Leah Ford Forde

I am a mission assurance and quality engineering leader with over a decade and a half of experience in the defense and aerospace industry, currently serving as Division Mission Assurance Manager at Northrop Grumman, a role I have held since July 2024, where I partner with the Mission Assurance Division Senior Director to define and execute operational strategy, managing a three-million-dollar-plus annual budget and overseeing forty-three Quality Assurance professionals. I serve as the primary liaison to HR, IT, Legal, Finance, and Compliance, coordinating ISO and AS9100 audits and achieving a one hundred percent on-time closure rate for all audit findings. I manage Quality and Mission Assurance activities for Emerging Capabilities Development and Uncrewed business units, drive speed through quality initiatives that enable rapid development and fielding of next-generation defense systems, lead cross-functional teams to ensure product quality and compliance, and manage corrective actions and continuous improvement processes, reducing non-conformance rates by twenty-five percent and increasing on-time delivery of qualified products by eighteen percent.

I have been with Northrop Grumman for over fifteen years, having served as Site Mission Assurance Manager, Quality Engineering Manager, and Quality Engineer, where I supported NAVAIR aircraft programs. I also served as Regional Manager for the Americas, Northern Europe, and Israel in International Trade Compliance, and as Industrial Engineer, where I participated in the Professional Development Program with rotations in Physical Security, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, and Corporate Export and Import Compliance. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, I served as Industrial Engineer at Middle River Aircraft Systems for one year.

Across my career in mission assurance, quality engineering, and international trade compliance, my work has been driven by a commitment to excellence, safety, and continuous improvement in support of critical defense and aerospace systems. Whether I am leading quality assurance teams, managing audit compliance, or driving cross-functional initiatives, I bring a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a dedication to delivering high-quality products that meet customer requirements and support national security. I am proud of the work I have done throughout my career and excited to continue advancing mission assurance and quality excellence at Northrop Grumman.