Our Founders

Jack Northrop in front of Flying Wing aircraft

Visionaries who laid the foundation

Northrop Grumman’s rich heritage includes almost two-dozen legacy companies that pioneered dramatic advances in technology and changed the world. These include transporting Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic, landing astronauts on the moon, creating advanced electronic systems and information networks and building stealthy flying wings. The leaders shown below were some of the many visionaries who laid the foundation for what is today’s Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Jack Northrop

Jack Northrop

Founder, Northrop Aircraft Incorporated

Thomas V. Jones

Thomas V. Jones

Northrop CEO, 1960-1990

Kent Kresa

Kent Kresa

Northrop/Northrop Grumman CEO, 1990-2003

Leroy Grumman

Leroy Grumman

Co-Founder, Grumman Aeronautical Engineering Company

Walter Evans

Walter Evans

Vice President, Westinghouse Electronics

Claude F. King

Claude F. King

Co-Founder, Logicon

T. Claude Ryan

T. Claude Ryan

Founder, Ryan Aeronautical

Charles "Tex" Thornton

Charles "Tex" Thornton

Founder, Litton Industries

Simon Ramo

Simon Ramo

Co-Founder, TRW

Dean Wooldridge

Dean Wooldridge

Co-Founder, TRW

Burt Rutan

Burt Rutan

Founder, Scaled Composites

David W. Thompson

David W. Thompson

CEO and Co-Founder, Orbital ATK

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Collier Award Trophy

Northrop Grumman and the Robert J. Collier Trophy

Throughout our history, Northrop Grumman, our heritage companies and our industry partners have been honored to receive the Collier Trophy on several occasions. Northrop Grumman congratulates our employees and team members for the success of these programs and their role in the security of our nation and its allies.

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