Northrop Grumman Pathways Engineer Ethan Hoben describes himself as a habitual project collector.
Life at Northrop Grumman Stories
We bring our curiosity and drive to do what’s never been done.
Explore All Stories
![Man in blue work jacket sits in yellow testing environment.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/material-transformation-ethan-hoban-banner.jpg?mh=300&rev=763adfd36e7f479c9a975f8c3623b438)
![Woman in green shirt with crossed arms smiles for a headshot.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/a-bright-thread-editorial-victoria-o-rear.jpg?mh=300&rev=2e9e39d1619c4f00a615c3ae895cfbd1)
A Bright Thread
Victoria shares of her story of living on the Autism Spectrum and finding a place to thrive at Northrop Grumman.
![Head Photo of woman smiling](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/hometown-influencers-LaDawn-Randall.jpg?mh=300&rev=8315c9882c554cc2bba6170b22f76f7e)
Hometown Influencers, Hollywood Storyline
For Systems Engineering Manager LaDawn Randall, it was the women from her hometown of Hampton Roads, Virginia, who opened her eyes to what her future could be.
![Five employees stand in an industrial space, some sitting or standing on ladders.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/palmdale-solution-seekers-banner.jpg?mh=300&rev=402a0624d8334b119297c868c9f9fc53)
Palmdale Problem Solvers
The F-35 Integrated Assembly Line in Palmdale, California, must run efficiently, with safety and quality top-of-mind.
![A woman in a blue tracksuit and sunglasses sits in front of the Grand Canyon.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/homeward-bound-evelyn-sobierajska-banner.jpg?mh=300&rev=fd1e390265294a37a31e8e81b0759d66)
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Safety Through the Storm
Northrop Grumman Safety Systems Fellow Daniel Plawecki not only knows the right answer — he created it.
![Woman looks up from virtual reality goggles.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Reality-Shift-Rebecca-Peterson-Banner-thumbnail.jpg?mh=300&rev=98bbd0c3070f47e69e712eb65007700c)
Reality Shift
Systems Engineer Rebecca Peterson wants to bring a new reality to employees across Northrop Grumman.
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Countering Cyber Threats
Elysia is a cyber intelligence analyst and night shift supervisor.
![Man in blue suit leaning against a wall smiling.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Seth-Nuckols-Finding-Stability-Editorial-2.jpg?mh=300&rev=5db63b1375f549e9a32cd446f01abb29)
![Woman in graduation cap holding game controller smiling.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/well-played-kayla-clay-banner.jpg?mh=300&rev=e518eea421d549cb943c79b78b3bfbe8)
![Man wearing navy jumpsuit stands in front of missile with arms crossed.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Testing-the-limits-banner.jpg?mh=300&rev=4423cdd0e4b94149b9f87af734a7dd23)
Testing the Limits
To the untrained eye, the hypersonics test bay in Ronkonkoma, New York, looks like a maze.
![Man in navy shirt holds a folder that reads "A.C.T. Project" Activities for Chemo Treatment."](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/joining-the-fight-editorial.jpg?mh=300&rev=8a28405a546e4a0895db588750990566)
Joining the Fight
Scott founded a nonprofit to support those undergoing chemotherapy, like his sister.
![Man standing near bridge outdoors smiling.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Innovation-on-all-fronts-hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=df92561dea544704801e1fca84b0f629)
Innovation on All Fronts
![Man sits on World War II footlocker with memorabilia.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Case-of-the-Missing-Key_CJ_Nesbit_Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=df8ab3fc1744423ab73e1671fc24f918)
The Case of the Missing Key
When CJ inherited his grandfather’s footlocker, he got a dose of mystery.
![Black and White photo of woman working on world war 2 airplane.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Northrop-7263-083--Woman-worker-in-nacelle-slideshow.jpg?mh=300&rev=2ef01d1f96f747f29b1a698ca9c4ce73)
![Woman in production facility facing camera and smiling.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/blackboard-to-blueprint-hero-2.jpg?mh=300&rev=4909a12c94344119930d35441a5ffc29)
Blackboard to Blueprint
Traci said Northrop Grumman's inclusive culture empowered her to share her authentic self.
