John A. Pettitt
Corporate Lead Executive, Northrop Grumman Corporation
John Pettitt is the Corporate Lead Executive for the Northrop Grumman Corporation in San Diego since February 2004. He provides a focal point for relationships between the corporation, local DoD commands, and the San Diego community. Northrop Grumman has multiple offices located in San Diego County, with nearly 5000 local employees and is one of the largest defense contractors in our nation’s 8th largest city. Key customer interfaces include the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Special Warfare Command Pacific, Naval Surface Forces, Naval Air Forces, THIRD Fleet, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
He moved his office to San Diego in August 2000 after Westinghouse Defense Electronics Group as a Field Marketing representative in August 1994 at China Lake, California.
After 25 years of service, John retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994 as a Captain. Following flight training and his designation as a naval aviator, he flew single-seat light attack and strike fighter aircraft off numerous aircraft carriers, accruing over 5,500 flight hours and 675 carrier landings. He commissioned in the U.S. Navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate School in February 1970.
John serves on the boards for the following organizations: San Diego Fleet Week Foundation, Wings Over America Foundation, San Diego Military Advisory Council, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, San Diego Futures Foundation, Tail Hook Education Foundation, California State University, San Marcos College of Arts and Science Advisory Council, and is a National Director for the Navy League of the United States.
John is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from Salve Regina University. He also attended the Naval War College and earned a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. John, a native of Boise, Idaho, is married to Marilyn Weeks of Kingsville, Texas. The couple has one married son, John Jr.; a daughter-in-law, Allison; one grandson; and one daughter, Courtney.