NEWPORT NEWS, Va., June 5, 2003 – Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Newport News sector announced today that its welding school has received an award from the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). The award was presented to the sector in recognition of the welding school's modernization program.

ASTD, the world’s largest organization for professional development, presented Newport News the award for Excellence in Practice for Workplace Learning and Development.

The Northrop Grumman Newport News Welding School aggressively modernized its entire training process, procedures, programs, curriculum and content. It converted 90 percent of the instructor-led curriculum to computer-assisted instruction and 100 percent of the instructor-led classroom training was converted to computer-based training.

Northrop Grumman Newport News employees Bob Leber and Gary Roy, both managers in Northrop Grumman Newport News' Training Division, accepted the award on behalf of the welding school at an ASTD annual conference held in San Diego, Calif.

"We cannot teach a person to weld using just a computer," says Leber. "However, by selectively converting instructor-led training to computer-based training, our instructors now have more time to work one-on-one with new employees in the welding booths, where they actually learn to weld. In addition, focusing the instructors’ time in the areas where they have the greatest impact on core learning events has reduced our overall cycle time for training qualified welders.”

Northrop Grumman Newport News, headquartered in Newport News Va., is the nation’s sole designer, builder, and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two companies capable of designing and building nuclear powered submarines. Newport News also provides after-market services for a wide array of naval and commercial vessels. The Newport News sector employs about 18,000 people.

Contact:
Jennifer Dunn
(757) 380-3558