Mike Petters
Corporate Vice President and President
Northrop Grumman Newport News

Mike Petters is corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Newport News. Named to this position in 2004, Petters has responsibilities for the design, construction and maintenance of the most sophisticated ships in the world -- nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.

Northrop Grumman Newport News, headquartered in Newport News, Va., also provides after-market services for a wide array of naval and commercial vessels. The Newport News sector employs about 19,000 people.

Petters' responsibilities include the Virginia-class submarine program; George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and CVN 21 aircraft carrier programs; aircraft carrier overhaul and refueling; submarine fleet maintenance; commercial and naval ship repair; and business and technology development. Petters also serves on the company's corporate policy council.

Prior to this appointment, Petters served as vice president of Human Resources, Administration and Trades for Newport News. Named in 2001, Petters oversaw human resources operations and employment; environmental, health and safety; labor relations; trades management; community relations; security; training; EEO and diversity; and benefits and employee services

A native of Florida, Petters graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in physics. After completing nuclear propulsion training, he was assigned to the USS George Bancroft where he held progressively responsible leadership positions, including reactor controls assistant, communications officer and refueling officer. After joining the Naval Reserve in 1988, he participated in three NATO exercises as submarine control officer. In 1993, Petters completed the MBA program at the College of William and Mary.

Petters joined Newport News in 1987 in the Los Angeles-class submarine construction division. He has held a number of increasingly responsible positions throughout the organization. These include production supervisor for submarines, marketing manager for submarines and for carriers, vice president for aircraft carrier programs, and vice president for contracts and pricing.

Petters was appointed by Virginia Governor Mark Warner to serve on the State Board of Community Colleges. He also serves as vice chairman for the American Shipbuilding Association and is on the board of directors for the Naval Submarine League and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the board of trustees for the Mariners’ Museum and the Virginia Living Museum, and he served as the chairman of the 2003 campaign for the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula.