Like many companies around the world, Northrop Grumman is quickly adapting to the changing landscape and environment as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic. While the new health guidelines have affected how many businesses operate, Northrop Grumman has focused on responding with agility and due diligence to continue the vital support provided to the warfighter while protecting workforce health and safety.
Despite the challenges of maintaining normal levels of activity, the team at Northrop Grumman’s Grand Sky facility in North Dakota has added additional staff and continued business operations, all while being mindful of and observing social distancing and sanitization requirements.
The Grand Sky facility currently employs approximately 100 people. Within the last month, Northrop Grumman welcomed nearly a dozen new interns and full-time employees. An increased workload and workforce at the facility have been positive signals for the company and the local region during these turbulent times.
While the location is strategic and beneficial for Northrop Grumman’s mission, for the company, doing business in the community also means taking an active role in developing and investing in local talent. The company continues to partner and collaborate with local academic institutions to support its ongoing intern program, including the University of North Dakota, Northland Community & Technical College, as well as several other schools in the area.
“Northrop Grumman built a state-of-the-art facility at Grand Sky because of the ability to work closely with our customers and because of the region’s strong academic institutions and commitment to supporting the autonomous systems industry,” said Mike Fridolfs, Grand Sky site director, Northrop Grumman.
“Working with local universities and colleges to help educate the next generation of aeronautics professionals helps strengthen the community where we live and work and the national security of our nation,” Fridolfs continued.
Northrop Grumman’s Grand Sky facility is a nucleus for research and development, pilot, operator and maintainer training along with operations and mission analysis, and aircraft maintenance. With Grand Sky’s new 35,000 square foot hangar, the company continues to bring new capabilities that advance their customers’ evolving missions.
The hangar will support autonomous systems work at the Grand Sky Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Business and Aviation Park near Grand Forks. Previously, Northrop Grumman successfully completed a flight control test of a NASA Global Hawk from this facility, showcasing the ability to conduct flight operations for autonomous systems.
Although the Grand Sky facility opened in recent years, Northrop Grumman has a long-standing history in the state, with a presence in New Town for the past 48 years, and their continued commitment to development in the Red River Valley region.
The state of North Dakota has become a leader and champion of the autonomous and unmanned systems industry. Because of the state’s elected, business and community leaders’ vision in pulling together their state’s innovative university system, rich tradition with the U.S. Air Force and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, it creates a unique environment for UAS technology research to thrive.