Northrop Grumman Scholarship Deepens US-Australia Educational Collaboration

CANBERRA, Australia - Sept. 8, 2025 - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)and the American Australian Association are continuing their enduring partnership through the American Australian Association Northrop Grumman Corporation Graduate Education Scholarships. These scholarships support Australian graduate and postdoctoral researchers undertaking advanced study in the United States.

Now in its second decade, the program aligns with the objectives of AUKUS Pillar ll by fostering collaboration in priority fields including quantum technologies, hypersonics, computational mechanics and supply chain resilience.

Since the program's inception, Northrop Grumman has contributed nearly AU$600,000, supporting 11 Australian researchers at the graduate and postdoctoral level. This continued investment reflects Northrop Grumman's commitment to building a pipeline of talent to tackle defence, technology and strategic innovation.

Each scholarship represents a meaningful opportunity for emerging leaders to deepen their expertise, expand global network and contribute to the shared security and prosperity of Australia and the United States. These scholarships help build sovereign capability and strengthen the shared innovation underpinning Australia's long term defence and technology goals.

This partnership provides emerging leaders with transformative opportunities to pursue research and advanced study across the United States and Australia, reinforcing strategic alliance between the two nations while investing in talent that will shape the future of innovation, security and technological collaboration.

Experts:

Rob Denney, country executive, Northrop Grumman Australia: "This scholarship program reflects our long-term commitment to nurturing innovation and strengthening the strategic ties that underpin our shared security and prosperity. By supporting emerging researchers in fields like quantum, hypersonics and supply chain, we're helping to build a sovereign capability that's collaborative, future focused and globally connected."

Chargé d'Affaires Erika Olson: "The Northrop Grumman Australia AUKUS Tech Innovation Scholarships demonstrate that at the core of our trilateral partnership is a commitment to our shared values. This program continues Northrop Grumman and the American Australian Association's long history of providing educational opportunities to our best and brightest minds. These programs are developing the next generation leaders our alliance will need for the subjects that will be determinants of our future security."

Hon Steven Marshall, president, American Australian Association, "Through our Graduate, Veterans and Arts scholarship programs, the American Australian Association is committed to advancing expertise in the next generation of young leaders; creating international alumni networks; and generating new ideas and smart solutions that benefit humanity and help solve pressing global issues. Northrop Grumman's significant investment through the American Australian Association scholarships plays an important part in developing these linkages. We are thankful to Northrop Grumman and our other partners for their ongoing support in making these scholarships possible".

Jane Milward, Northrop Grumman Scholar recipient, MILWARD Research - Ph.D. Signal Processing at MIT: "This research will help ensure that Australia and the United States get the most out of state of the art machine learning systems by providing guarantees on how information behaves in these systems, contributing to Australia's national interest by providing Australia with state of the art private and secure digital systems.

Dr. John Bartholomew, director, Quantum Integration Lab, University of Sydney and 2015 AAA-Northrop Grumman Scholar recipient: "Opportunities like the American Australian Association Northrop Grumman scholarship ensure that Australians will continue to lead scientific and technological innovation on the world stage. In my field of quantum technology, Australia has long been recognised as making the key breakthroughs and my scholarship to Caltech a decade ago equipped me to drive initiatives that have contributed to the world continuing to look to Australia for leadership."

Details on Northrop Grumman:

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.

Details on American Australian Association:

The American Australian Association is the largest privately funded non-profit organization dedicated to broadening, strengthening and developing ties across the Pacific. For 76 years, our programs have connected our two cultures, guided our people and provided new opportunities for a diverse network of trail blazers.

Details on the Program:

The American Australian Association - Northrop Grumman Corporation Graduate Education Scholarship supports Australian individuals undertaking or planning to undertake full-time Graduate level study (Masters, Ph.D. or Postdoctoral Research) at an accredited institution in the USA.

