2002
                                                          -------------


                                  GenCorp Inc.
                        --------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



            Ohio                        1-1520                  34-0244000
            ----                        ------                  ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission File            IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                 Number)             Identification No.)



Highway 50 and Aerojet Road, Rancho Cordova, California           95670
- -------------------------------------------------------           -----
         (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)


P.O. Box 537012, Sacramento, California                         95853-7012
- ---------------------------------------                         ----------
         (Mailing Address)                                      (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (916) 355-4000
                                                           --------------





ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by this reference is the
text of the registrant's press release which was issued on July 31, 2002.

Exhibit 99.1 is a GenCorp Inc. press release dated July 31, 2002, which stated
that Douglas Jeffries has assumed the position of Vice President, Controller for
the Company.



ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

Table                                                                  Exhibit
Item No.   Exhibit Description                                         Number
- --------   -------------------                                         ------

 99        GenCorp Inc.'s press release dated July 31, 2002, which      99.1
           stated that Douglas Jeffries has assumed the position
           of Vice President, Controller for the Company.



                                   SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                    GENCORP INC.




                            By:    /s/ William R. Phillips
                                   -----------------------
                            Name:  William R. Phillips
                            Title: Senior Vice President, Law;
                                   General Counsel and Secretary

Dated:  August 2, 2002

EX-99.1

[GENCORP LOGO]
                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1



News Release
- ------------


INVESTOR CONTACT: YASMIN SEYAL
                  SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                  916-351-8585

PRESS CONTACT:    LINDA BEECH CUTLER
                  VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
                  916-351-8650


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  GenCorp Names Douglas Jeffries Vice President
                                 and Controller


SACRAMENTO, CA, July 31, 2002 -- GenCorp Inc. (NYSE: GY), announced today that
Douglas Jeffries has assumed the position of vice president and controller for
the Company. Mr. Jeffries is responsible for all aspects of financial
management, reporting and accounting practices, providing leadership to the
Company's operating units: Aerojet, Aerojet Fine Chemicals and GDX Automotive.
He will report to Yasmin Seyal, the Company's senior vice president and chief
financial officer.

"Doug brings extensive experience and an impressive track record," said Ms.
Seyal. "He will play a significant role in GenCorp's efforts to streamline our
internal processes, and will work closely with our operating units regarding
their financial objectives, controls and procedures."

Mr. Jeffries, a northern California native, most recently was executive vice
president and chief operating officer of San Francisco-based Red Herring
Communications. He has also served as vice president and chief financial officer
at Alaris Medical, Inc. (AMEX: AMI), and has held executive financial and
technology management positions with Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) and
PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Jeffries is a CPA and holds an MBA from the
University of Southern California.

GenCorp is a technology-based manufacturer with leading positions in automotive,
aerospace and defense, and pharmaceutical fine chemicals industries. For more
information, visit the Company's website at www.gencorp.com.


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