Veteran Spotlight: Meet U.S. Air Force Veteran Shane

soldier in full military dress in front of American flag

Shane has been with Northrop Grumman since June 2020. Prior to joining the company, Shane had been serving in the military since 1998. He was very familiar with Northrop Grumman and found the B-2 to be one of the coolest aircraft he’s ever seen.

Shane spent a combined total of 20 years in the service. Serving from July 1998 to August 2002, he started his military service as an Aircraft Maintainer, working on C-5’s and KC-10’S, at Travis Air Force Base in California. After a short separation from service, he returned to the Air Force in 2004 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In late 2007, he returned back to aircraft maintenance. From there, he moved to Valdosta, where he worked on C-130’s, A-10’s, and HH-60’s. In 2011, Shane changed maintenance career fields and moved to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, where he began a new career working on the F-22 Raptor. He continued work at Langley Air Force Base until 2015 then moved to Pensacola, Florida to become a Technical School Instructor. From there, he retired from service in 2020.

Since 2018, employees who newly self-identify as a military Veteran receive a commemorative Northrop Grumman military challenge coin in recognition of their dedication to our company, our mission and, most importantly, our country. To date, over 22,000 coins have been distributed to our military Veteran employee population.

What was your experience when you received the Northrop Grumman military challenge coin and why is this token of gratitude important to you and our Veteran community?

When I received my military challenge coin, I was caught off guard. I did not expect it, and I was very happy to receive it. I did a post about it on LinkedIn and received rave reviews from fellow Veterans, transitioning service members, and many others in my community as well. Coins like these, in many cases, help bring up stories in the service, and they serve as a reminder of the hard work and dedication we gave.

What is the significance of the coin you received while serving in the military, and now here at Northrop Grumman?

Receiving a military challenge coin while serving in the military and receiving one while working at Northrop Grumman is very similar. It is a form of recognition and acknowledgement, and it is well received. I hope this tradition continues!

coin with eagle

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring Veterans, their families, and those with military experience. With approximately a quarter of our team self-identifying as Veterans or active reservists, we are driven to keep our nation and allies safe. Through our employee resource group VERITAS (Veterans, Employees and Reservists Inspired to Act and Serve), as well as initiatives such as GRIT, our Vet to Vet Forum, Department of Defense SkillBridge Internship program, and Operation IMPACT, we are adding even more talented veterans to our team. Learn more about Veteran life at Northrop Grumman.

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