MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 12, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has named Sam Shekar, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer within the company's Information Systems sector.

Sam Shekar, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer for Northrop Grumman Information Systems sector

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Shekar will provide strategic direction for Northrop Grumman's health information technology (IT) business and will serve as an adviser to the healthcare and public health community, customers, partners and government agencies and health care organizations on technology and health policy issues in the medical, clinical and public health fields.

"During his impressive service with the federal government, Dr. Shekar was effective in guiding change and efficiency within agencies, earning him distinguished awards and praise for his accomplishments," said Amy King, vice president of health IT programs for Northrop Grumman. "We are honored to have him join our company and his unique background will be a valuable asset to Northrop Grumman's robust suite of services and offerings to national and regional health-related customers."

Shekar served as a physician consultant prior to joining Northrop Grumman. Previously, he spent 21 years with the United States Public Health Service. A former Assistant Surgeon General and Rear Admiral, Shekar has held executive-level health policy management positions at the Office of Public Health and Science, the National Institutes of Health, and the Health Resources and Services Administration. He also worked as a medical officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season, he served in Louisiana and Florida, directing the federal health response in Florida for Hurricane Wilma.

Shekar is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine and holds a medical license in the state of Maryland. He earned bachelor's, master's of public health and doctorate of medicine degrees from the University of Michigan.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

CONTACT: Christy Whitman
         Northrop Grumman Information Systems
         (571) 213-5302
         christine.whitman@ngc.com