U.S. Air Force Veteran Alex has been with Northrop Grumman for over 12 years. He started with the organization as a test control engineer and is currently a senior principal engineer. Along the way, he has held various positions from configuration analyst to project management manager. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, he was on active duty with the Air Force for over 22 years.
How long have you been with Northrop Grumman? How did you hear about us?
I first joined Northrop Grumman in 2009. I have been here for 12 years, and counting.
I first heard about the company from a friend who worked there. He and I met in the Air Force, and from there, he retired and joined Northrop Grumman. He had been with company for a year or so and told me many great things about the organization. He was the one who advised that I should strongly consider joining the company when it was my turn to retire from active duty.
What is your military background? How did you military background set you up for the role you are in now? What was your experience transitioning into Northrop Grumman as a veteran?
During my time in the Air Force, I worked as a flight line maintainer. I started out as an F-111 integrated avionics and flight control systems specialist and progressed through the ranks, eventually retiring as an F-117 production supervisor.
Some of my favorite memories during that time was being stationed in Royal Air Force (RAF) Upper Heyford, England. I had always wanted to visit Europe and the Air Force gave me that opportunity. I also deployed with the EF-111s from Mt. Home Air Force Base to Saudi Arabia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and had numerous deployments from Cannon Air Force Base. I also deployed in support of various operations, such as Provide Comfort I and II, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, and Vigilant Warrior, to name a few. Lastly, I was part of the retirement of the EF-111s from service at Cannon Air Force Base, as well as the initial cadre for testing the CV-22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. I was a member of the 410th flight test squadron that retired the F-117s from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale.
Being in the Air Force for over 22 years, progressing through the ranks and holding various positions throughout that time has taught me many things. I learned how to follow and then how to lead. My military experiences taught me that no task is impossible – there is a solution out there, it just requires a little more effort to find it. What I learned combined with the experiences I had, prepared me for the new challenges I faced as I transitioned from the military to the private sector.
My experience transitioning from the military to Northrop Grumman was smooth. I had good teammates and managers that helped me situate and settle into my new role. In fact, some of the teammates were prior military as well, so it made the transition even easier. I think the most challenging part of my transition was figuring out what to wear each day; wearing a uniform every day for the last 22 years was easy!
What do you hope to gain from your new role?
Continuing to learn and gain experience is paramount. The more you learn and experience, the more well-rounded you become as teammate, leader, and person.
What advice would you give to other veterans interested in a career in Northrop Grumman?
Do not think twice about it – come join the Northrop Grumman team! This is a great company to work for and they highly value the veterans that are part of the team.
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