LOS ANGELES - (Business Wire) The Southern California Aeronautic Association (SCAA) has selected Dr. Ronald D. Sugar, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Northrop Grumman Corporation, as its 2008 Howard Hughes Memorial Award recipient.
The annual award, to be presented at a banquet in Los Angeles on Feb. 5, 2009, recognizes aerospace leaders who have made significant contributions to the advancement of aviation and space technology.
"After an extensive review by the SCAA award committee, which includes past honorees, we concluded that Ron Sugar best represents sustained aerospace excellence," said Nissen Davis, chairman of the SCAA's award committee. "He joins an exclusive list of honorees which includes aviation and space pioneers Jack Northrop, Simon Ramo, Neil Armstrong, and Chuck Yeager."
The 30th recipient of the prestigious award heads a firm that is a world leader in information technology and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding and which employs 120,000 people in all 50 states and 25 countries.
Dr. Sugar joined Northrop Grumman following its 2001 acquisition of Litton Industries, where he served as president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining Litton, he was president and chief operating officer of TRW Aerospace and Information Systems. Earlier, he served as TRW’s chief financial officer, and ran TRW's worldwide automotive electronics business. TRW was acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2002.
A commemorative sculpture bearing Dr. Sugar’s name will remain on permanent display at the Los Angeles International Airport's Flight Path Museum. During the banquet, SCAA will present Dr. Sugar with a rare, solid silver medallion featuring Howard Hughes' image as well as depictions of his many accomplishments.
The awards banquet is open to the public. For additional information about SCAA and the 2008 Howard Hughes Memorial Award banquet, call 310-331-1551 or visit http://www.aeroclubsocal.org.
Founded in 1925 as the Aero Club of Southern California, local chapter of the National Aeronautic Association, SCAA increases public awareness of the new and expanding uses of aviation in the United States and around the world. SCAA is credited with saving the famed Hughes HK-1 Flying Boat, now the centerpiece of the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Ore.
For The Southern California Aeronautic Association
Jim Ragsdale, 949-721-1951
ragsdale33@gmail.com
or
Nissen Davis, 310-548-1856
avroy@aol.com
