Skip Magness named Northrop Grumman's cyber division VP of operations

Northrop Grumman Corporation, the Virginia-based firm that ranks as the world’s fifth-largest defense contractor, has appointed Skip Magness to the post of vice president of operations within the company’s cyber division.

The cyber division is part of the company's Information Systems sector, and Magness’ appointment is effective immediately.

Magness will have executive responsibility for the coordination, execution and optimization of internal operations and resources with the mission to fulfill the division's long-term and annual operating plans.

That includes workforce and resource planning, spearheading affordability initiatives and managing the day-to-day business structure of the organization. Magness will have direct oversight of the execution of division's strategy including new business initiatives and expanding the division's core capabilities.

Magness will report to Shawn Purvis, Northrop Grumman’s cyber division vice president and general manager. Purvis said Magness has a wealth of experience to bring to the table.

"He is a proven business leader and we will look to his expertise to optimize our operations, utilizing his breadth of experience across our different mission areas and customer domains," Purvis said.

Magness is a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security (CCHS) at George Washington University and was previously the director of network defense and intelligence operations for Northrop Grumman’s cyber division.

There, he was responsible for delivering mission-critical cyber solutions the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security and other intelligence agencies. He has been with the defense company since 1990.