In order to apply, the educational program must be a minimum duration of one year or have at least one year remaining. The scholarship will provide support of up to US $40,000 for one year to those in the specialty fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Physics, Defence Technology, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics and Mathematics. Scholarship funds may be used toward travel, living, tuition and other associated educational costs.

Application Period: January 1 - March 31
https://americanaustralian.org/scholarships/education-fund/specialty-field-scholarships

AAA-NG SCHOLAR RECIPIENTS

2025 Jane Millward | Signals Processing | MIT

2024 Adam Lawrence | Computational Mechanics | University of Illinois

2023 Alwyn Johnson | Supply Chain Resilience | MIT

2022 Sarah Strong | Quantum Physics | University of California, Los Angeles

2021 Todd Whittaker | Engineering | University of Colorado, Boulder

2020 Amelia Munson | Sustainability / Ecology | Monash University

2020 Shamindra Shrotriya | Statistics and Data Science | Carnegie Mellon University

2017 Yixin Gong | Science & Technology Policy | Stanford University

2016 Scott Mullane | Mathematics | Harvard University

2015 John Bartholomew | Quantum Technology | California Institute of Technology

2014 Benjamin Morrell | Engineering | Texas A&M University / MIT / NASA Johnson Space Center

Biographies:

Rob Denney, AM

Country Executive for Australia, Northrop Grumman

Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney (Ret) joined Northrop Grumman in January 2025 following a 33-year career with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). As Country Executive for Australia, he leads the company's Country Strategy and manages relationships with senior Government and Defence leaders whilst guiding efforts to build local industry partnerships and streamlining U.S. reach-back in support of Australian and AUKUS technology priorities.

Rob has extensive leadership experience and an in-depth understanding of Australian military operations and capabilities. Prior to his retirement from the RAAF, he was Head of Force Integration, on the Joint Staff, where he was responsible for leading, designing and assuring the delivery of interoperable capabilities for the joint force.

Born in Wollongong, New South Wales, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1991 as a cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy studying Aeronautical Engineering. He completed Pilots Course and operational tours as an F-111 pilot before graduating from Empire Test Pilot School in the United Kingdom and test pilot tours at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit.

He has Commanded No 6 Squadron (Super Hornet) and No 82 Wing (Super Hornet and Growler aircraft) at RAAF Amberley. Rob has twice deployed to the Middle East Region, both in the Combined Air Operations Centre at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as part of Operation OKRA. He was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for the first deployment. In 2018, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service in air combat capability development and sustainment.

Rob performed the role of the Joint Force Air Component Commander during Australia's 2020 Bushfire and COVID responses and he has completed one- and two-star postings in Air Force Headquarters' Capability Division including Head of Air Force Capability. Rob is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, Canada, has completed the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Rob lives in Canberra with his wife and children and enjoys cycling and his weekly round of golf.

Hon Steven Marshall

President, American Australian Association

Steven Marshall is a prominent Australian political figure who served as the 46th Premier of South Australia from 2018 to 2022. During his tenure, he concurrently held the positions of Minister for Defence, Space, and Cyber, as well as Minister for the Arts, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Marshall led a strategic transformation of the state's economy, focusing on future industries such as advanced manufacturing, space, and defense. His leadership was instrumental in positioning South Australia as a global hub for innovation, attracting significant investments in the tech, defense, energy, and film sectors.

A passionate supporter of the arts, Marshall's commitment to cultural development was evident throughout his political career. His dedication to veterans' affairs also played a crucial role in his government's policies.

Currently, Marshall serves on the Board of the Australian Advisory Council for MITRE, where he continues to advance Australia's space, cyber, and tech industries, promoting collaboration with global partners, especially the United States. His commitment to strengthening the US-Australian alliance is further exemplified by his role as a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham).

With his extensive experience in government and a robust international business network, Marshall remains a driving force for innovation and growth in emerging industries. His diverse roles and expertise make him a valuable asset in fostering technological advancement, cultural enrichment, and economic development in Australia and beyond.

