Northrop Grumman Executive and Leadership Team

October, 2026

Leadership Overview

Northrop Grumman has 10 executives leading key functions including corporate strategy, human resources, financial management, and advanced engineering.

Focused on delivering cutting-edge aerospace and defense solutions, Northrop Grumman drives global security through innovation in electronics, information systems, and shipbuilding to support critical government and commercial missions worldwide.

Leadership Roles at Northrop Grumman

  • Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess) - Donald McHugh
  • Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems) - Richard Boak
  • Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems - Ryan Cogdill
  • Division Chief Financial Officer & Director, Business Management - Ian Callanan
  • Sector Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer - Charles Wands
  • Chief of Staff - Antonio Araiza
  • HR Chief of Staff - Colleen Dibble
  • Director, Chief of Staff Aeronautics Systems - Stacey Strutt
  • Chief Technology Officer, Navigation, Intelligence, and Connectivity Division - Christopher (Chris) Beattie
  • Chief Engineer, Enterprise Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Office - Darren Rettew
  • Donald McHugh - Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess)

    Donald McHugh, the Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess) at Northrop Grumman, manages the financial architecture of shared service operations to maximize enterprise efficiency. Overseeing fiscal planning and resource allocation, the Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess) ensures that internal support functions remain cost-effective and scalable. This role involves implementing rigorous financial controls that support the company's diverse portfolio of aerospace and information systems. By optimizing shared service delivery models, Donald McHugh directly contributes to the financial health of the entire organization. The Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess) collaborates with business unit leaders to streamline procurement and administrative processes, thereby enhancing overall profitability. Through disciplined financial oversight, the Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess) provides the necessary capital stability to sustain long-term investment in advanced defense technologies and technical services.

    Richard Boak - Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems)

    Richard Boak, the Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems) at Northrop Grumman, directs the financial strategy for the defense systems sector. Overseeing budget management and program performance, the Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems) ensures that complex defense contracts remain profitable and compliant with government regulations. This role involves analyzing market trends to guide investment in new aerospace and electronics capabilities. By maintaining strict financial discipline, Richard Boak supports the successful execution of critical defense programs. The Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems) works closely with operational teams to mitigate risks and improve project margins. Through strategic financial planning, the Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems) secures the resources needed to maintain the company's leadership position in the global defense technology sector.
    Richard Boak

    Ryan Cogdill - Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems

    Ryan Cogdill, the Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems at Northrop Grumman, oversees the financial health and business operations of the mission systems division. Managing complex financial portfolios, the Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems ensures that mission-critical projects receive the necessary funding and resource support. This role involves implementing strategic financial models that account for the unique requirements of electronics and information systems development. By driving operational efficiency, Ryan Cogdill enables the division to deliver high-value solutions to government clients. The Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems collaborates with technical leadership to balance innovation with fiscal responsibility. Through rigorous financial analysis and oversight, the Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems supports the company's ability to execute large-scale defense missions with precision and reliability.
    Ryan Cogdill

    Ian Callanan - Division Chief Financial Officer & Director, Business Management

    Ian Callanan, the Division Chief Financial Officer & Director, Business Management at Northrop Grumman, manages the financial and operational performance of specific business units. Overseeing budget execution and business process improvement, the Division Chief Financial Officer & Director, Business Management ensures that divisional activities align with the company's broader financial objectives. This role involves monitoring project costs and revenue streams to maintain profitability across diverse technical service offerings. By implementing robust business management practices, Ian Callanan enhances the operational agility of the division. The Division Chief Financial Officer & Director, Business Management works with project managers to optimize resource allocation and mitigate financial risks. Through disciplined oversight, the Division Chief Financial Officer & Director, Business Management provides the financial stability required to support the company's ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality aerospace and defense products to a global customer base.

    Charles Wands - Sector Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer

    Charles Wands, the Sector Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer at Northrop Grumman, leads the financial and business management strategy for a major sector. Overseeing long-term financial planning and operational performance, the Sector Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer ensures that the sector remains competitive in the global aerospace and defense market. This role involves managing large-scale budgets and ensuring that business processes support the delivery of complex systems and products. By providing strategic financial guidance, Charles Wands enables the sector to pursue growth opportunities while maintaining fiscal discipline. The Sector Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer works with executive leadership to align sector performance with the company's overall mission. Through comprehensive financial oversight, the Sector Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer secures the resources necessary to sustain the company's leadership in defense technology and technical services.

