RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- June 28, 2016 -- Two Saudi students have been selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for a summer externship in the United States, where they will participate in a work-study program with companies affiliated with the renowned business incubator program at the bwtech@UMBC research and technology park of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Two of the students were selected from Al Faisal University and flown to the U.S. to participate in the program, which is coordinated in collaboration with both the UMBC English Language Institute and Career Center.

Arwa Al Anqari and Muneera Al Omran will both spend two months in the Baltimore region. Al Anqari is working at Amidus (www.amidus.com), which provides energy analytics, consulting and implementation services to commercial, institutional and governmental clients in the U.S. and internationally. Al Omran will work at Blue Wave Semiconductor (www.bluewavesemi.com), a high technology manufacturing company focused on supplying nanomaterial deposition tools for the research and development market worldwide.

During the externship program with bwtech@UMBC, students will learn effective entrepreneurial and technical skills in cyber program management and engineering; increase their knowledge of products and solutions to government and commercial customers; improve their business, English technical writing and professional communications skills; and gain effective hands-on experience with a technology company. The program represents a valuable opportunity for the participants, both Saudi women, to develop new expertise in a field where women have historically been underrepresented.

Commenting on the externship initiative, Walid Abukhaled, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Middle East Region, said: "This type of hands-on training is vital for Saudi students, especially Saudi females, who have traditionally been introduced to high technology on a theoretical level rather than receiving practical training.

"Through this innovative program, Northrop Grumman supports Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy, transfer of knowledge and make sure its youth have the skills needed to successfully implement the recently announced 2030 vision."

The externship adds to Northrop Grumman's continuing effort to support knowledge transfer and to increase the percentage of Saudis pursuing science and technology careers. Earlier this year, the company signed a new education and training initiative with King Saud University and began an educational tour of Saudi universities with a program focused on cybersecurity awareness.

The bwtech@UMBC community is a center of innovation for businesses in all different stages of development. Located near Baltimore-Washington International Airport, bwtech@UMBC brings research, entrepreneurship, business leads, prospective clients and economic development in the Maryland region to one singular place—a place full of like-minded businesses on the forefront of innovation. Please visit bwtechumbc.com for more information.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Mohammad Doughan
+966 55 936 8665