WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Jan. 29, 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Navigation Systems Division facilities in Woodland Hills, Calif., and Salt Lake City, Utah, have earned the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI(r)) Maturity Level 3 rating. The division's Salt Lake City campus was included in the CMMI(r) Level 3 for the first time, while the division's Woodland Hills campus successfully renewed its CMMI(r) Level 3 rating.

"Expanding our CMMI(r) rating to our Salt Lake City facility and re-certifying our Woodland Hills facility demonstrates our commitment to process deployment, process improvement and process excellence," said Jim Myers, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Navigation Systems Division. "Northrop Grumman is committed to providing the best value products and services for our customers."

The Center for Systems Management (CSM), an external consulting organization independent of Northrop Grumman, conducted the appraisal in accordance with the formal Standard CMMI(r) Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI(tm)) methodology model version 1.2.

"Achieving a Level 3 is a significant accomplishment especially across multiple sites. It demonstrates that the organizational standard processes are consistently trained and implemented across the division. It also provides a solid foundation for the division to progress to higher maturity levels and shows a continuous process improvement culture expected by the customer community," said Albert Truesdale, external lead appraiser for CSM at the conclusion of the SCAMPI(tm) appraisal.

The CMMI(r) standard was developed by a coalition of industry, government and the Software Engineering Institute, part of Carnegie Mellon University, to objectively assess the full range of an organization's software and systems engineering, product development, program management and organizational management capabilities. CMMI(r) maturity is rated on a scale from one through five, with five being the highest. A maturity Level 3 rating assures customers of consistent project performance and higher quality products.

Capability Maturity Model Integration and CMMI(r) are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon University.

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:  Don Barteld  
          Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
          (818) 712-6179
          don.barteld@ngc.com