FALLS CHURCH, Va., May 2, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been ranked 31st on DiversityInc's annual list for the Top 50 Companies for Diversity. The company moved up from 35th in 2015 and was the only aerospace and defense company to make the top 50 list. In the DiversityInc specialty lists rankings Northrop Grumman was rated number one for people with disabilities, second in veterans support and sixth in diversity councils. For the last seven years Northrop Grumman has earned a Top 50 ranking for diversity from DiversityInc.
For the 2016 listing DiversityInc recognized Northrop Grumman's "robust diversity and inclusion practices," its demonstrated commitment to talent-development initiatives and for employing "noteworthy numbers of veterans." DiversityInc also noted that Northrop Grumman's people of color in senior management is 31 percent higher compared with other U.S. companies in the survey and its number of women in senior management is 62 percent higher.
"We know from experience that diversity makes Northrop Grumman a better company," said Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer and president, Northrop Grumman Corporation." We are strongly committed to ensuring that we have a diverse workforce and inclusive culture, as diversity and inclusion are key to our ability to sustain top performance for our shareholders, customers and employees."
DiversityInc's annual survey tracks the nation's top companies for hiring, retaining and promoting women; minorities; people with disabilities; employees; and veterans. The organization says it is the most rigorous, data-driven survey of its kind, gauging detailed demographics based on race/ethnicity and gender at some of the largest U.S. employers. Each company's rank is based on an objective analysis of 183 separate factors, based on data from a 300-question survey. The four equally weighted areas of measurement are talent pipeline, equitable talent development, CEO/leadership commitment and supplier diversity.
"At Northrop Grumman, we strive every day to promote diversity and inclusion because we understand that it is the most capable and diverse talent that produces the innovative solutions and ideas that are required to help solve our customers complex challenges," said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president, global corporate responsibility, Northrop Grumman and president, Northrop Grumman Foundation. "I'm very proud of our ranking and the company's continued dedication to building a diverse and inclusive workforce."
Highlights of some of the company's diversity and inclusion activities include:
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Over the past five years, more than half of Northrop Grumman's new graduate hires have been women and people of color.
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In 2015 the company celebrated the 10th anniversary of Operation IMPACT (Injured Military Pursuing Assisted Career Transition), a program Northrop Grumman created to provide personalized placement assistance, community outreach and workplace accommodations for severely injured service members transitioning to civilian employment. Since its inception, the company has hired 195 employees through Operation IMPACT.
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Last year Northrop Grumman earned a top score on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
- In 2015 more than 37 percent of Northrop Grumman procurement spending went to small, women-and minority-owned businesses. The company managed six Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé agreements and subcontracted $23.2 million to these organizations. The Mentor-Protégé program encourages major DoD prime contractors to develop the technical and business capabilities of small disadvantaged businesses; women-owned small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; historically underutilized business zone small businesses; and organizations employing severely disabled individuals.
Details on Northrop Grumman's diversity and inclusion efforts can be found at http://www.northropgrumman.com/CorporateResponsibility/Diversity/Pages/default.aspx.
The 2016 Top 50 Companies for Diversity results are featured on DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. For more information, log on to www.diversityinc.com, https://www.facebook.com/DiversityInc, https://twitter.com/DiversityInc or http://www.linkedin.com/company/DiversityInc.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.