FALLS CHURCH, Va. and MORRISTOWN, N.J. – March 24, 2023 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc. (CME) today announced that Kathy Warden, chair, chief executive officer and president, Northrop Grumman, will be the recipient of the CME STEM Leadership Award for Pioneering Innovation. Mrs. Warden will be honored at a reception and gala luncheon on December 8, 2023, at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. With global sales of more than $36.6 billion in 2022, and roots that date back to 1939, Northrop Grumman’s 95,000 employees pioneer to solve the world’s most complex problems.
“Under Kathy Warden’s visionary leadership in innovation, Northrop Grumman has delivered the most powerful rocket boosters ever created, helping propel the Artemis missions and next giant leap in space travel, as well as the development and production of the James Webb Space Telescope to unveil the deepest secrets of the universe. They underpin Northrop Grumman’s drive to break new boundaries to protect and advance humanity,” said Steve Barnett, CME Co-Chair.
“Kathy has an outstanding record of achievements in financial returns and fostering leadership in diversity. Her focus on talent has enabled diverse STEM professionals, especially women, people living with disabilities and other underrepresented groups to follow exciting career paths,” noted Ksenia Takhistova, CME Co-Chair.
“Accelerating STEM talent is important to our company and our country. I’m honored to receive this recognition and proud to be associated with CME’s unique STEM programs,” said Kathy Warden. “Innovation is fueled by diversity of thought and experience. Northrop Grumman’s investments from grade school programs to job skill training help ensure we are building a strong, diverse pipeline of future STEM leaders. This award reflects our entire team’s commitment to inspiring and empowering pioneers of the future.”
About Kathy Warden
Kathy Warden is chair, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation, a role she’s held since 2019. She was elected to the company’s Board of Directors in 2018. Prior to becoming CEO and president, Warden served as president and chief operating officer, responsible for the operational management of the company’s four sectors as well as its enterprise services organization. She also led the integration of Northrop Grumman’s Orbital ATK acquisition.
Previously, she served as corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems and Information Systems sectors. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in 2008, Warden held leadership roles at General Dynamics and the Veridian Corporation, she was a principal in a venture internet firm, and she spent nearly a decade with the General Electric Company working in commercial industries.
Warden earned a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Merck & Co., Inc. and Catalyst, and as the vice chair of the Greater Washington Partnership. She is also a member of the Business Roundtable, and the 2022 recipient of the Deming Cup for Operational Excellence.
About CME STEM Leadership Awards™
Established in 2012, the CME STEM Leadership Awards are the highest honors given to outstanding leaders in various sectors of society for harnessing the transformative power of chemistry to advance humanity. This award-winning event is dedicated to the advancement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. Past honorees include Ken Frazer (Merck), Seifi Ghasemi (Air Products), Jim Fitterling (Dow), Daniel D’Aniello (Carlyle), Martin Brudermüller (BASF), Ed Breen (DowDuPont), Henry Kravis (KKR), James and Marilyn Simons (Simons Foundation), David Skorton (Smithsonian), James Green (NASA), David Cote (Honeywell), Craig Venter (HLI, Celera Genomics), and Roy Vagelos (Merck).
Leaders in industry, finance, philanthropy and academia will participate in CME’s STEM Leadership Awards reception and gala luncheon. Funds raised at the event will help advance exciting STEM programs including free student industry luncheons, Space Chemistry Roadmap, Chemistry Festivals, and the award-winning annual CME-NASA Symposiums aimed at advancing science and technology for humanity’s journey to Mars and beyond for the benefit of humanity. To make donations or sponsor tables, please write to contact@cme-stem.org
With roots that date back to 1954, Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc. (CME) is a forward-looking 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to accelerating diverse STEM talent and leadership for sustainable innovation in energy, materials and life sciences. CME brings together Nobel Laureates and the leaders of industry, government, academia, philanthropy, and the public to share cutting-edge insights through exciting events and award-winning programs, such as the CME STEM Leadership Awards™, the CME NASA Symposiums and Sustainability Conferences as well as the original CME Student & Mentor Awards™ and STEM Festivals. For more information, visit www.cme-stem.org or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and FaceBook.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.