CORINTH, Miss. – Aug. 26, 2025 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) revealed the future site of the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Lab at NEMCC’s Corinth campus.
⦁ The new facility, partly funded by a Northrop Grumman Foundation grant, will become an epicenter of advanced manufacturing training, equipping students with the in-demand skills needed for Mississippi’s growing aerospace and defense industry.
⦁ Expected to open in early 2026, this state-of-the-art facility will provide hands-on training in composite material fabrication, repair and inspection, and simulate real-world environments that students may encounter in the workforce.
⦁ This project supports NEMCC’s mission to develop tomorrow’s workforce, by expanding the region’s career ready program offerings.
⦁ By championing the development of the lab and investing in critical skills for advanced manufacturing, Northrop Grumman is supporting American jobs for future generations while driving economic growth in Mississippi and across the country.
Executive Perspectives:
Governor Tate Reeves, Mississippi: “This is another fantastic investment in Mississippians and the future of our workforce. This state-of-the-art facility will be another great asset in preparing our residents for the high-paying, high-tech jobs of the next 50 years. It will serve as a launchpad for the careers of the future, and I'm excited to witness the dividends it will pay. Thank you to Northrop Grumman for investing in Mississippi and her people. It's another great day for Northeast Mississippi Community College and our state.”
Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman: “The Northrop Grumman Aerospace Lab at Northeast Mississippi Community College is a win-win for our company and for the state. This cutting-edge facility will provide a highly trained pipeline to the technical workforce that will help enhance prosperity in Mississippi.”
Ricky Ford, president, NEMCC: “Gratitude is not a big enough word to express our appreciation to Northrop Grumman for their generous contribution in building our aerospace technician lab at Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Corinth campus. This partnership will open doors to countless educational and employment opportunities for the students and citizens of Northeast Mississippi. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our community.”
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman and representatives from the state of Mississippi and NEMCC cut the ribbon on Northrop Grumman Aerospace Lab. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
Details:
Northrop Grumman's roots run deep in the state of Mississippi, innovating navigation suites for naval ships, developing command and control solutions and manufacturing components for spacecraft and advanced fighter and uncrewed multi-intelligence aircraft. With over 800 employees and more than 730,000 square feet of manufacturing space across four sites, along with nearly 100 suppliers in the state, Northrop Grumman is creating jobs and supporting the American aerospace and defense industry, which also drives economic growth in Mississippi.
The Northrop Grumman Foundation supports STEM education and workforce development initiatives to enhance access to and participation in STEM learning, building a pipeline to the technical workforce. In Mississippi, key community partners include Tishomingo County School District, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Moss Point Career & Technical Education Center and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Iuka. The company’s investments in colleges like NEMCC and Mississippi State University demonstrate Northrop Grumman’s commitment to empowering a highly skilled workforce and acknowledge people are the greatest asset driving innovation.
Click here to learn more about Northrop Grumman’s work in Mississippi.
With nearly 100,000 employees and over 30 million square feet of manufacturing space – more than 500 football fields – Northrop Grumman has the capacity, scale, and agility to drive innovation at unprecedented speeds. The company’s manufacturing approaches do more than just produce; they accelerate and enhance the entire process from design and development to production and testing. Northrop Grumman has invested in U.S. infrastructure, R&D, its workforce, and its supply chain to deliver today and tomorrow’s national security needs.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.
