Tom Afferton
VP, Defense and Intelligence Business Unit
Northrop Grumman
Tom Afferton is vice president of the Defense and Intelligence business unit (BU) for Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems sector. The Defense and Intelligence BU is a premier provider of secure information technology and mission solutions to defense, intelligence and civil security customers.
Most recently, Afferton was vice president, Defense Solutions for the heritage Technology Services sector, where he led a business unit providing technology differentiated cyber security, training, network and information operations, software and engineering services and solutions to defense, homeland security, foreign affairs and intelligence customers. He previously led a business unit providing secure solutions to modernize, sustain and secure critical information systems for civil missions including treasury, foreign affairs, law enforcement, civil aviation and postal. Afferton has also served as vice president, Operations, of the heritage Information Systems sector’s Civil division in which he was responsible for program performance, technology investments and engineering processes. Prior to that, he was director, Public Safety Solutions, where he was responsible for managing a line of business related to the delivery of command and control and mission critical communications solutions to state and local, federal, and international customers. Afferton joined Northrop Grumman in 2004 and has served in a variety of leadership roles responsible for lines of business, program management, technology and strategy. Among his experiences at Northrop Grumman, he has served as the chief engineer of the New York City Wireless Project, where he led engineering efforts through a successful competitive pilot, network design and initial service launch. He has also supported several programs in the United Kingdom.
Afferton began his career at Northrop Grumman advising intelligence community customers on best practices from the commercial telecommunication industry. An advocate for employee engagement and inclusion, he has served as a member of the Executive Diversity and Inclusion Council of multiples sectors and the Northrop Grumman Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Leadership team. Afferton is a member of the Industry Advisory Board of the Systems and Information Engineering Department of the University of Virginia and has previously served as a member of the board of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Foundation.
Afferton began his career at AT&T where he held a variety of engineering and management positions of increasing scope and responsibility related to planning and operating optical networks. Afferton received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit northropgrumman.com for more information.