Kathy Warden

Kathy Warden
Warden in 2024
Kathy Warden
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Chair, CEO and President, Northrop Grumman
Employer	Northrop Grumman
Known for	Chairman, CEO and President of Northrop Grumman
Education	James Madison University (BA) George Washington University (MBA)
Awards	Fed 100 Award (2015), Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award (2018)
Website	[northropgrumman.com Official site]

Kathy J. Warden (born 1970 or 1971) is an American business executive who serves as the chair, chief executive officer (CEO), and president of Northrop Grumman, one of the largest defense and aerospace companies in the world. She assumed the role of CEO and president on January 1, 2019, succeeding Wesley Bush, and subsequently became chair of the board of directors. Warden rose through the ranks at Northrop Grumman after joining the company in 2008, holding a series of leadership positions across the corporation's information systems, missile defense, and enterprise operations divisions before being named chief operating officer in 2018. A graduate of James Madison University and the George Washington University School of Business, Warden has been recognized as one of the most prominent women in the American defense industry and among the most influential executives in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Under her leadership, Northrop Grumman has overseen several major defense programs, including the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and key components of the nation's missile defense architecture.

Early Life

Kathy Warden was born in approximately 1970 or 1971. Details about her early childhood and family background are limited in publicly available sources. She grew up and eventually settled in the greater Washington, D.C. area, where she would build her career in the defense and technology industries.

Before joining Northrop Grumman, Warden accumulated significant experience in the technology and defense sectors. She worked at General Dynamics, one of the major U.S. defense contractors, where she gained expertise in information technology and defense services. Prior to General Dynamics, she also held positions at other technology firms, building a foundation in program management, business development, and enterprise operations that would prove instrumental in her later career trajectory at Northrop Grumman.

Education

Warden earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She later served on the university's Board of Visitors, reflecting her continued connection to the institution. In 2018, James Madison University's College of Business recognized Warden with the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award, honoring her accomplishments in the business world. She also delivered a commencement address at the university in 2018.

Warden went on to earn her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C. The George Washington University later highlighted her appointment as CEO of Northrop Grumman as a notable achievement by one of its alumni.

Career

Early Career and Rise at Northrop Grumman

Before her tenure at Northrop Grumman, Warden worked at General Dynamics, where she held leadership roles in the company's information technology operations. She joined Northrop Grumman in 2008 and quickly advanced through a series of progressively senior management positions.

At Northrop Grumman, Warden initially served in leadership roles within the company's Information Systems sector. She was responsible for overseeing cybersecurity, intelligence, and civil programs, areas that were growing in strategic importance for the defense industry. Her work in these areas earned her the Fed 100 Award in 2015, which recognized her contributions to federal information technology.

In November 2015, Warden was named corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector, a major division of the company responsible for sensors, processing systems, and other advanced capabilities for military and intelligence customers. In this role, she oversaw a business unit with tens of thousands of employees and billions of dollars in revenue, managing programs spanning radar, electronic warfare, communications, and command and control systems.

Chief Operating Officer

On July 12, 2018, Northrop Grumman announced that then-Chairman and CEO Wesley Bush would step down from the CEO role effective January 1, 2019, and that Warden, who had been serving as president and chief operating officer (COO), would succeed him. Bush was set to remain as executive chair through a transition period.

Warden had been elevated to the position of COO earlier in 2018, a move that industry observers recognized as positioning her as the likely successor to Bush. As COO, she oversaw all four of Northrop Grumman's operating sectors as well as enterprise-level functions.

The leadership transition came during a significant period for Northrop Grumman. In June 2018, the company completed its acquisition of Orbital ATK, a major deal valued at approximately $9.2 billion that expanded Northrop Grumman's capabilities in rocket propulsion, missile defense, and space launch systems. The acquisition added a new Innovation Systems sector to the company, which was later reorganized. Warden played a key role in the integration of Orbital ATK into Northrop Grumman's operations during her time as COO and then as CEO.

Chief Executive Officer

Warden officially became CEO and president of Northrop Grumman on January 1, 2019. She subsequently assumed the additional title of chair of the board of directors, making her one of the few women to lead a major U.S. defense contractor as both chair and CEO.

