Original Date: 07/25/2005
Revision Date: 09/12/2006

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems’ New Graduate Leadership Training Program follows the company’s Professional Development Program for individuals who exhibit leadership ability and express an interest in more intense training and advancement opportunities. Individuals who participate in the New Graduate Leadership Training Program participate in formal and informal training classes and in leadership training that parallels technical growth.

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems’ (NGES’) New Graduate Leadership Training Program (LTP) follows the company’s Professional Development Program (PDP) for those individuals who exhibit leadership ability and those who express an interest in more intense training and in advancement opportunities. The two-month application process requires applicants to present their personal qualifications, submit a revised resume highlighting their leadership skills, obtain formal letters of recommendation, and write a personal essay on preparedness for leadership training for submission to an extensive interview process.

Foundations of Leadership (FOL) classes are also provided for participants to learn NGES core values and leadership practices and how to translate these values and practices into everyday behavior. Participants develop an awareness of their strengths, learn how to be effective leaders, and learn the tools and techniques for becoming an effective team leader and team player. A plan is developed for continuous learning and development based on individual strengths and improvement opportunities. Participants build a sense of community and are exposed to a continuous learning environment in a cohort group with other participants. While everyone is expected to do well in this program, failures may occur and are acceptable, allowing the participant and leadership to focus on a participant’s strengths and establish a course of study that is more suited to that individual’s capabilities.

To achieve success, participants must meet the following key FOL program objectives: formal training, assessment, exposure to senior executives programs based on sector-wide learning factors, action learning, learning community, learning journal, simulations and case studies, pre-work and growth work, mentoring by senior professionals, coaching, comprehensive evaluation, and participant-driven design.

Stretch assignments are another method to demonstrate leadership skills that require participants to understand an increased responsibility for cost and schedule demands. Other stretch activities that teach leadership growth include integrated product development, lead-shadow, subcontract/supplier management, first-line supervision in manufacturing, project management support, analysis and planning rotation, internal quick-react process/problem solving, integration test and lead, and creating and developing LTP group initiatives.

Most participants in the NGES New Graduate LTP consider themselves fortunate to be either teaching or experiencing personal and career growth. Although final success will not be measured for many years, LTP participants can fully anticipate growth and advancement in their NGES careers.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.