AURORA, Colo., Sept. 15, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), one of Aurora's largest defense contractors, is preparing to expand its presence here with a Sept. 19 groundbreaking ceremony on a 75,000 square-foot office building, the company's fourth new building in Aurora in eight years.
The new facility will house approximately 300 employees, accommodating Northrop Grumman's continued dramatic growth. Northrop Grumman's Aurora operation, part of the company's Mission Systems sector, develops highly sophisticated hardware and software systems for various U.S. government customers in support of homeland security, national defense and intelligence programs. Engineers and scientists at Northrop Grumman develop state-of-the art algorithms and highly advanced data-management techniques to collect and analyze data for military and intelligence organizations.
The groundbreaking is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will include a "blessing of the ground" ceremony by John Emhoolah of the Kiowa Nation. The blessing ceremony has become a traditional groundbreaking practice for Northrop Grumman's Aurora campus. The groundbreaking event will also include brief remarks by Ed Tauer, mayor of Aurora; Charles (Pepper) Fey, vice president, Northrop Grumman Mission System's Data Systems Operations in Aurora; and other Northrop Grumman officials. Representatives from Panattoni Development Company, Sacramento, Calif., are also expected to attend.
"This facility will allow us to add about 200 new positions within the next two years, continuing the strong growth we've experienced in Aurora. It will also contain a state-of-the-art training facility to ensure our employees maintain an edge over the competition in technological expertise and excellence," Fey said. "We are proud to be one of the largest private employers in Aurora, and we are grateful that the city, its residents, and its leadership have embraced Northrop Grumman, our employees, and our vision for growth."
Northrop Grumman employs more than 1,000 people in Aurora and approximately 2,700 people throughout Colorado.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.