OREANDA-NEWS. July 22, 2016.  Thanks to its extensive achievements in promoting employee development, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received the Maryland Workplace Success Award from ACT as part of the 2015-2016 ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign.

With 41 states participating this year, the ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign honors employers, community colleges, high schools, and students performing outstanding work in education and career readiness. States were entitled to choose one exemplar in each of the four categories, with the students receiving a scholarship from ACT. Northrop Grumman was chosen as the top employer in Maryland because of its wide range of activities aimed at developing both current employees and students who may become future employees.

ACT is the organization responsible for hosting the ACT test, which is now the leading college readiness assessment in the United States.   

"Northrop Grumman is committed to fostering and growing a deeply talented and engaged workforce," said Melissa Sandlin, manager, corporate citizenship, Northrop Grumman. "From partnerships with schools, STEM education, and student mentoring to career development, training, diversity initiatives and employee resource groups, we believe in doing all we can to develop our current and future employees."

Northrop Grumman operates a wide range of programs to promote science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, including a hands-on mentorship program and scholarships awarded to students in every Maryland county. The company has partnerships with several local universities as well as a longstanding relationship with Baltimore City Public Schools. Many of the mentored students have returned to Northrop Grumman as employees.

The company is strongly committed to ensuring that we have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Northrop Grumman's numerous employee resource groups (ERGs) provide members with opportunities for networking, community outreach and professional development. The company also offers a wide range of training and development opportunities for its workers. 

Northrop Grumman's workplace initiatives have earned high rankings on several national lists recognizing achievements in diversity, promoting corporate citizenship, opportunities for women and minority engineers, and advancement for executive women. Many of those achievements are discussed in the company's recently released 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report, which is available online at: http://www.northropgrumman.com/CorporateResponsibility/Pages/Reports.aspx

"For the fourth year in a row, participation in the ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign continues to grow," said Scott Montgomery, ACT senior vice president for the office of public affairs. "We are proud to recognize the notable achievements of the students, educators, and employers who lead exceptional efforts to improve their schools and workplaces every day."

Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are committed to expanding and enhancing the pipeline of diverse, talented STEM students globally. They provide funding to sustainable STEM programs that span from preschool to high school and through collegiate levels, with a major emphasis on middle school students and teachers. In 2015, Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation continued education outreach efforts by contributing more than \\$17 million to diverse STEM-related groups such as the Air Force Association (CyberPatriot), Conservation International (ECO Classroom), the REC Foundation (VEX Robotics), National Science Teachers Association and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. For more information, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/foundation.

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