[SatNews] Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced that retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Mark Skinner has joined the company as vice president and deputy of business and advanced systems development for the company's Aerospace Systems sector.

Working out of Northrop Grumman's Falls Church, Virginia, corporate office, Skinner will lead and align the sector's presence in Washington, D.C., and serve as the principal sector contact with the company's government relations team. Skinner comes to Northrop Grumman after 36 years of service in the Navy, most recently as the principal military deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. He previously served as the program executive officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs and as assistant commander, Test and Evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command.

Skinner graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a degree in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School and served in the Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate where he was named the Directorate Test Pilot of the Year in 1986.