RESTON, Va., May 12, 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will be the "Presenting Sponsor" of the Air Force Association's (AFA) CyberPatriot III, the national high school cyber defense competition designed to excite, educate, and motivate the next generation of cyber defenders.

The sponsorship was announced today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.  A video introducing this year's competition is available at www.northropgrumman.com/cybersecurity .

"Northrop Grumman is proud to contribute its time and resources to ensure the success of CyberPatriot III," said Diane Miller, Northrop Grumman program director, CyberPatriot. "As a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, it is our responsibility to help build the pipeline of qualified candidates who will eventually take on the job of securing our nation's cyber future. It's a priority."

"We are so pleased to partner with Northrop Grumman for this premier high school cybersecurity competition," said Joseph Sutter, chairman of the board, AFA. "The company's participation in this program proves their dedication and support to educating the next generation of cybersecurity professionals."

As the presenting sponsor, Northrop Grumman will invest time and resources over the 2010-2011 school year to assist in coaching teams and mentoring students. The company's involvement in CyberPatriot will contribute to building a talent base in the cybersecurity field that will ultimately ensure the country's future cyber protection.

"Northrop Grumman has an extensive network and reach-back into the communities where the company's offices are located," added Sutter. "We are thrilled to have its support in such roles as coaching and mentoring the teams to help bring real-world experiences to the high school population."

The AFA has held two previous CyberPatriot competitions with Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) students from 41 states and Japan. CyberPatriot III will be the first competition open to all-service JROTC students as well as students from non-military-affiliated high schools.

"Each year, our youth are increasingly exposed to new and innovative technology, as well as new and emerging cyber threats," said Miller. "Northrop Grumman recognizes the need to reach this generation now and through CyberPatriot, to educate students about these threats and teach them how to protect themselves and others."

CyberPatriot is just one of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives in which Northrop Grumman, through its foundation, is a major partner. The company's largest STEM investment, the Northrop Grumman Foundation Weightless Flights of Discovery program, has engaged more than 1,100 teachers and reached more than 450,000 students over the past four years.

In December 2009, Northrop Grumman formed the Cybersecurity Research Consortium with three leading universities: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, Pa.; The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass; and Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. The consortium was created to accelerate the pace of taking novel ideas to real world application and thus address our nation's most pressing cyber threats.

This past spring, the company also supported the Mid-Atlantic and National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competitions where college teams focus on the operational aspects of managing and protecting an existing network infrastructure.

Northrop Grumman is an industry leader in all aspects of computer network operations and cybersecurity, offering customers innovative solutions to help secure the nation's cyber future.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. 

  CONTACT:  Megan Mitchell
          Northrop Grumman Information Systems
          (703) 345-8548
          megan.mitchell@ngc.com