Northrop Grumman Signs Mentor-Protege Agreement With Davidson Technologies

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has signed a U.S. Department of Defense mentor-protege agreement with Davidson Technologies, a teammate on Northrop Grumman's Joint National Integration Center Research and Development Contract (JRDC). Under the JRDC, Northrop Grumman has led a world-class team to conduct ballistic missile defense system-level modeling and simulation, ground and flight test, wargame, training exercise, mission-critical operation and related analysis for more than 15 years.

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The mentor-protege relationship was formalized during a signing ceremony on May 21.

Under the 36-month agreement approved by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, Northrop Grumman will mentor Davidson Technologies in several areas, including cybersecurity and information assurance, systems engineering, integrated logistics support, ISO 9000 standards, strategic planning, corporate policies, marketing, contracts and subcontracts, and human resources and accounting systems.

"Davidson Technologies has been a strong contributor to the missile defense community and our JRDC team," said Kelley Zelickson, vice president of air and missile defense systems for Northrop Grumman Information Systems. "We're committed to advancing Davidson's viability and competitiveness to become an even more valuable part of our supplier base."

Davidson Technologies, a woman-owned small business, is a technology services company dedicated to providing innovative engineering, technical and management solutions for defense, aerospace and commercial customers.

"We are excited to have been chosen by Northrop Grumman to participate in the mentor-protege program in pursuit of technology development for the Missile Defense Agency," said Dorothy Davidson, chief executive officer of Davidson Technologies. "This represents an important continuation of a long standing professional relationship between our two companies. It has been an honor and privilege to work with Northrop Grumman in the past, and Davidson Technologies looks forward to an even stronger, mutually beneficial partnership in the future."

Northrop Grumman will also work with Alabama Technology Network, a part of the Alabama Community College System and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, to help Davidson Technologies develop and implement a quality management system certified to ISO 9000 standards.

The Defense Department's mentor-protege program was created to help small businesses increase their participation in federal subcontracts by establishing long-term relationships with large defense contractors.

Since 1992, Northrop Grumman has mentored approximately 100 small businesses, and currently has 16 active mentor-protege agreements. Northrop Grumman has received 20 Nunn-Perry Awards from the Defense Department since 1995 for its work with protege companies. The prestigious award, given in honor of former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and former Secretary of Defense William Perry, is based on the partnership's cost efficiency, improvements in technical capabilities, revenue and employment.

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

SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation