WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Feb. 25, 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Navigation Systems Division opened its doors to local students in February for events designed to encourage student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems Division celebrated National Engineers Week (E-Week) with two events focused on outreach to local schools. On Feb. 15, students from the robotics teams at Chaminade College Preparatory School in West Hills and Canoga Park High School joined Northrop Grumman employees at the company's Woodland Hills, Calif., facility for a robotics demonstration. The students collaborated with employee teams to participate in a robotics competition with robots designed and built by the students. Northrop Grumman sponsors the schools' collaborative robotics program through a grant and provides a mentor engineer for the Canoga Park High School team.

On Feb. 18, the company hosted an Engineering Student Day for high school and college students from El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills and the California State University, Northridge chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. The students participated in a workshop about products designed and built by the Northrop Grumman division and toured the company's Woodland Hills plant to see how defense products are manufactured. Teaming with engineers to solve challenges, the students used their engineering skills and devised ways to build bridges out of plastic straws.

E-Week, established in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is designed to raise public understanding and appreciation of engineers' contributions to society and is celebrated in the United States in February of each year. During E-Week, Northrop Grumman employees across the country volunteer to speak and interact with students in the classroom and at work in an effort to reach out to local communities and highlight the importance of engineering.

Northrop Grumman employee volunteers followed up the E-Week event with a job shadowing day for 29 Junior Achievement students from Canoga Park High School on Feb. 24. Junior Achievement is a worldwide organization dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. The students received an overview of the company's products, technologies and careers, toured the Woodland Hills facility, and shadowed employees in areas such as engineering, business management, and supply chain management to learn about STEM career opportunities.

"The E-week student events and the Junior Achievement job shadow day demonstrate Northrop Grumman's commitment to fostering student interest in STEM fields," said Paul Russell, vice president of engineering and manufacturing for the western region of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector. "Northrop Grumman is excited to provide local students with a chance to interact with engineers and see engineering skills put to work."

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:  Gina Piellusch
          Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
          (818) 715-2285
          gina.piellusch@ngc.com