ClearanceJobs recently sat down with Jason Corrigan, director of business development for mission readiness and protective systems at Northrop Grumman. He is responsible for leading a team of business development and capture managers for all new business opportunities. Before joining Northrop Grumman, Jason served in the United States Air Force. He completed three combat tours to Iraq with the 820th Security Forces Squadron as a Ground Combat Airman. He shared with us his transition out of the military to his role at Northrop Grumman.
How Did You Land at Northrop Grumman?
For Northrop Grumman, recruiting happens even when employees are on site with customers. While over in Iraq, Corrigan remembers working with some “wicked smart” engineers who were focused on the mission and receptive to feedback as the first time that Northrop Grumman caught his eye. As he researched, he found that their support of the same mission that he was currently working towards continued to resonate with how he wanted to spend his time after the military.
Smooth onboarding begins with connecting people together. Corrigan credits his connection to a field engineer farther along in the process as a key enabler to making the process of moving from military to contractor a smooth transition. Mentorship is key when making the military transition, something that Northrop Grumman is especially sure to do when onboarding a veteran. Facilitating connections between people within Northrop that are farther along in the process allows new employees to learn and grow faster.
Supporting the Mission at Northrop Grumman
Mission focus was the key attraction for Corrigan, and it’s what makes him want to stick around. “I get the privilege of leading and working with some of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met that literally wake up and go to bed thinking about how to solve complex problems for the U.S. military,” shared Corrigan.
The defense industry really appreciates the involvement of veterans, particularly because of what Corrigan explains as “total product lifecycle ownership…so when someone wearing the uniform is using a product that Northrop Grumman has created, there’s been a veteran that was a part of that process from the beginning…from the spark of an idea, to the research and development, to the building of a prototype, to structuring a contract, to building it, and to training people on it, to deploying it, and supporting it…there was a veteran involved to ensure it works as the warfighter intended it to be used…that’s pretty powerful.”
Northrop Grumman leadership truly seeks to bring out a collection of diversified talent to bring ideas to reality. Leadership understands that creating a place that celebrates professional development from a variety of backgrounds and skill sets helps drive success in meeting mission support in national security.
Military Transition Advice
When it comes to making the military transition, Corrigan says, “Don’t settle. Recognize the value you bring, and find a company that values the same things you did while serving in the military.” It’s helpful to have the right plans, education, and certifications in place; however, don’t put a ceiling on where you can work. Corrigan researched companies and saw that the integrity that Northrop Grumman promoted was what he saw displayed in the military. At Northrop, everything starts with integrity – even before a project kicks off.
The hardest part of the transition is finding the right company to support after time in the military. Northrop Grumman wants veterans who are passionate about the work that they’re doing. The message of caring about employees starts with the leadership at the top and is seen through the way that Northrop Grumman focuses on career advancement, work-life balance, and treating employees and partners with respect.
Getting Hired at Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Their 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.
