Northrop Grumman names Wesley Bush as its COO

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced February 13 that its board of directors has elected Wesley G. Bush, 45, chief operating officer of Northrop Grumman in addition to his current title of president. The board of directors also elected James F. Palmer, 57, corporate vice president and chief financial officer, succeeding Bush as CFO. Both elections are effective March 12. Bush and Palmer will report to Ronald D. Sugar, chairman of the board and chief executive officer. This completes the search for a chief financial officer that the company announced in May 2006.

In his new role as chief operating officer, Bush will continue to work closely with Sugar, focusing on company operations.

"Wes Bush has done an outstanding job as president and chief financial officer," Sugar said. "With Wes assuming the chief operating officer responsibilities, we can leverage his extensive operational talent and experience more broadly as we further strengthen our emphasis on performance, competitiveness and future growth."

Bush joined Northrop Grumman in 2002 as part of the company's acquisition of TRW Inc. He joined TRW in 1987, where he held increasingly responsible technical and management positions in electronic and space systems. In 2001, he was elected president of TRW Aeronautical Systems in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Following Northrop Grumman's acquisition of TRW, Bush was elected corporate vice president and president of the company's Space Technology sector. In 2005, he was elected corporate vice president and chief financial officer and in 2006, he was elected president and chief financial officer.

Bush earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Regarding Palmer's election, Sugar said, "We are delighted to welcome Jim Palmer, a seasoned and highly respected global financial executive, to our senior management team. He brings broad-based operational and financial expertise to his new position, including many years as a senior financial executive in the aerospace and defense industry. He is well qualified to lead our company's business management organization and he will play a significant role in our focus on performance throughout the company and our drive to increase shareholder value."

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.