    Antonio Araiza - Chief of Staff

    Antonio Araiza, the Chief of Staff at Northrop Grumman, coordinates executive operations to ensure alignment with corporate defense objectives. Managing internal communications and cross-functional workflows, the Chief of Staff optimizes organizational efficiency across the aerospace portfolio. This role involves facilitating high-level decision-making processes that impact global defense technology deployment. By streamlining administrative protocols, Antonio Araiza enables the leadership team to focus on long-term strategic growth. The Chief of Staff maintains rigorous standards for operational excellence, ensuring that all internal initiatives support the broader mission of providing advanced systems to government customers. Through meticulous oversight of daily business activities, the Chief of Staff secures the operational foundation necessary for the company to maintain a competitive edge in the complex aerospace and defense market.

    Colleen Dibble - HR Chief of Staff

    Colleen Dibble, the HR Chief of Staff at Northrop Grumman, directs human capital strategies to support a global workforce dedicated to aerospace innovation. Overseeing talent management initiatives, the HR Chief of Staff ensures that organizational structures remain agile enough to meet evolving defense technology demands. This leadership position involves integrating workforce planning with corporate objectives to drive employee engagement and operational productivity. By refining internal HR processes, Colleen Dibble fosters a culture of excellence that attracts top-tier engineering and technical talent. The HR Chief of Staff collaborates with senior leadership to align personnel capabilities with the company's complex shipbuilding and electronics projects. Through strategic workforce development, the HR Chief of Staff strengthens the internal foundation required to deliver high-performance solutions to government and commercial clients across international markets.

    Stacey Strutt - Director, Chief of Staff Aeronautics Systems

    Stacey Strutt, the Director, Chief of Staff Aeronautics Systems at Northrop Grumman, manages the operational rhythm of the aeronautics division to accelerate the development of advanced flight systems. Overseeing strategic planning and cross-departmental coordination, the Director, Chief of Staff Aeronautics Systems ensures that engineering and production teams remain aligned with project milestones. This role involves translating high-level aeronautics goals into actionable operational plans that drive innovation in aerospace technology. By facilitating communication between technical leads and executive management, Stacey Strutt enhances the efficiency of complex aircraft development programs. The Director, Chief of Staff Aeronautics Systems monitors project performance to ensure that all aeronautics initiatives meet the rigorous requirements of government customers. Through proactive management of divisional resources, the Director, Chief of Staff Aeronautics Systems supports the company's commitment to delivering superior aerospace solutions on a global scale.

    Christopher (Chris) Beattie - Chief Technology Officer, Navigation, Intelligence, and Connectivity Division

    Christopher (Chris) Beattie, the Chief Technology Officer, Navigation, Intelligence, and Connectivity Division at Northrop Grumman, architects the technological roadmap for critical navigation and intelligence systems. Overseeing research and development, the Chief Technology Officer, Navigation, Intelligence, and Connectivity Division drives innovation in connectivity solutions that support secure defense communications. This role involves identifying emerging technologies that enhance the company's electronics and information systems portfolio. By leading technical teams, Christopher (Chris) Beattie ensures that the division remains at the forefront of intelligence-gathering capabilities. The Chief Technology Officer, Navigation, Intelligence, and Connectivity Division collaborates with other engineering leaders to integrate advanced navigation tools into broader aerospace platforms. Through the application of cutting-edge research, the Chief Technology Officer, Navigation, Intelligence, and Connectivity Division provides the technical foundation necessary for the company to maintain superiority in the competitive global defense market.

    Darren Rettew - Chief Engineer, Enterprise Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Office

    Darren Rettew, the Chief Engineer, Enterprise Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Office at Northrop Grumman, directs the technical standards and engineering excellence across the enterprise. Overseeing the implementation of advanced engineering methodologies, the Chief Engineer, Enterprise Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Office ensures that all systems and products meet the highest quality benchmarks. This role involves guiding the development of innovative technical solutions that span aerospace, electronics, and shipbuilding. By fostering a culture of engineering rigor, Darren Rettew supports the company's ability to solve complex defense challenges. The Chief Engineer, Enterprise Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Office collaborates with the CTO office to align engineering capabilities with future technology trends. Through the application of advanced engineering principles, the Chief Engineer, Enterprise Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Office ensures that the company maintains its reputation for technical superiority and reliable performance.
    Darren Rettew

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Northrop Grumman Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Northrop Grumman?
    Northrop Grumman is led by Donald McHugh (Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess)), along with executives such as Richard Boak (Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems)) and Ryan Cogdill (Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems).
    Who is part of Northrop Grumman’s executive team?
    The executive team of Northrop Grumman includes leaders such as Donald McHugh (Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess)), Richard Boak (Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems)), Ryan Cogdill (Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Northrop Grumman have?
    Northrop Grumman has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Northrop Grumman’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Northrop Grumman includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Enterprise Shared Services (Ess), Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer (Defense Systems), Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer, Mission Systems, Division Chief Financial Officer & Director, Business Management, Sector Vice President, Business Management & Chief Financial Officer.