James M. Zortman
Sector Vice President, Life Cycle Logistics and Support, Aerospace Systems
Jim Zortman is sector vice president, Life Cycle Logistics and Support at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems headquartered in El Segundo, California. Supporting sector strategy of “design anywhere, build anywhere,” he provides sector-level leadership of the full spectrum of logistics and product support functions. He is responsible for ensuring that the same excellence in integration now represented in design and production at Aerospace Systems is fully exploited in anticipation and fulfillment of product support requirements.
Jim joined Northrop Grumman in January 2008 following a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy, where he ultimately attained the rank of Vice Admiral. In his most recent assignment, he served as Commander Naval Air Forces and CEO, Naval Aviation Enterprise. In this role, he led a combined team of more than 180,000 military, government, civilian, and contractor personnel responsible for operations, readiness, and full life-cycle management of 3,800 aircraft and 12 aircraft carriers.
His prior assignments include commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet; commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet; commander, Task Force Fifty; commander, John C. Stennis Battle Group; director, Operations and Politico-Military Affairs; and executive officer to the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has earned the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (4), and the Bronze Star.
Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis,Maryland, and completed a fellowship in strategic studies with the Naval War College. He has also completed courses in executive business and strategic planning at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and the University of North Carolina Business School at Chapel Hill, respectively.
