Kathy Warden

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Kathy Warden
Kathy Warden (54075793969) (cropped).jpg
Warden in 2024
Born1970or1971(age 54–55) [1]
Education James Madison University (BA)
George Washington University (MBA)
TitleChair, President and CEO of Northrop Grumman [2]

Kathy J. Warden is an American business executive who became chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Northrop Grumman in 2019.

Contents

Education

Warden grew up in Smithsburg, Maryland, and graduated from Smithsburg High School. [3] She then earned a bachelor's degree at James Madison University in 1992, [4] and a MBA at George Washington University in 1999. [5] [6]

Career

Warden is a cybersecurity and information technology expert. [7] Early in her career, she worked for General Electric for nearly a decade, and held executive roles at Veridian Corporation and General Dynamics. [5] [8] [9] Warden was also a principal in a venture capital firm, where she helped companies improve their business models and electronic publishing services. [10]

Warden joined Northrop Grumman in 2008 as vice president and general manager of the company's cybersecurity business. [11] In 2015, while president of Northrop Grumman Information Systems, [12] she was included in Federal Computer Week 's "Federal 100" list; the magazine credited her for increasing Northrop Grumman's participation in the CyberPatriot program and creation of the Advanced Cyber Technology Center, and for overseeing $1.5 billion in contracts for the 2014 fiscal year. [13] Warden began her tenure as president of the Mission Systems sector in January 2016, when the company merged its Information Systems and Electronics Systems sectors. [7] [14] [15] She became president and COO of Northrop Grumman in January 2018, [16] and her tenure as CEO started on January 1, 2019. [7]

Warden has been credited with leading the integration of Orbital ATK, later Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. [7] [17] She joined Northrop Grumman's board of directors in July 2018 [5] [14] and became Chair in August 2019. [18]

Board membership and advisory roles

Warden is a member of The Business Council. [19] In 2016, she had a position on the board of the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. [10] [20] She was also on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond board from 2018 to 2020. [5] [21] She also worked with the Aspen Institute's computer security strategy group. [4]

Warden was on the Clinton administration's Internet Advisory Council. [10] She joined James Madison University's board of visitors in October 2018. [4] Previously, Warden was on the board of the university's College of Business, starting in 2016. [4]

Warden was sanctioned by Russia on April 21, 2022 along with 28 other American nationals. [22] On May 22, 2024, she was sanctioned by the Chinese government due to arm sales to Taiwan. [23] [24]

Warden accepted the 2022 Collier Trophy on the company's behalf for the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. [25]

Warden joined the board of Merck & Co. in 2020. In 2019, she joined the board of the nonprofit Catalyst, becoming its chair in 2024. [26] [27] She is also on the board of the Greater Washington Partnership and became its chair in January 2024. [28] She is on the executive committee for the Aerospace Industries Association [29] and previously served as its board chair. [30]

Warden was appointed to the National Space Council's users' advisory group in May 2020. [31] She was selected for another term in December 2022. [32] In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security named her to its new Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board. [33]

Recognition

YearOrganizationAwardResultRef.
2017 Washingtonian Most powerful women in Washington, D.C.Listed [34]
2018James Madison University's Beta Gamma Sigma chapterBusiness Achievement AwardWon [35]
Fortune Most Powerful Women#22 [36]
2019Fortune#13 [37]
2020Fortune#20 [38]
2021Fortune#23 [39]
2022 Columbia Business School Deming Cup for Operational ExcellenceWon [40]
Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women #38 [41]
FortuneMost Powerful Women#22 [42]
2023ForbesWorld's 100 Most Powerful Women#38 [43]
FortuneMost Powerful Women#20 [44]
WashingtonianMost powerful women in Washington, D.C.Listed [45]
2024ForbesWorld's 100 Most Powerful Women#36 [46]
FortuneMost Powerful Women#25 [47]
2025Fortune#68 [48]

