ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 31, 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was honored Friday by the USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro), and named to USO-Metro's 2011 Circle of Stars. This is the inaugural year for this award, bestowed on the top-level corporate donors who provide generous funding to support USO-Metro's mission to lift the spirits of military service members and their families.

Northrop Grumman was recognized at the 8th Annual Stars & Stripes Casino Night, an annual fundraiser that brings together USO-Metro supporters, members of the business community, wounded heroes from the area military hospitals and local celebrities. As with every USO-Metro event, the focus of the evening was on support for the service members and their families, and the broad spectrum of programs USO-Metro provides for the U.S. Armed Forces.

"We are so honored and humbled to have Northrop Grumman as an active and generous supporter of USO-Metro," said Elaine Rogers, president of the USO of Metropolitan Washington. "This past year, USO-Metro touched the lives of more than 500,000 service members and their families. We couldn't provide the broad range of programs we deliver without the generous and incredible support of Northrop Grumman and our other corporate donors."

"Supporting those who have given so much to defend our nation is deeply important to Northrop Grumman and to our employees," said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president of corporate responsibility and president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. "Our corporate engagement with the USO is reinforced with employee volunteer efforts, charitable contributions, and strategic partnerships, such our sponsorship of the Military Bowl benefitting the USO, this December."

Northrop Grumman is committed to building partnerships for stronger communities. Each year the company sustains a variety of programs and services supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, military and veterans, the environment, and health and human services. In addition, company employees generously support a variety of nonprofits through volunteerism and in-kind giving.

The USO of Metropolitan Washington is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress and dedicated to "Serving those who serve, and their families" in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. It is through the generous financial support of individuals and organizations in the local community that USO-Metro is able to fulfill its mission. With the help of nearly 5,000 devoted volunteers, USO-Metro provides programs and services for active duty service members and their families at area military hospitals; through its Mobile USO program; at five USO Centers; four USO airport lounges and through Operation USO Care Package. For more information please visit www.usometro.org .

Since 2010, Northrop Grumman has been the corporate sponsor for the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman for the benefit of the USO. This year's game is expected to feature the U.S. Naval Academy (if bowl eligible) against an Atlantic Coast Conference team and will be held on Dec. 28, 2011, at 4:30 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The Military Bowl seeks to generate broad support for the USO, positively impact the regional economy, and honor the U.S. military and their families. For more information visit: http://www.northropgrumman.com/military-bowl .

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information. 

  CONTACT: Margaret Mitchell-Jones
         Office: (703)280-2739
         Cell: (202) 550-8746
         m.mitchell-jones@ngc.com
         
         Sandy Levine
         USO-Metro
         Office: (301) 924-0330
         slevine@adviceunlimited.net