Life at Northrop Grumman Stories

We bring our curiosity and drive to do what’s never been done.

Life at Northrop Grumman Stories

Explore All Stories

Read more about our team, their professional accomplishments, personal passions and victories.
Intern to Innovator

Intern to Innovator

When Daniel started as an intern, he didn’t expect to work on one of the most complex challenges facing his team. 

Powering the Future through Mentorship

Powering the Future through Mentorship

When it comes to building the future of national defense, no one does it alone.

From Mops to Micro

From Mops to Micro

“This is where I want to be,” Paul says as he joins his engineering colleagues, down the hall from the janitor’s closet which once held the keys to his success.

Hooked on Aerospace

Hooked on Aerospace

Adam Shepherd was inspired at just five years old to pursue his passion that led to forging innovative technologies.
Sustaining and Advancing Military Satellite Communications

Sustaining and Advancing Military Satellite Communications

Early career engineers sustain COOLR program while bringing in fresh perspectives.

Ten Things: Digital Pathfinder's Efficiencies

Ten Things: Digital Pathfinder's Efficiencies

Ten ways Digital Pathfinder is transforming aerospace innovation.
Riding Low, Aiming High

Riding Low, Aiming High

Xavier De La O, a master technician, brings precision to both satellite manufacturing and lowrider customization.   

The Power of Perseverance

The Power of Perseverance

Elena Balasa recalls doing homework by the flicker of a wax candle, the only light in her family's tiny Romanian apartment.

Jamming in the Desert

Jamming in the Desert

Northrop Grumman engineers took navigation tech to the extreme at the White Sands Missile Range. 

Welding to the Moon and Back

Welding to the Moon and Back

Kody Chaney, lead welder on the HALO program, brings precision and passion to systems destined for lunar orbit.

Forever Families

Forever Families

Northrop Grumman employees are creating forever families and finding support in their workplace. 

Cracking the Code

Cracking the Code

Makya hacked her way to history, winning the Defense Department's Cyber Shield hacking competition.

 A Mission with Meaning

A Mission with Meaning

A U.S. Army veteran turned Northrop Grumman leader, Gabe works to deliver life-saving technologies to protect those in the field.

Go, Win, Fight!

Go, Win, Fight!

Kev Hays, a program manager, Navy veteran and cheerleading coach, brings his passion for empowering teams from the mat to the workplace.

By the Numbers

By the Numbers

Northrop Grumman’s hydrotesting team ensures the durability of solid rocket motors which power missions to the moon and beyond.

Engineering Happiness

Engineering Happiness

Morgan Freeman was a junior in high school when she was part of Northrop Grumman’s High School Improvement Program.

From Cradle to Orbit

From Cradle to Orbit

Ryan Keller and Ryan Bloodgood were babies when they began their Northrop Grumman journey. Today, both are engineers at Space Park.

The Tale of AI, Alligators, and a Shark

The Tale of AI, Alligators, and a Shark

Jessica Ascough is creating a full-scale team of land, air and sea autonomous vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence.

Inflate Before Flight

Inflate Before Flight

Imagine the thrill of soaring above the Earth in a hot air balloon seeing the world unfold below.

From Classroom to Radiation Lab

From Classroom to Radiation Lab

Radiation Test Engineer Taylor Fry is the only former astronomy adjunct professor in Northrop Grumman’s Radiation Test Operations Lab.

Switchboards in the Sky

Switchboards in the Sky

Director Diane Legler ends her welcome speech to interns and college hires on her military satellite communications team with a bit of humor.

Prickly Progress

Prickly Progress

The prickly cactus plant sparked an idea to fine-tune high-tech avionics for one of the most advanced aircraft in the sky.

Polar Partners

Polar Partners

Hear from the team making this mission possible. The mission is a team effort, bringing together employees from across the company.

Changing the Battlefield

Changing the Battlefield

Northrop Grumman was in search of someone with Michael’s military background to support its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS).  

Never Lose Hope

Never Lose Hope

Finding a career can be challenging, but ultimately the path leads to the right thing.

In the Right Orbit

In the Right Orbit

Three early-career engineers are carrying the torch of a decades-long program.

Building Rocket Brains

Building Rocket Brains

For over two decades, Chet has supported the development of Northrop Grumman’s GQM 163-A “Coyote” supersonic sea skimming target vehicles.

