FALLS CHURCH, Va., Oct. 10, 2011 -- Three Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) employees were honored over the weekend at the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC), held Oct. 6-8 in Orlando, Fla. These employees were recognized for their exemplary achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Noe E. Rodriguez II won an award for Professional Achievement in Industry; Guadalupe O. Delgado, Jr. was recognized for Most Promising Engineer or Scientist -- Undergraduate Degree, and Rodolfo Loera was recognized for his outstanding contributions in the area of Community Service.
As the HENAAC awardee for Professional Achievement in Industry, Rodriguez was recognized for leading, collaborating and initiating key programs and research within the electro-optical/infrared and space engineering programs at Northrop Grumman's Electronics Sector in Baltimore, Md., where he leads a team of 46 employees. Rodriguez is credited with six patents, 16 patent disclosures and numerous acknowledgements of his contributions to military and civilian sensors, including electro-optical systems, microwave radar systems, thermal design, functional engineering, systems engineering and program management.
Rodriguez is highly respected by his peers and company management as an authority in his field. He is considered a valued role model for those in engineering and management and a trailblazer for future generations of engineers and scientists. He is also an adjunct professor at local community colleges and has tutored high school students for many years, guiding them toward STEM careers.
Rodriguez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from University of Florida and two Master of Science degrees from Johns Hopkins University, one in mechanical engineering and the second in project management and system engineering.
HENAAC recognized Delgado in the Most Promising Engineer or Scientist – Undergraduate Degree category. As a manufacturing engineer working on the F-35 program at the company's Aerospace Systems sector in Palmdale, Calif., Delgado has been involved in analyzing and developing manufacturing processes and for major composite assembly, tooling, planning, and visual aid definition on the production line.
Delgado overcame many obstacles during his education, including childhood poverty. As a college student, he worked as a part-time mathematics tutor and volunteered for numerous career fairs at local elementary, middle and high schools.
Since joining Northrop Grumman, Delgado has been a frequent public speaker, encouraging students to go into the STEM fields. He has also actively supported university engagement, helping to place Texas State University on the HENAAC list of participants for the College Bowl. Delgado created a middle school lunchtime tutoring/mentoring program for Lennox Middle School, located in a low income area near the Los Angeles airport with a 95 percent Hispanic enrollment. This program has grown to include dozens of Northrop Grumman volunteers and more than a hundred students participating.
Delgado earned a Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing engineering from Texas State University-San Marcos. He has held professional association leadership positions, in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists.
Loera was recognized by HENAAC for his outstanding Community Service. As manager, program integration for Northrop Grumman's Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program, he oversees 500 employees in various cities and hundreds of Subcontractor employees throughout the nation.
A native of Los Angeles, Loera is a leader in a number of community organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America. He provides classroom "Out-of the Box Engineering" presentations and provides tutoring and mentoring services. Loera also hosts company facility tours for students in Southern California middle schools serving low-income Hispanics.
Within Northrop Grumman, he serves as the Community Involvement / Corporate Citizenship Chair for Adelante, the company's Hispanic employee resource group, where he recruits new members and encourages the group's members to give back to the Hispanic community. The company has honored him with its Small Business Special Recognition for Outstanding Performance in 2001, 2002 & 2004.
Loera earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Southern California. He also completed the California Institute of Technology Systems Engineering Certificate Program in 2003.
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