WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Jan. 31, 2011 –
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced the appointment of Helen Pickup as general manager of Northrop Grumman Italia (NGI), the company's navigation systems subsidiary based in Pomezia, Italy.
In her new position, Pickup will be responsible for all programs and operations at NGI, which provides high-accuracy inertial navigation systems, integrated navigation and safety systems, tactical systems and lifecycle support. Aircraft equipped with NGI systems include the Eurofighter Typhoon and many other fixed and rotary wing aircraft in service in various parts of the world.
Pickup previously served as the director of Inertial Measurement Unit / Inertial Reference Unit programs at Northrop Grumman's Navigation Systems Division based in Woodland Hills. She joined Northrop Grumman in 2005 and has more than 20 years experience in high-technology businesses including advanced materials, power generation, and aerospace, with expertise in program management, product development, business development and process excellence. Before joining Northrop Grumman, Pickup served as director of Six Sigma for Honeywell Aerospace.
Pickup earned a Bachelor of Science degree in materials science and a Master of Science degree in solid state electronics from the University of Manchester, Manchester, England, and a Ph.D. in ceramics from the University of Leeds, Leeds, England. She has Six Sigma certification at the Greenbelt and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) level and is a Program Management Institute certified Program Management Professional.