1 Vol. 3, No. 1 January 2011 - Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

PRODUCTS AND
PROGRAM NEWS
DEBORAH HAWKINS
George Rodriguez
Position before rotation: Flight Test and
Evaluation integrated product team
manager, El Segundo, Calif.
Now: Deputy program manager, GSC,
Long Range Strike program, Palmdale,
Calif.
Tenure at Northrop Grumman: 21 years
“Three things are essential. First, get
to know your team members quickly,
understand what they do and how
your role interacts with theirs. Second,
don’t be shy. Ask enough questions
to satisfy your hunger for knowledge
without monopolizing precious time.
Third, develop an execution plan and
communicate effectively.
“The future is now. To remain
competitive, we need to find innovative
ways to operate on future designs
and budget challenges without losing
sight of unquestionable quality while
providing 100 percent customer
satisfaction. The GSC rotation program
is breaking new ground and setting
the tempo by training high potential
employees to be more effective program
managers. In years past, manufacturers
drove the pace at which products were
manufactured and distributed. Today,
customers call the shots. Understanding
GSC roles and responsibilities is not an
option — it is a requirement.”
Revealing
R tations
The opportunity to invest a year to learn, firsthand, the challenges of managing subcontractors is not only broadening but also now a
requirement to become a program manager. We asked three engineers who are serving as deputy program managers within Global Supply
Chain (GSC) to tell us what’s expected, what they’ve learned and how others can prepare themselves for this unique rotation program.
To learn more about this rotation program, contact Chris Hayes, director, GSC, Strike and Surveillance Systems at Chris.Hayes@ngc.com.
Engineers Share Benefits of Rotating through GSC as Deputy Program Managers
Gina Kostelecky-Shankle
Position before rotation: Engineering
manager, Avionics Center of Excellence,
El Segundo, Calif.
Now: GSC deputy program manager,
High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Systems,
San Diego
Tenure at Northrop Grumman: 19 years
“This assignment has impressed upon
me the significant impact engineers
have on GSC activities. I’ve seen how
important it is for GSC and Aerospace
Engineering to work together to
reduce costs. This often requires
changing engineering requirements to
account for supplier process costs. By
working together with key suppliers,
Aerospace Engineering and GSC have
started to significantly reduce the costs
of our program. Establishing solid
relationships is key. If we all broaden
our horizons and reach across our
company and our supply base, we can
better integrate GSC and Aerospace
Engineering and make a real difference
to our programs and, ultimately, to the
people who depend on our products.”
Frank Carus
Positions before rotation: director and chief
engineer, Vehicle Structures, F/A-18 program, El
Segundo, Calif.
Now: director, GSC Affordability, F-35 program,
El Segundo, Calif.
Tenure: 26 years include prior rotations in both
GSC and Production Operations
“What most surprised me was the ease of
the transition. The relationships built over
the years definitely helped. My initial role
was to act as a liaison between Aerospace
Engineering and GSC to drive affordability
on the F-35 program. More than 50 percent
of the F-35 air vehicle recurring spend is on
general procurement and major subcontracts.
The program is complex. Maybe 10 percent
of the parts are common; 90 percent are
unique.
“There are a lot of subtle nuances in
managing large subcontracts. We have
international suppliers on this program,
so we’re working with different cultures,
languages and time zones. Good, sound
processes make it work. We also need
strong leaders who understand program
complexities and respect cultural differences.
The greatest asset an engineer can bring to
GSC is the ability to challenge the flow-down
of requirements. Understanding technical
requirements allows you to find a median
point acceptable to Aerospace Engineering
and compliant with affordability goals.
“Immersing myself in the world of
subcontracts, proposals and negotiations has
been a great learning experience, and I would
definitely recommend it to future program
TOM HENSON
From the perspective of a manager,
Aerospace Systems’ large employee
base can be both helpful and
a challenge. On one hand, the
breadth of experience of thousands
of fellow employees and the lessons learned
from years of hard work are within reach. The
flip side is, often employees don’t know how
to tap into this expertise.
Enter the Manager Community of Practice
(CoP).
The Manager CoP is a collection of
manager-level professionals that meets once
a month to network and develop crucial skills.
Membership is free. Each month, the group
gathers in person and virtually for an hour to
learn and share experiences. Guest speakers
address relevant management concepts,
and each session includes an open group
discussion on the challenges and rewards of
managing people, including success stories
and lessons learned.
Kenny Phillips, an El Segundo-based
manager of Data Integration and Visibility,
chairs the organization with the support
of a 15-member governance council that
helms subcommittees with duties ranging
from scheduling speakers to overseeing a
book club. Phillips and Executive Sponsor
Duke Dufresne, sector vice president and
general manager for Strike and Surveillance
Systems, believe the Manager CoP is a great
opportunity for managers to make vital
connections and share experiences in an
open environment.
“We’ve created an environment where, for
an hour a month, employees can step outside
their focused areas of responsibility and get
to know others who are in their shoes, where
they’re able to speak openly and freely,”
Phillips said. “That one hour of connection
can help build a network that will last for a
career. That’s a tremendous value.”
Chartered in 2007, the Manager CoP
to date has drawn membership primarily
from Southern California sites, with
Rancho Bernardo and Palmdale managers
participating remotely. The group’s ambition
is to connect its monthly meetings to
other sites, a move that can strengthen the
group by introducing new people and their
experiences.
“We’re very pleased with the level of
interest and participation in Southern
California, and it’s clear everyone can
benefit from the connections we make as
membership increases,” Phillips said.
The basis for the Manager CoP comes from
the company’s description of communities
of practice as groups of people who share a
passion about a topic, and who deepen their
knowledge and expertise by interacting on
an ongoing basis. These communities are
intended to help knowledge flow across
PRODUCTS AND
PROGRAM NEWS
Duke Dufresne, sector vice president and general manager of Strike and Surveillance Systems,
addresses members of the Manager Community of Practice at the organization’s Nov. 18
meeting in El Segundo. Dufresne is the group’s executive sponsor.
MANAGER COMMUNITY PRACTICE
organizational and geographical boundaries.
Managers in particular can benefit from this,
as they play a unique role in the sector.
“Every position comes with its own
demands and necessary skill sets, but, in
our organization, the manager often faces
a particular challenge,” Dufresne said.
“After all, they’re the face of management
for employees, and they’re the voice of
employees for senior leaders. This can be
a tough balancing act to perform, and
developing the right skills and contacts can
help tremendously. This is what the Manager
CoP is all about.”
Dufresne believes CoP membership can
enhance the effectiveness of participants, but
they’re not the only ones who stand to gain
from the experience.
“Successful companies have effective
managers, and effective managers create
successful teams,” Dufresne said. “Joining
this CoP can help employees and their
organizations.”
The Manager Community of Practice (CoP)
is available to all employees at the manager
level. To find out more and learn how to benefit
from the CoP, contact Kenny Phillips at Kenny.
Phillips@ngc.com or (310) 331-5144. Or, visit
the organization’s wiki site at http://wiki.
northgrum.com/wiki/Manager_CoP.
12 Aerospace Now January 2011
managers.”
January 2011 Aerospace Now 13
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