Northrop Grumman Named a 2018 Top 50 Company for Diversity by DiversityInc

Top ranked aerospace and defense company for the ninth year in a row

Rated first in support to veterans; number two for support for people with disabilities; and number two for diversity councils

Northrop Grumman was the top ranked aerospace and defense company and rated number 1 for support to veterans

FALLS CHURCH, Va., May 21, 2018 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been ranked 23rd on DiversityInc’s annual list for the Top 50 Companies for Diversity. The company moved up from 29th in 2017 and was once again the top rated aerospace and defense company. In the DiversityInc specialty lists rankings Northrop Grumman was rated No. 1 for veterans (for the second year in a row), No. 2 for support to people with disabilities (for the second year in a row) and No. 2 for diversity councils. For the last nine years Northrop Grumman has earned a Top 50 ranking for diversity from DiversityInc.

"We consistently strive to foster an open and trusting environment that values diversity, is truly inclusive and creates strong engagement for all members of the Northrop Grumman team,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, Northrop Grumman vice president of global corporate responsibility, and president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.  “We have a broad and global mindset which focuses on multiple dimensions of diversity to include gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status and other characteristics.”

For its veterans support, Northrop Grumman was recognized by DiversityInc for demonstrating diversity-management initiatives that are having the best results in recruiting and promoting veterans who make up a high percentage of the workforce; hiring practices including accommodations for spouses of veterans; percentage of philanthropic endeavors aimed at veterans; and percentage of procurement spent with veterans with disabilities.

In 2017, approximately 25 percent of the company’s new hires were veterans.

Northrop Grumman has a number of initiatives to support veterans including a Veteran Inclusion Committee whose mission is to support veteran engagement, inclusion and retention; Operation IMPACT (Injured Military Pursuing Assisted Career Transition), a unique, award-winning, diversity program within Northrop Grumman focused on assisting severely wounded service members as they transition from the military to a private-sector career; and  the VERITAS all-inclusive employee resource group which is committed to recognizing and supporting active duty and reservists, National Guard members and veterans through community outreach and networking programs aligned with company business objectives.

Northrop Grumman has also recently received other significant recognition for its diversity, inclusion and engagement initiatives, including:

• Northrop Grumman was recognized for its support to veterans as one of the top 100 companies in the 2018 Military Times Best for Vets Employers survey.

• Last year Northrop Grumman received the highest ranking for the third year in a row on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), an annual benchmarking tool for companies to self-report their disability policies and practices. The DEI is a US Business Leadership Network and American Association of People with Disabilities effort that measures where companies are “excelling in their commitment to inclusive environmental, social and governance policies,” according to the groups.

• Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman received a Catalyst Award for its “Build the Best Culture, Leverage the Power of Women” campaign which helped to accelerate the progress of women in the workplace. Among other areas, the company was recognized for increasing the number of women on the executive team from 2010 to 2016 from 8.3 percent to 46 percent; and at the vice president level representation of women in that time period went up from 15.5 percent to 29 percent.

The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation's top companies for diversity and inclusion management. These companies excel in areas such as hiring and retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT individuals and veterans. DiversityInc's annual survey yields an empirically driven ranking based on recruitment, talent development, senior leadership commitment and supplier diversity.

Airbus is Strategic Partner at KADEX-2018

Unit 19 of the total of 53 attendants delivered by Airbus to the Luftwaffe. ©Airbus

Astana, 21 May 2018 – Airbus will attend KADEX-2018 (Hall1), Kazakhstan’s V International Exhibition Weapons Systems and Military Equipment, as a “Strategic Partner” this year. The exhibition will take place in Astana, from 23th May to 26th May 2018, and, for the first time, it will encompass the International Forum "Space Days in Kazakhstan", which will become one of the central dialogue platforms of the exhibition.

Airbus Defence and Space division, the Europe’s largest defence enterprise and the world's number one telecommunications satellites manufacturer and observation satellites exporter, will have a robust line-up of Airbus and customer products on static display at the show. They include its defence products, such as A400M and C295 versatile airlifters, with the latter currently in active service in the Kazakh Air Force. The A400M will demonsrate its complementarity to the C295 fleet, allowing Kazakh Air Force to greatly expand its strategic and heavy tactical capabilities.

Kazakhstan is a growth market for Telecommunications and Earth observation (EO) satellites for Airbus Space Systems unit.Two EO satellites, KazEOSat-1 and KazEOSat-2, provided by Airbus, were successfully launched in 2014 and are operated by the Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS).

Airbus Defence and Space has continuously been a reliable partner to the Kazakh space companies in the last decade. “Ghalam”, a joint venture between Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS) and Airbus Defence and Space, is one of the success stories underlining Airbus’ commitment to skills development, research and technology focused projects and initatives in the country, thus contributing to the growth of the Kazakh industry. Launched in 2010 in Astana, “Ghalam” is piloting world-class facilities for satellite design, integration and tests.

Airbus Helicopter has been a strategic partner of Kazakhshtan Engineering (ECKE) since 2010, with 26 locally assembled EC145 operated by the Ministry of Defense and the Committee for Emergency situations. ECKE has also developed maintenance and training capabilities, and operates a state-of-the-art flight simulator.

A 1:5 scale mock-up of the H145M from Airbus Helicopters will be on display. The H145M is a medium-sized military multirole helicopter capable of performing a wide spectrum of missions. This high-performance, versatile, rugged and reliable helicopter can be equipped with a large range of equipment and provides outstanding mission flexibility to military operators. Customers for the H145M include Germany, the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Thailand, and the US Army which operate its UH-72A Lakota version.

With the two JVs based in Astana, and all its divisions involved in the country, Airbus has been a long-term strategic partner to the Kazakh aerospace industry for nearly 10 years. Airbus and its suppliers are involved in multiple cooperation projects with Kazakhstan offering world-class technologies and products, including satellites, helicopters and advanced civilian and military aircraft. In close collaboration with local actors to support the development of advanced industry concepts, Airbus is successfully contributing to Kazakhstan’s technological independence and growth.