References

  1. ↑ Clough, Rick (July 12, 2018). "Northrop to Hand Reins to Operating Chief as CEO Plans Departure". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Kathy Warden | 2024 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  3. ↑ Weingarten, Dwight A. (20 June 2023). "Northrop Grumman president goes from small town to stars with company's astronautics award". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sasser, Matthew (October 18, 2018). "Future CEO of Fortune 500 company on board of visitors". The Breeze . James Madison University . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 De Lea, Brittany (July 13, 2018). "Northrop Grumman new CEO: What to know about Kathy Warden". Fox Business Network . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  6. ↑ "GWSB Graduate Named Northrop Grumman CEO". George Washington University. July 18, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "#22: Kathy Warden". Fortune . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  8. ↑ Davenport, Christian; Gregg, Aaron (July 12, 2018). "Northrop Grumman CEO will step down". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Northrop's CEO to Depart Next Year as Defense Giant Elevates COO". IndustryWeek . July 13, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 Hutzell, Rick (January 3, 2016). "People to watch: Kathy Warden, head of local Northrop Grumman unit". The Capital . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ Mehta, Aaron (12 July 2018). "Northrop to change CEO". Defense News . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Northrop Grumman reorganization means changes in Maryland". The Capital. November 18, 2015. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Federal 100: Kathy Warden". Federal Computer Week . March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  14. 1 2 Bach, Natasha (July 13, 2018). "The Fortune 500 Is Set to Get Another Female CEO". Fortune. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  15. ↑ Wilkers, Ross (July 12, 2018). "Northrop CEO Wes Bush to retire, Kathy Warden named successor". Washington Technology . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  16. ↑ Wilkers, Ross (26 September 2017). "Northrop names Warden COO, other senior appointments for 2018". Washington Technology. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Neibauer, Michael (June 7, 2018). "Orbital ATK is now part of Northrop Grumman". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2019 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  19. ↑ "Business Council Elects Gail K. Boudreaux as Chair". citybiz.
  20. ↑ "Wolf Trap Foundation Board Members". Wolf Trap Foundation. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Kathy Warden". Forbes. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  22. ↑ Saul, Derek (21 April 2022). "Mark Zuckerberg And Kamala Harris On Russia's Latest Odd Sanction List". Forbes. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  23. ↑ "Decision on Taking Countermeasures Against U.S. Military Companies and Senior Executives". Ministry of Foreign Affairs . 27 May 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  24. ↑ Hodunova, Kateryna (22 May 2024). "China sanctions 12 US military companies over Taiwan, war in Ukraine". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  25. ↑ "Webb Space Telescope Team Earns Collier Trophy". www.flyingmag.com. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  26. ↑ JoJack, Beth (2 October 2024). "Three Va. CEOs make world's most powerful women list". Virginia Business. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  27. ↑ "Catalyst Welcomes Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden as New Board Chair". Catalyst, Inc. (Press release). 18 April 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  28. ↑ Murillo, Ana Lucía (26 October 2023). "Greater Washington Partnership taps Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden as new chair". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  29. ↑ Edwards, Jane (5 December 2024). "AIA Introduces 2025 Executive Committee Members". ExecutiveGov. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  30. ↑ Lake, Sydney (10 December 2020). "Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden to chair Aerospace Industries Association board". Virginia Business. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  31. ↑ Rivers, Brenda Marie (18 May 2020). "Industry Execs Among Nominated Advisers to National Space Council". GovCon Wire. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  32. ↑ Foust, Jeff (16 December 2022). "White House revamps membership of National Space Council advisory group". SpaceNews. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  33. ↑ Shepardson, David (26 April 2024). "US Homeland Security names AI safety, security advisory board". Reuters. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  34. ↑ Milk, Leslie (October 2, 2017). "The Most Powerful Women in Washington". Washingtonian . Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  35. ↑ Briggs, Stephen (April 23, 2018). "CoB Alumna Receives Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award". James Madison University. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2018 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  37. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2019 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  38. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2020 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  39. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2021 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  40. ↑ "15. Kathy J. Warden". Maryland Daily Record. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  41. ↑ "The World's Most Powerful Women 2022". Forbes. 6 December 2022. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  42. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2022 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  43. ↑ "The World's Most Powerful Women 2023". Forbes. 5 December 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  44. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2023 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  45. ↑ Byck, Daniella; Moeller, Amy (2 October 2023). "Most Powerful Women in Washington". Washingtonian. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  46. ↑ "The World's Most Powerful Women 2024". Forbes. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  47. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2024 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  48. ↑ "Kathy Warden - 2025 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
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