Winter Nominated as Secretary of the Navy

Northrop Grumman Corporation confirmed that President George W. Bush has announced his intent to nominate Donald C. Winter, 57, to become Secretary of the Navy. Winter currently serves as corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector, a position he has held since January 2000.

Given the time demands of the confirmation process and to avoid any perception of conflict of interest, Winter will step down immediately from his current position. Until the hearings are concluded, he will report to Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman's chairman, chief executive officer and president, as an executive advisor to the CEO's office.

The company also announced that Jerry Agee, 62, deputy sector president of Mission Systems, will serve as acting sector president. Agee, an 18-year veteran of the company, has served as deputy sector president of Mission Systems since July 2004. He joined the company in 1987 following a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy. The Mission Systems sector generated 2004 revenues of $5 billion and employs 18,000 people.

"This announcement from the White House is a well-deserved honor for Don, and is testimony to his respect in both the military and intelligence communities," Sugar said. "If Don is confirmed, the expertise he has acquired during a 35-year career devoted to developing defense systems and supporting our military services will serve our nation very well."

Winter is a 30-year veteran of Northrop Grumman, and has also held senior systems engineering and program management positions for a variety of space system programs. He joined TRW Inc. in 1972 and was president and CEO of TRW Systems when Northrop Grumman acquired TRW in December 2002. From 1980 to 1982, Winter served as program manager for space acquisition, tracking, and pointing programs at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service.

Winter earned a bachelor's degree (with highest distinction) in physics from the University of Rochester. He received a master's degree and a doctorate in physics from the University of Michigan.