Northrop Grumman Names Retired Rear Adm. Yount To Head Operations At Avondale Facility

Grumman Corporation announced today that Rear Adm. George R. Yount, USN (Ret.), has been named vice president of the company's Ship Systems sector, with responsibility for operations at the Avondale facility. Rear Adm. Yount, 55, will join Ship Systems' senior management team in mid-January. He will have responsibility for 5,000 craft and ship management personnel involved in ship construction as well as production planning, scheduling and facility engineering. Rear Adm. Yount will also serve on the Ship Systems Policy Council which influences all future Northrop Grumman Ship Systems business decisions.\Rear Adm. Yount has served 33 years in the United States Navy, retiring in September 2001, following an assignment as deputy commander for Integrated Warfare Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command.

"We are delighted to have George Yount join our Ship Systems team," said Dr. Philip A. Dur, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. "He has a long and distinguished naval career and he brings a wealth of shipyard experience, fleet responsibilities and educational accomplishments to our management team."

Rear Adm. Yount has earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is an engineering duty officer and is qualified as a surface warfare officer, as an engineering duty officer qualified in submarines, and as an acquisition professional.

Commissioned into the Navy when he graduated from The University of Wisconsin, Stout, in 1968, Rear Adm. Yount has held sea assignments aboard USS TOWERS (DDG 9), USS BAUER (DE 1023), USS ULYSSES S. GRANT (SSBN 631) and USS DIXON (AS 37).

His shore assignments include director, Supportability, Maintenance and Modernization, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations; commander, Naval Ordnance Center; and commander, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Additionally, Rear Adm. Yount has served at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Norfolk Naval Shipyard; Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va.; and the Engineer and Repair Department, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Conn.

He became deputy commander for Integrated Warfare Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command, in July 1998. Rear Adm. Yount's decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two gold stars, the Meritorious Service Medal with four gold stars, and the Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars and Combat V. Avondale Operations has contracts to build four SAN ANTONIO Class (LPD 17) amphibious assault ships for the Navy, and has delivered five of seven (LMSR) BOB HOPE Class Strategic Sealift Ships to the Navy and the Military Sealift Command. In its commercial business, Avondale has delivered the lead ship in the POLAR ENDEAVOUR Class of double-hull crude carriers and has contracts for four additional crude carriers. The contract is with Polar Tankers, Inc., the shipping unit of Phillips Alaska, Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum Company.