In His DNA

In His DNA

While on active duty in 2006, Cmdr. Chris Richard flew the last F-14 Tomcat back to Northrop Grumman.

Carving Out Space on the Mountain

Carving Out Space on the Mountain

Systems Engineer Cathy Berrouët did as the locals do when she moved to Colorado: she took up skiing.  

Got Bots

Got Bots

Matt builds full-size robots. He uses them to inspire kids about STEM, an often, they inspire him right back.

Threads for a Cause

Threads for a Cause

“Fashion icon” was not in Rolling Meadows Facilities Team's job description.

Material Transformation

Material Transformation

Northrop Grumman Pathways Engineer Ethan Hoben describes himself as a habitual project collector.

A Bright Thread

A Bright Thread

Victoria shares of her story of living on the Autism Spectrum and finding a place to thrive at Northrop Grumman.

Hometown Influencers, Hollywood Storyline

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.

Palmdale Problem Solvers

Palmdale Problem Solvers

The F-35 Integrated Assembly Line in Palmdale, California, must run efficiently, with safety and quality top-of-mind.

Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound

Evelyn Sobierajska’s career journey ultimately led her home.

Safety Through the Storm

Safety Through the Storm

Northrop Grumman Safety Systems Fellow Daniel Plawecki not only knows the right answer — he created it.

Reality Shift

Reality Shift

Systems Engineer Rebecca Peterson wants to bring a new reality to employees across Northrop Grumman.

Countering Cyber Threats

Countering Cyber Threats

Elysia is a cyber intelligence analyst and night shift supervisor.

Finding Stability

Finding Stability

As a kid, I dreamed of becoming an FBI agent.

Well Played

Well Played

Kayla's love of gaming started in childhood, and it continues today.

Testing the Limits

Testing the Limits

To the untrained eye, the hypersonics test bay in Ronkonkoma, New York, looks like a maze.

Joining the Fight

Joining the Fight

Scott founded a nonprofit to support those undergoing chemotherapy, like his sister.

Innovation on All Fronts

Innovation on All Fronts

Ken Friend served his country in the U.S. Army for 24 years.

The Case of the Missing Key

The Case of the Missing Key

When CJ inherited his grandfather’s footlocker, he got a dose of mystery.

A Riveting History

A Riveting History

Grumman War Production hired its first female employee in 1942. 

Blackboard to Blueprint

Blackboard to Blueprint

Traci said Northrop Grumman's inclusive culture empowered her to share her authentic self.

50 Years at the Rocket Ranch

50 Years at the Rocket Ranch

Boyd Udy manages Northrop Grumman's Promontory Ranch in Utah.

A Day to Remember

A Day to Remember

Pat Cary makes it her mission to give veterans a one-of-a-kind experience.

Data in Bloom

Data in Bloom

Mark Taylor builds interactive dashboards that blend art and information.

Through the Looking Glass

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).

Zooming In

Zooming In

Engineer Kate Nabours and her colleagues uncover mission-critical details that are imperceptible to most people.

Finding Rainbows in the Fire

Finding Rainbows in the Fire

As a welder, Thomas has a hard job, literally: he welds iridium, the second-densest material on Earth.

Keeping the Spirit Alive

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.

Walking the Kokoda Trail

Walking the Kokoda Trail

Walking 59.6 miles in the jungle of Papua New Guinea was the challenge of a lifetime for Ben Luke.

Parallel Pathways

Parallel Pathways

There’s no doubt about the direction Alisa Joseph and Eboni Fotang prefer to take: it’s always forward, together.

Making a Splash

Making a Splash

Visit any marina and you may spot an ornately carved wooden serpent gliding across the water.

Stepping Up for Military Families

Stepping Up for Military Families

When Jennifer Sugarman isn't supporting communication efforts, she devotes time to her “cool volunteer side gig.”

In the Footsteps of WWII

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.

Reaching New Heights

Reaching New Heights

Kia Ravanfar has climbed to the summit of Mount Everest and skied back down parts of it. 

The Maestro

The Maestro

Not everyone working in defense describes their role like that of an orchestra director.

Curating a Lasting Legacy

Curating a Lasting Legacy

Northrop Grumman has a rich history of defining possible.

Survival, Strength and Service

Survival, Strength and Service

Since a young age, I wanted to protect the world.

Putting it All Together

Putting it All Together

Five years ago, Melvin Aguirre was at a crossroads.