Donald C. Winter, president of Mission Systems for Northrop Grumman Corporation and a graduate of the University of Rochester, will deliver the closing keynote address for National Engineers’ Week at the University of Rochester at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, in the Welles-Brown Room of Rush Rhees Library. A reception for students, faculty, and community members will follow. Winter’s address, titled a “Philosophy of Systems Engineering,” will examine the dilemma in bridging the gap between how engineering and science are taught and practiced.
“The University is delighted to welcome Don Winter and his wife Linda Winter—also a Rochester graduate—back to campus. We are very pleased that Don can share with us his keen insights on engineering and scientific education, honed through a long and distinguished career as a corporate executive,” commented Thomas J. LeBlanc, the Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the College Faculty.
Winter is corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems sector, a member of Northrop Grumman’s Corporate Policy Council, and the company’s lead executive for its missile defense business. He oversees operations of the Mission Systems sector, a $5 billion global integrator of complex, mission-enabling systems and services for defense and intelligence markets with nearly 18,500 employees. The sector’s technology leadership and expertise spans areas such as strategic systems; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; command and control; technical services; and training.
After earning a bachelor of science degree in physics from Rochester in 1969, Winter received a master of science degree and a doctorate in physics from the University of Michigan in 1970 and 1972, respectively. He began his career with TRW Inc. in 1972 when he joined the TRW Systems Group Research staff. He briefly left the company in 1980 and joined the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as program manager for space acquisition, tracking, and pointing programs. During that period, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service.
Rejoining TRW in 1982, Winter held a variety of positions of increasing importance at the company until his appointment as president and CEO of TRW Systems in 2000. From 1990 through 1997, he served as vice president and general manager of the Defense Systems Division of TRW’s Space & Electronics business, where he directed space systems activities that supported the national defense effort. During 1998 and 1999, he served as vice president and general manager for group development in Space & Electronics where he managed all of the unit’s business development, including marketing, planning, international, engineering, and technology functions. He was named to lead TRW’s Systems Group in 2000. This organization was renamed the Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sector following TRW’s acquisition in 2002.
A member of the National Academy of Engineering, Winter also serves on the board of directors for the USO of Metropolitan Washington, the Wolf Trap Foundation and on the board of governors for the Electronics Industries Alliance.
For further information about National Engineers’ Week activities at the University of Rochester, please contact the School of Engineering and Applied Science Dean’s Office at 275-3954.