Ervin chosen to head NG Integrated Systems

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Gary Ervin has been chosen as the next head of U.S. firm Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector.

The company said in a statement last week that its board of directors had "elected Gary W. Ervin corporate vice president and president of the company's Integrated Systems sector."

"Ervin, 49, will report to Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman's chairman and chief executive officer, and will serve on the company's Corporate Policy Council," the statement said.

"Ervin's election as corporate vice president, and his membership on the CPC, is effective immediately," it said. "He will assume his role as sector president Jan. 1, 2008, succeeding Scott J. Seymour, who has announced his plans to retire in early 2008."

Northrop Grumman said Ervin currently holds the job of sector vice president, Western Region for Integrated Systems, "a position he has held since 2005."

The statement said Ervin came to Northrop Grumman in 2001 as vice president and deputy of the sector's Air Combat Systems business area, and then became sector vice president in 2002. "

"Gary has a proven record of successfully managing highly complex and large-scale integration and manufacturing programs within our Integrated Systems business area," Sugar said. "Those programs include the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned system, B-2 stealth bomber, and F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter, all of which are meeting our customers' and our nation's national defense requirements while making significant contributions to our company."

Ervin previously worked for Lockheed Martin for 22 years at its Skunk Works in Palmdale, Calif., most recently as vice president, Advanced Development Programs.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to Scott Seymour for his 24 years of dedication and contributions to the company and our industry," Sugar said. "During his tenure, the Integrated Systems sector grew organically from $3 billion in sales in 2001 to more than $5 billion in sales in 2006. He helped to position the company as a world leader in tactical, long-range strike and unmanned systems. We congratulate Scott on his accomplishments and wish him well in his retirement."