Architecting Your Own Future

Mission architects fulfill a visionary role at Northrop Grumman, developing solutions to disrupt future technology. They bring an unparalleled set of skills, from being a holistic thinker to a jack of all trades. 

As a mission architect, John has carved his own path to being the outside-the-box thinker who innovates solutions before the customer knows they need them. That twist of creativity means looking beyond current requirements to imagine what could come next, connecting ideas in new ways to shape the future of technology for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. 

Doing Your Research 

John focuses on defining solutions for maritime customers with surface warfare missions. He’s spent his entire career doing this, but not always at Northrop Grumman. 

Previously, he was an officer in the U.S. Navy and worked for the Secretary of the Navy and at the Missile Defense Agency. In those roles, he actively sought work where he was figuring out requirements, funding research and getting the Department of Defense ready for new technology. 

“This type of role is incredibly unique — most officers in the Navy go into program management,” John said. “But I like solving engineering problems, thinking through the way things work.” 

Although those parts of his career ended up being the backbone of his knowledge for this role, he still researches every day. Whether it’s reading mission plans and requirements documents, meeting with program offices or calling up old colleagues in the Navy, John is continuously learning and soaking in information. This information gives him a holistic view of what the Navy and Marine Corps need for a surface warfare mission.