LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced that Donald C. Winter, corporate vice president and president of the company's Mission Systems sector, has assumed the additional responsibility as its lead executive for missile defense business.
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In this role, Winter will serve as the company's principal liaison to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, providing a single point of contact for its missile defense efforts and helping set company direction for all work related to this important new mission area.
"With the acquisition of TRW last year, Northrop Grumman's footprint in the missile defense market grew dramatically," said Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman chief executive officer and president. "The capabilities we now bring to bear on missile defense include everything from systems integration, battle management, and space and laser systems, to naval platforms, targets, and modeling and simulation. Don's new role will help us effectively respond to MDA's needs while helping to focus our collective missile defense talents on developing and deploying quality systems to make MDA's program a reality."
Winter's 30-year career with Northrop Grumman spans a variety of technical program and general management positions. After joining the former TRW Inc., in 1972, he spent eight years directing research and development activities in laser physics and applications. Winter also directed a variety of space system programs in support of national defense efforts and developed advanced technologies for new and evolving systems.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree with highest distinction in physics from the University of Rochester in 1969. He received a Master of Science degree (1970) and a doctorate (1972) in physics from the University of Michigan. He is also a 1979 graduate of the University of Southern California Management Policy Institute, a 1987 graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles Executive Program, and a 1991 graduate of the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in National and International Studies.
Northrop Grumman's Role in Missile Defense
Northrop Grumman is a recognized leader in developing, testing and deploying a host of missile defense capabilities for MDA's current and planned system. These include prime contractor roles for the Defense Support Program satellite, which is the first component in the Ballistic Missile Defense system to detect a hostile launch; the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) - the next-generation, space-based missile tracking system; and the lead for one of two teams currently designing a concept for the Kinetic Energy Interceptors Program, which is intended to destroy enemy missiles in the boost/ascent phase of flight.
Northrop Grumman is also the MDA's prime contractor developing the Liquid Booster target program and is leading a team that is pursuing MDA's prime integration contract to consolidate targets and countermeasures. Finally, Northrop Grumman serves in the prime role for the Joint Tactical Ground Station and since 1995, has managed the Joint National Integration Center, the nation's premier wargaming center and home to the battle management capability for the emerging Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system.
Among other support, Northrop Grumman's key role in the GMD program includes developing and fielding the GMD Fire Control/Communications System (formerly known as BMC3) and the Command Launch Equipment Command and Control system. For each GMD test, Northrop Grumman provides systems engineering and technical assistance through the Rocket Systems Launch Program to support the assembly and launch of target vehicles from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
As a leader in chemical lasers, Northrop Grumman is developing the high-power chemical laser component of the Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser program and is the U.S. Army's prime contractor for the Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser.
Other key contributions include participating on the national team, providing payloads and mission processing for SBIRS-High and STSS, support services and active/passive sensor technology expertise directly to MDA.
Completing the spectrum of capabilities, Northrop Grumman is playing a leading role developing and upgrading the Aegis weapon system, the major sea-based element of missile defense, and is the prime contractor for the next-generation, sea-based platform, the DD(X).
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $25 billion global defense company, headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With approximately 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 37 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.
