Northrop Grumman Foundation Awards $60,000 Grant to Purdue University for Systems Engineering Program for Veterans

October 29, 2024

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University has received a $60,000 grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation, which will allow 22 recent graduates or current students from Purdue Global to participate in the Purdue Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Foundations Digital Badge Program, Purdue’s Office of Industry Partnerships announced.

The online MBSE Foundations Digital Badge Program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip learners with essential skills in model-based systems engineering. The program includes seven modules that cover critical topics such as system modeling languages, methodologies, tools, and best practices. By completing this program, participants will gain the expertise needed to create and manage complex system models, enhancing their ability to solve real-world engineering problems with precision and efficiency. Module content was selected to help meet the industry’s needs for a workforce prepared to perform efficiently in a model-based digital enterprise, especially in a production engineering context.

“We are deeply grateful to the Northrop Grumman Foundation for their generous support,” said Diana Hancock, associate vice president of educational partnerships in Purdue University’s Office of Industry Partnerships. “This grant will enable us to provide valuable educational opportunities to former military members and veterans, helping them transition to successful careers in systems engineering. The MBSE Foundations Digital Badge Program will equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this field.”

The digital badge program is delivered entirely online, offering flexibility for veterans to upskill without disrupting their personal and professional lives. Participants will benefit from high-quality instructional content, interactive learning experiences, and personalized feedback from Purdue’s expert faculty. Upon successful completion of the program, learners will earn a digital badge that can be displayed on professional profiles and shared with employers to demonstrate their MBSE competencies.

The grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation demonstrates the company’s commitment to supporting veterans and advancing education. This partnership with Purdue University is a testament to the impact that collaborative efforts between industry and academia can have on addressing workforce needs and empowering individuals with valuable skills.

“Our organization is committed to supporting those in the military who are serving and sacrificing around the world. With veterans comprising 18% of our workforce, we also have a deep connection to our service members,” said Agartha Larbi, vice president, global corporate responsibility, Northrop Grumman and president, Northrop Grumman Foundation. “The Northrop Grumman Foundation is committed to supporting veteran hiring and transition to civilian life, and the Purdue MBSE Foundations Digital Badge Program does just that. The program’s emphasis on systems engineering also helps develop talent and skillsets that are critical in the aerospace and defense technology industry.” 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

About Purdue Global
Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.

About Purdue University Online

The online modality of Purdue University’s flagship West Lafayette, Ind., campus, Purdue University Online enables global access to one of the world’s great universities, offering high quality, high impact learning in high demand areas, with an eye to innovating in online education and a goal of excellence at scale. Through Purdue University Online, Purdue offers a variety of degree, credit and noncredit programs aimed especially at working professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree who are focused on becoming leaders in their fields.

Writer: Kaitlin McQueen

Media Contact:
Office of Industry Partnerships, Educational Partnerships, EduPartnerships@purdueforlife.org 

Sources: 
Diana Hancock, associate vice president, Office of Industry Partnerships
Souki Lamrani, director of educational partnerships, Office of Industry Partnerships
Agartha Larbi, president, Northrop Grumman Foundation