Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) Sperry Marine business unit is celebrating 50 years of manufacturing and engineering at its headquarters in Charlottesville, Va. The company held a special ceremony and open house this week to commemorate the event.

Speakers and distinguished guests at the 50th Anniversary Celebration included U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.), Delegates Robert Bell (R-Charlottesville) and David Toscano (D-Charlottesville), Rear Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, III, U.S. Navy, and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems sector president Jim Pitts.

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine opened its doors in Charlottesville in 1956 as Sperry Piedmont Company. Since then, the organization has grown to include 1,455 employees worldwide including major engineering and support offices in New Malden, United Kingdom and Hamburg, Germany. About half of Sperry’s workforce is situated in Charlottesville.

Sperry Marine provides navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry with customer service and support through offices in 16 countries, sales representatives in 47 countries and authorized service depots in more than 250 locations worldwide.

Over the years, Sperry Marine has richly supported the Charlottesville community. The company has donated to a variety of local causes including the Thomas Jefferson Area Food Bank, Albemarle City Police, Martha Jefferson Hospital, Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department and the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad. The company also supports national charities such as the United Way, the American Cancer Society and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. During the commemorative ceremony, Sperry Marine presented checks to the American Heart Association and Piedmont Virginia Community College.

“Sperry Marine employees genuinely care about the company’s reputation, our customers and our community. These are some of the major contributing factors to our success,” said John DeMaso, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s Naval and Marine Systems Division and former Sperry Marine president. “We are proud of our past and by building upon our long, honorable tradition and superior employees, Sperry Marine will continue to grow and enhance our leadership position in the marine market by delivering unique value and customer satisfaction.”

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.

For commercial sales inquiries, contact Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine by phone, +1 (434) 974-2656 or by e-mail, sales_commercial@sperry.ngc.com. For military sales inquiries, call +1 (434) 974-2134 or e-mail sales_military@sperry.ngc.com. Visit our Web site at www.sperrymarine.northropgrumman.com.