John Pettitt
Corporate Lead Executive, San Diego, Calif.
Northrop Grumman Corporation
As the Corporate Lead Executive for Northrop Grumman’s San Diego region, John Pettitt serves as a focal point between the corporation, local Department of Defense commands and the San Diego community. His key customer interfaces include the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Special Warfare Command Pacific, Naval Surface Forces, Naval Air Forces, Third Fleet, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Pettitt was commissioned in the U.S. Navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1970. Following flight training and his designation as a naval aviator, he flew single-seat light attack and strike fighter aircraft off numerous aircraft carriers, accruing more than 5,500 flight hours and 675 carrier landings.
After retiring from the Navy in 1994 as a captain, he joined Northrop Grumman through the Westinghouse Defense Electronics group. He worked as a field marketing representative, capturing programs in the aircraft fire control radar, electro-optical/infrared targeting systems, electronic warfare systems and weapon seeker systems areas.
Pettitt holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Oregon as well as a master’s degree in international relations from Salve Regina University. He also attended the Naval War College and earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies. He is president of the board of the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation, an executive board member of the San Diego Military Advisory Council and a board member of the Tail Hook Education Foundation. He also chairs the California State University-San Marcos Foundation and is a national director for the Navy League of the United States.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. For more information visit www.northropgrumman.com.