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10 Things You Didn't Know About Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush

Wesley Bush was born in West Virginia and studied Electrical Engineering at MIT. He has worked in the automotive and aerospace business since the 1980's. As Chief Executive Officer of defense contractor Northrop Grumman, Bush has helped the company continue to grow internationally. Here are 10 things you didn't know about Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush.

He's from West Virginia

Wesley G. Bush was born in 1961 and grew up in West Virginia. Wes Bush was always drawn to science and engineering. In 1979 he attended the National Youth Science Camp as a delegate of West Virginia. Bush attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he graduated with a Bachelor and a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering. He would later complete the Executive Management Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. Bush and his wife Natalie have three children.

Early Career

Following MIT, Wes Bush moved to southern California where he worked as an Engineer for Aerospace Corporation and Comsat Labs. In 1987 Bush took the position of Systems Engineer for the global company TRW Inc. at the company's Redondo Beach facility. TRW Inc. was founded as an automotive and light machinery parts supplier in Cleveland, Ohio in 1900. The company managed to survive the Great Depression and expanded with aerospace and information systems departments. Wes Bush became TRW Inc's President and Chief Executive Officer of the company's British based aeronautical systems division 2000. At that time, TRW Inc was the eighth largest military contractor in the world.

Northrop Grumman

Automotive and industrial supply companies, Northrop and Grumman, were both founded in the United States in the 1930's. The companies merged in 1994 and became one of the largest aerospace and defense technology companies in the world. The company purchased TRW Inc. in 2002. Northrop Grumman was based in Los Angeles, California. The company maintained TRW Inc. as a supplier to the automotive industry and expanded Northrop Grumman as an aerospace and information systems leader in the industry and as a major defense contractor. Wes Bush's contract was transferred from TRW Inc. to Northrop Grumman.

Wesley Bush's role with Northrop Grumman

Wes Bush maintained a high position when TRW Inc. became Northrop Grumman. From 2003 until 2006, Bush served as Chief Operating Officer for Northrop Grumman. In 2005, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer. In 2010, Wes Bush was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Northrop Grumman.

Move to Virginia

As Chief Executive Officer of Northrop Grumman, one of the first things Wes Bush did was move the headquarters. Because the main business of Northrop Grumman is defense contracting, Bush felt moving near the Pentagon in Washington DC would help increase business and get ahead of competitors, Lockhead Martin and General Dynamics. The Northrop Grumman headquarters were moved from Los Angeles, California to West Falls Church, Virginia.

Northrop Grumman products and sectors

With Wes Bush as Chief Executive Officer, Northrop Grumman has continued to grow. The company produces military aircraft, military vessels, missile defense systems, satellites, information technology, and advanced electronic sensors and systems. The company is divided into three business sectors. The Aerospace Systems sector is based in California. The Mission Systems sector is based in Maryland. The Technological Systems sector is based in Virginia.

Northrop Grumman statistics

Northrop Grumman is currently ranked the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. The company employs 68,000. It is rated in the top 10 of military friendly employees. In 2015 Northrop Grumman was listed at 24 in the Fortune 500 largest companies. In 2016, Northrop Grumman revenue was $24.5 billion.

Salary

Northrop Grumman maintains lower pay compensation to its company heads. Despite being one of the top government contractors and the company having a high stock value, Wes Bush takes a relatively modest salary and rewards compensation compared to competing defense contractors. Bush's recent salary was $1.5 million. He recently accepted a relatively small increase in his pension. Despite being one of the longest serving Chief Executive Officers in the defense contract industry, Bush's compensation is the smallest among competing companies.

Boards

Wes Bush serves on several boards for non profit companies. He serves on the boards of Aerospace Industries Association, the Business Higher Education Forum and Conservation International. Bush also serves on the boards of the United States Naval Academy Foundation, Inova Health Systems and the USO Board of Governors. Bush has served on the board of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.

Philanthropy

Wes Bush and his wife Natalie give money to several charitable causes. As well as serving on the boards o directors of Conservation International and the United States Naval Academy Foundation, the Bushes donate money to the foundations. They also endow the Graduate Nursing Scholarship Fund at West Virginia University. In 2003, Wes Bush was inducted into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame.

Garrett Parker

Written by Garrett Parker

Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world.

Read more posts by Garrett Parker

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