Under Warden's leadership, Northrop Grumman has been at the center of several major U.S. defense programs. The company is the prime contractor for the B-21 Raider, the U.S. Air Force's next-generation stealth bomber, which is one of the most significant military aircraft development programs in decades. In early 2026, Warden indicated that Northrop Grumman expected to reach an agreement with the U.S. Air Force by the end of March 2026 to accelerate production of the B-21 bomber. Warden linked the potential acceleration of B-21 deliveries to a proposed increase in the overall program of record, suggesting that expanding the number of planned aircraft would be connected to faster production timelines. She noted that the previous year's government shutdown had delayed negotiations between the company and the Air Force on the production deal.

Defense Strategy and Recent Initiatives

In December 2025, Warden discussed Northrop Grumman's involvement in Project Talon, the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, and broader defense spending priorities, emphasizing the need for rapid development of military capabilities. These programs reflect Northrop Grumman's central role in the United States' evolving national defense architecture, particularly in areas such as missile defense, space systems, and advanced strike platforms.

In February 2026, Warden addressed questions about Northrop Grumman's solid rocket motor business, which the company acquired through the Orbital ATK deal. She stated that Northrop Grumman was not seeking direct Department of Defense investment for its solid rocket motor operations but acknowledged that suppliers in the rocket motor supply chain might pursue such investment. Warden emphasized the "strategic synergy" among the various parts of Northrop Grumman's portfolio and the company's desire to maintain its existing ownership structure for these assets.

Warden presented at Citi's Global Industrial Tech & Mobility Conference in February 2026, where she discussed Northrop Grumman's strategic direction and financial outlook.

In November 2025, under Warden's leadership, Northrop Grumman announced a chief financial officer transition, with the board of directors electing John Greene as the company's new CFO.

Personal Life

Warden is based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, where Northrop Grumman is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. She has maintained involvement with civic and cultural organizations in the region. She has served on the board of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a major performing arts venue in Northern Virginia.

Warden has also served on the Board of Visitors at James Madison University, her undergraduate alma mater, maintaining ties to the institution and contributing to its governance.

In February 2026, SEC filings indicated that Warden sold 20,000 shares of Northrop Grumman stock.

Recognition

Warden has received several awards and honors throughout her career. In 2015, she received the Fed 100 Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to federal information technology. The award acknowledged her work leading Northrop Grumman's information systems programs supporting government customers.

In 2017, Washingtonian magazine named Warden one of the "Most Powerful Women in Washington," highlighting her influence in the defense industry and the greater Washington, D.C. business community.

In 2018, James Madison University's College of Business honored Warden with the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award, recognizing her career accomplishments and leadership in the business world. That same year, she was invited to deliver a commencement address at JMU, further reflecting the university's recognition of her achievements as one of its most prominent alumni.

When her appointment as CEO of Northrop Grumman was announced in 2018, Fortune noted that she would be joining the small but growing ranks of women leading Fortune 500 companies, and specifically one of the few women at the helm of a major defense contractor. The George Washington University School of Business also recognized her appointment, highlighting it as a notable achievement by one of the school's MBA graduates.

Legacy

Warden's tenure as CEO of Northrop Grumman has coincided with a period of significant transformation in the U.S. defense industry, marked by increased emphasis on great power competition, modernization of the nuclear triad, and the development of next-generation military platforms. As the leader of one of the five largest U.S. defense contractors, Warden has presided over the continued development and initial flight testing of the B-21 Raider, a program considered central to the future of American airpower.

The integration of Orbital ATK into Northrop Grumman, a process that began under her predecessor but which Warden oversaw as COO and then CEO, expanded the company's footprint in rocket propulsion, ammunition, and space launch systems, creating a more diversified defense enterprise. Her management of this integration and subsequent reorganization of Northrop Grumman's business sectors has been viewed as a defining aspect of her early tenure.

Warden's rise to the top of Northrop Grumman has also been noted in the context of gender representation in corporate leadership. As the chair and CEO of one of the largest defense firms in the world, she is among a small number of women who have held the top position at a major U.S. defense contractor. Her career trajectory — from roles in information technology and cybersecurity to the leadership of one of the most prominent companies in the defense industrial base — reflects broader shifts in the defense industry toward digital technologies, integrated systems, and multi-domain operations.

As of early 2026, Warden continues to lead Northrop Grumman through negotiations on critical defense programs, including the B-21 Raider production expansion and missile defense initiatives such as Project Talon and the Golden Dome concept.