![Boyd_Northrop_Grumman_Ranch_Promontory_Utah Older Caucasian man in cowboy attire poses in front of horse saddles hanging on wall](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/Boyd.png?mh=300&rev=1191d97bb1b442d9996333c5d2441d0d)
![An older man wearing a blue Vietnam veteran hat and jacket poses with a red-headed woman in a red Honor Flight Network shirt in front of a green and black memorial statue of three Vietnam soldiers.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Day-to-remember-Editorial.jpg?mh=300&rev=9a43f928c7354cbeb55bc5bfa8e09ce6)
A Day to Remember
Pat Cary makes it her mission to give veterans a one-of-a-kind experience.
![Man lying on floor with different colored roses around his head and face.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Data-in-Bloom-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=bebd906f20334904afdae6192988df23)
Data in Bloom
Mark Taylor builds interactive dashboards that blend art and information.
![Rosibel Diaz wears a white coat, gloves and hairnet and stands at a table in a blue-lit lab, examining a mirrored panel in her hands.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Through-the-looking-glass-FPA-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=bb170c3f023948398b7121d9a604cee6)
Through the Looking Glass
Rosibel Diaz grew up loving puzzles, but never imagined that would lead to bonding mirrors on the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb).
![Female engineer in white labcoat sits at desk and works in lab.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Zooming-In-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=ed8bb7f72eb945d381a616268b1ad482)
Zooming In
Engineer Kate Nabours and her colleagues uncover mission-critical details that are imperceptible to most people.
![Thomas wears an orange safety uniform and a colorfully graffitied face shield while welding at an industrial workstation](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Crystal-Rainbow--Thomas-Gibson-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=d6162d78a688466f905d3683764cdbb2)
Finding Rainbows in the Fire
As a welder, Thomas has a hard job, literally: he welds iridium, the second-densest material on Earth.
![Diego sits at a table with model planes, a Northrop History book and an American flag.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Diego-Silva-Editorial.jpg?mh=300&rev=783cc5ada32e42d0af152f4a6ad6966c)
Keeping the Spirit Alive
For Diego Silva Molina, the path to Northrop Grumman was paved by a passion for aerospace and a connection to Jack Northrop.
![Man in black t-shirt using hiking sticks to climb a steep trail in a tropical jungle.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/kokoda-editorial.jpg?mh=300&rev=826ffdc709f84741a613d89a09366c14)
Walking the Kokoda Trail
Walking 59.6 miles in the jungle of Papua New Guinea was the challenge of a lifetime for Ben Luke.
![Two women in business professional dress and red heels stand, with arms crossed, in front of a Northrop Grumman facility.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/parallel-pathways-hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=bea34291e24b456ea5c2bad2356cb7a5)
Parallel Pathways
There’s no doubt about the direction Alisa Joseph and Eboni Fotang prefer to take: it’s always forward, together.
![A dragon boat with 20 rowers is shown in silhouette as it moves along a river.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Making-a-splash-hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=2d3a92270e2f4016809ed5c4b48e7345)
Making a Splash
Visit any marina and you may spot an ornately carved wooden serpent gliding across the water.
![A blonde woman in a navy suit stands in front of a white plane in a hangar.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/stepping-up-hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=a411405ceab1487c8a7ce0a54af65780)
Stepping Up for Military Families
When Jennifer Sugarman isn't supporting communication efforts, she devotes time to her “cool volunteer side gig.”
![Man in baseball cap kneels, placing an American flag at a gravesite with a white cross headstone](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/In-the-footsteps-of-ww2-hero-alan-tran.jpg?mh=300&rev=5680dee02572435fbd491a2feeb16c90)
In the Footsteps of WWII
Alan Tran’s father handed him a video camera when he was 9 years old, sparking his interest in film and photography.
![Kia Ravanfar smiles with mountains in the background.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Reaching-New-Heights-Editorial-kia-ravanfar.jpg?mh=300&rev=1d78756279874887b8cbcba12c871304)
Reaching New Heights
Kia Ravanfar has climbed to the summit of Mount Everest and skied back down parts of it.
