FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been ranked 28th on DiversityInc's annual list for the Top 50 Companies for Diversity. The company moved up one spot in the rankings from 2013 and remained the top rated aerospace and defense company. Northrop Grumman was also named one of the top ten companies for employee resource groups and veterans.

To qualify for the list, companies are measured in a number of areas, including their recruitment of people of all races, ethnicities, genders and ages; their ability to retain, engage and promote people from all demographics fairly; the visible and accountable involvement of top leadership as well as representation at senior levels and on boards of directors; and the effectiveness of supplier diversity and development. The full list can be found at: http://www.diversityinc.com/top50.

"Northrop Grumman continues its strong presence on the list with improved talent development and supplier diversity. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Wes Bush is a diversity proponent. He ties executive bonuses to diversity goals and chairs the company's executive diversity council," said DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti.

"While we are making very good progress, we continue to strive to build a diverse and inclusive workforce that attracts top talent and enriches our work environment," said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president, global corporate responsibility, Northrop Grumman, and president, Northrop Grumman Foundation. "We firmly believe that creating a workplace that fosters diversity and inclusion is pivotal to innovation, improving productivity, enhancing engagement and boosting profitability."

Northrop Grumman's progress on diversity and inclusion is evident in many areas, including:

• Employee resource groups (ERGs) – Volunteer groups of employees who provide opportunities for networking, community outreach, professional development and recruiting. In 2013, more than 14,000 Northrop Grumman employees engaged in ERGs. The groups are involved in all aspects of the business such as initiating science, technology, engineering and math projects in K-12, helping create Web-based accessibility initiatives for people with disabilities, and supporting veterans programs.

• Supplier diversity – The company works to connect small disadvantaged businesses with the company's procurement organizations. Earlier this year, the company was rated the third best company in the nation for providing business opportunities to diverse business owners by DiversityBusiness.com. In 2013, more than 36 percent of Northrop Grumman procurement spending went to small businesses and women- or minority-owned firms.

• Veterans support – The company has assisted numerous organizations that provide veterans with housing, mentoring, outreach and legal services. For more than 20 years, Northrop Grumman and its employees have partnered with the USO to serve the nation's military, veterans and their families, including supporting the USO Warrior and Family Centers in Fort Belvoir, Va., and Bethesda, Md. Northrop Grumman's Operation IMPACT provides career transition support and employment to service members severely injured in combat. The program has helped returning service personnel and their family members join the company.

Details on Northrop Grumman's diversity and inclusion efforts can be found at http://www.northropgrumman.com/CorporateResponsibility/Diversity/Pages/default.aspx.

About DiversityInc

DiversityInc's mission is to bring education and clarity to the business benefits of diversity. The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list began in 2001, at the same time many corporations were beginning to understand the business value of diversity-management initiatives. The 2014 Top 50 Companies for Diversity results are featured on DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. For more information, log on to www.diversityinc.com, https://www.facebook.com/DiversityInc, https://twitter.com/DiversityInc, or http://www.linkedin.com/company/26561.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation