FORT SILL, Okla., Dec. 10, 2014
/PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)
recently presented the Top Gun Award to Chief Warrant Officer 2
Lewis D. Richardson as the distinguished honor graduate of his
class from the U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense School Top Gun
Course. The December graduation marks the 10th year of the
course.
Photos accompanying this release are available at
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=29582.
"It is a noteworthy achievement to graduate from this demanding
course in joint air and missile defense," said Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager,
integrated air and missile defense division, Northrop Grumman
Information Systems. "It is our privilege to salute the Top Gun and
honor this class as well as all the men and women who have
experienced the same success over the past decade."
Northrop Grumman also presented a commemorative plaque engraved
with the names of all current and past graduates. The plaque is
intended to perpetually recognize all air and missile defense Top
Guns by adding the names of future graduates.
Only the most accomplished 1 percent of Army air defenders
qualifies for entrance into the Air and Missile Defense School Top
Gun Course and less than 50 percent earn the Top Gun title by
achieving curriculum standards. Course requirements include
mastering the air and missile defense sensors and weapon
systems.
The curriculum also requires competence in integrating U.S. air
and missile defense systems with joint, allied and international
partner systems and processes. In developing defense designs for
the protection of deployed forces, civilian population centers and
critical host nation infrastructure and other vital assets,
students attain in-depth understanding of weapon system performance
against tactical ballistic missiles, anti-radiation missiles,
cruise missiles, and manned and unmanned aircraft.
Retired Army Col. Rob Jassey,
Northrop Grumman deputy program director of the Integrated Air and
Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) program, initiated the
concept for the Top Gun Course after serving as the Army's lead
investigator of Operation Iraqi Freedom fratricide incidents.
"Our analysis resulted in improving mission command as a
fundamental priority," said Jassey. "The course is one part of the
solution; another important component is a common, net-centric
battle command system to reduce ambiguity, eliminate single points
of failure and enable any sensor, best shooter defense designs.
"We are continuing our collaboration with the Army to deliver
IBCS that will transform how our air defense soldiers and
commanders fight against air and ballistic missile threats," said
Jassey.
IBCS replaces seven legacy command-and-control (C2) systems to
provide a single integrated air picture, reduce single points of
failure and offer the flexibility for deployment of smaller force
packages. By networking sensors and interceptors – as opposed to
simply linking them – IBCS provides wider area surveillance and
broader protection areas. With its truly open systems architecture,
IBCS enables integration of current and future sensors and weapon
systems and interoperability with joint C2 and the ballistic
missile defense system.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/northrop-grumman-salutes-air-and-missile-defense-top-guns-300007831.html
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation