PASCAGOULA, Miss. and HERNDON, Va., Feb. 27, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Three engineers at Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) are recipients of the 2004 Modern-Day Technology Leader award from US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine.
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Structural engineer Darius Bonton, research and development program director Ronald Wilson, both with Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector, and software engineer Michael G. Ingram, from the company's Information Technology sector, accepted their awards at the 18th annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference on Feb. 21 in Baltimore.
The Black Engineer of the Year awards are presented annually to recognize and honor the technical and professional achievements of African-American men and women involved in engineering, science and technology fields. An industry-wide committee chooses recipients from a competitive field of candidates selected for their academic credentials, career achievements and community outreach efforts.
Darius Bonton works in the engineering ship design section of Ship Systems' Maritime Technology Center of Excellence in New Orleans where he is responsible for the design, analysis, and construction of oceangoing vessels for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and commercial industry. He performs stress, deflection and vibration analysis of ship structures and conducts shock analysis of Naval vessels exposed to underwater explosions.
"I am extremely grateful to be recognized with this honor," said Bonton. "At first, I thought it was some kind of office-wide recognition, but when I learned it was a national award, I was really honored."
"This is a tremendous honor for Darius and our entire shipyard," said George Yount, vice president of operations for the Ship Systems sector's New Orleans facility. "He has combined his superb engineering talents with the excitement of shipbuilding and has quickly become a vital and contributing member of our shipyard team. He is a great example of technical, professional, and personal accomplishments."
Bonton is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for which he was a past volunteer serving on the High School Committee for the Regional Student Conference. He joined Northrop Grumman in January 2003. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.
Ronald Wilson works in Ship Systems' contracted research and development department where he manages the Composite High Speed Vessel Program and the Integrated Engineering Plant. He played a vital role in obtaining the East Bank Radar Range Facility in Pascagoula and has successfully managed and completed the LMS program and the U.S. Coast Guard Healy Modeling program.
"I think it's a tremendous honor, and I appreciate all the opportunities afforded me over the years by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems," said Wilson.
"Ron's selection is the latest in a series of distinct recognitions he has received in his short career," said Teno Henderson, sector vice president of the Ship Systems sector's Full Service Operations. "Ron is a hard-working stakeholder in our organization, and an example of the boundless opportunities offered to all our employees."
Wilson joined Northrop Grumman 1985 and subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University. He has been a volunteer for Junior Achievement programs, and has recently completed the Six Sigma Expert Training course.
Michael Ingram is an information systems manager at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., performing satellite technology support for the Department of Defense. He provides hardware and software support to the Air Force Satellite Control Network Command and Control Ground Segment. He also ensures computer availability, supports daily satellite operations, troubleshoots system problems, and recommends procedural changes for satellite systems essential to warfighters' success.
"I've always enjoyed working in the space information technology field and have had the opportunity to see it evolve over the years," said Ingram. "Some of the most rewarding experiences for me have been working with dedicated and interesting people and knowing that we support today's warfighter. Additionally, Northrop Grumman is a great company to work for and has been a driving force in my professional development."
"Michael's technical support of the Air Force Satellite Control Network enables our military to provide our country's warfighter with state-of-the-art intelligence in our nation's war on terrorism," said Mike Roberts, vice president of the Information Technology sector's Technical Services business unit. "Through his work, he embodies Northrop Grumman's core values for diversity, honesty and commitment to excellence."
Ingram joined Northrop Grumman in 1996 after working as a senior engineer performing satellite operations support at Litton Computer Services. Prior to Litton, Ingram began his engineering career with Martin Marietta Space Systems, coordinating command and control systems at the Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale, Calif. Before Martin Marietta, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a satellite systems controller where he received the USAF Commendation Medal for meritorious service while assigned to the 1000th Satellite Operations Group.
Northrop Grumman aspires to be the employer of choice by creating a workplace that emphasizes inclusion. The company is committed to establishing a work environment where all employees feel welcome, challenged and rewarded for their contributions to its success.
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems includes primary operations in Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss.; and in New Orleans and Tallulah, La., as well as in a network of fleet support offices in the U.S. and Japan. Ship Systems is one of the nation's leading full service systems companies for the design, engineering, construction, and life cycle support of major surface ships for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and international navies, and for commercial vessels of all types.
Northrop Grumman Information Technology, based in Herndon, Va., is a trusted IT leader and premier provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial clients. The company's expertise spans such areas as information systems integration; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; homeland security; enterprise hardware and software solutions; training and simulation; base and range support; signals intelligence; space systems; and specialized scientific, engineering and technical services.
LEARN MORE ABOUT US: Northrop Grumman news releases, product information, photos and video clips are available on the Internet at www.northropgrumman.com. Information specific to Ship Systems is available at: www.ss.northropgrumman.com/index.html. Information specific to the Information Technology sector is available at: www.it.northropgrumman.com/index.html