![Stephen Guine smiles while looking directly at viewer.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Maestro-Stephen-Guine-Hero-.jpg?mh=300&rev=351b533498b349c08f0334560286eb13)
The Maestro
Not everyone working in defense describes their role like that of an orchestra director.
![Archivist looking at media.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Curating-a-Legacy-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=76128391e1ae4169b296e472dab76a4d)
![Man looking up on black background.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/survival-strength-service-header/survival-strength-service-header.jpg?mh=300&rev=7c8b2a37016f4c189cfe569d266f7ee5)
![Melvin Aguirre working on equipment in the manufacturing internship program.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Melvin-Aguirre-Internship-Program-Editorial-2.jpg?mh=300&rev=575e00e718dd4e57bc9baf7f258c2fbd)
Putting it All Together
A Look at the Impact of Northrop Grumman’s Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program
![A-Clean-Start-Hero female in factory smiling.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/A-Clean-Start-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=781e0aba3f4e41178e7a7548045b1977)
A Clean Start
Anahi Solis started her journey at Northrop Grumman right out of high school in 2011.
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The Harmony of Engineering
Kevin has always found time for the two greatest loves of his life: music and engineering.
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Connecting to Community
I arrived at Northrop Grumman’s Huntsville, Alabama, site as a Southern California transplant.
![Serving the Mission-Hero u.s. navy sailor posed in front of lake.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Serving-the-Mission-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=628b2e6a36054234bb726e37171216e8)
Serving the Mission
At Northrop Grumman, we don't just respect the members of our nation's military community; we rely on them.
![Connection-at-the-Racetrack-Hero two race cars on track at night](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Connection-at-the-Racetrack-Hero.jpg?mh=300&rev=c5c9f9bde91e4892a7e4c809f1ba5d02)
Connection at the Racetrack
Connections between careers and cars brought them together at the racetrack.
![Webbs-Backbone-Facebook technician working on telescope](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Webbs-Backbone-Facebook.jpg?mh=300&rev=6270e0b7084b4bb3874b1481f0ca416f)
Webb's Backbone
Program Manager Bob Hellekson has been with Webb’s composite structures program since the beginning.
300 Miles and Counting
Nervous energy charged the air as runners from all walks of life milled about waiting for the start of The Speed Project 2023.
![Designing-for-a-Difference woman smiling](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/Designing-for-a-Difference.jpg?mh=300&rev=f97a3caaae6b4d208a08a7220306dbff)
Designing for a Difference
Mei-Li Hey considers her work at Northrop Grumman just one part of her identity.
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Into the Unknown
Two months after the invasion of Ukraine — Leyla and her husband, arrived in Pzemysl, Poland.
![10 Tricks Up His Sleeve male with a deck of cards](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/10-Tricks-Up-His-Sleeve.jpg?mh=300&rev=82b200bc21454f99a44a6f8366dc9902)
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Finding La Familia
"Connecting with my heritage also helped me discover my passion for STEM outreach."
![Swimming with the Sharks – Life at NGC three men standing with one woman sitting](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/swimming-with-sharks-main-001.jpg?mh=300&rev=abfa70e44cbf47dc9b10c0ff17d464df)
Swimming with the Sharks
Vernon and Adrienne are responsible for testing an electronic countermeasures system on B-1B bomber planes.
![My Monday Morning: Nothing is Routine in Aviation Maintenance man standing in front of plane in hangar](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/life-at-ngc/My-Monday-Morning-Nothing-is-Routine-in-Aviation-Maintenance-man-and-plane.jpg?mh=300&rev=91dfd0f3fa8a46898a338a0c618d7874)
Nothing is Routine in Aviation Maintenance
![Two people smiling in a selfie.](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/a-change-of-scenery-mallory.jpg?mh=300&rev=4d12b25905304268947c6ad21e3b7240)
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Launch Traditions, Superstitions and Lore
Launch team members share traditions, superstitions and lore that powered them through liftoff, re-entry and everything in-between.