Erika Olson

Chargé d'affaires, US Embassy

Erika Olson is the Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim for the United States in Australia, where she manages the U.S.-Australia bilateral relationship through the Embassy in Canberra and Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. From 2021-2023, she held the post of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy for Southern Europe and the Caucasus. As Director for Regional Political Military Affairs in Europe she guided U.S. participation at NATO and the OSCE. From 2019-2021 she directed the Office of Northern Europe, the Baltics, and Arctic Security.

While serving as Economic Counselor for the United States Mission in Turkey from 2016-2019, she won the Department's Herbert Salzman Award for Excellence in International Economic Performance. She served as Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia; Deputy Political Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia; Political Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Consul and Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. In Washington she was Senior Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom and worked in the Secretary of State's Operations Center.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ms. Olson worked alongside Ambassador Robert Oakley at the National Defense University on conflict and resilience. She advised the Director General of the Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Department of Commerce and worked for Microsoft and the Mitsui Corporation. Erika holds a M.A. in Foreign Affairs with a concentration in international economic policy from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs and a B.A. with Honors in psychology and Japanese studies from Whitman College. She studied at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. She speaks Turkish and Russian, and has studied Japanese, Georgian, and Slovak.

Senator Glenn Sterle

Senator for Western Australia

My name is Glenn Sterle and I was elected in 2004 to represent Western Australia in the Federal Parliament. I was born in 1960 and grew up with my family in Langford, Western Australia. I became a Member of Parliament because I strongly believe I have something to offer and I feel that I can really make a difference, especially when it comes to enforcing the rights of workers in our legislation. As a Senator, I represent the interests of all West Australians. I often travel around Western Australia, especially to the Kimberley region to speak with residents, community groups, local Councils, businesses and industry groups.

A key role that I play within the Parliamentary Committee system is serving as Chair of the Senate Rural Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee. I work with the committee secretariat to conduct inquiries regarding proposed legislation that may impact on regional Australia or on the Agriculture or Transport industries. Some committee inquiries and reports that I have presided over in the past include the Food Standards Amendment (Fish Labelling Bill) 2015, the Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014 and the inquiry into the ownership arrangements of grain handling in 2013.

Outside of parliament, I am passionate about fostering the skills of our young people and providing them with opportunities that allow them to realise their full potential. As patron of a local high school in Perth's eastern suburbs, I developed a leadership trekking program that took a number of students out of the their comfort zone to the rugged wilderness of the Kimberley region in Western Australia where they were challenged with completing a gruelling orienteering course as a team. Over three years, a number of students tackled this trek and came back more confident, more comfortable working with their peers and with an experience many others will never enjoy.

In June of 2018, I was honoured to be appointed by Bill Shorten as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety. I was again honoured to be re-appointed the Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety by Anthony Albanese after he became leader in 2019. In the Senate, I currently serve as the Chair of the Senate Rural, Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee and on the 1st of December 2022, I was appointed Chair of the Albanese Government's Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Initiative Steering Committee.

AAA-NG AUKUS TECH INNOVATION SCHOLAR RECIPIENTS:

2025 - NG Scholar Recipient JANE MILWARD

Research - Ph.D. Signal Processing at MIT

Jane is an electrical engineer who is passionate about signal processing. After graduating from the University of New South Wales where she won the University Medal for Electrical

Engineering, she received a Fulbright Future Scholarship to pursue a PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For her PhD research, Jane is developing privacy and security preserving signal processing techniques for machine learning and wireless communications applications. She is particularly interested in applying her signal processing research to challenges in the defence and national security sector, having completed internships with Australia's Department of Defence and cybersecurity company Penten Amio.

In 2024, Jane was awarded a Quad Fellowship, a fellowship which supports graduate students working at the intersection between science and social impact. Outside of her research, she enjoys classical singing, trying new restaurants in the Boston area and CrossFit.

2024 -NG Scholar Recipient ADAM LAWRENCE

Research: Computational Mechanics at University of Illinois

Adam completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in environmental engineering at the University of Melbourne, graduating with first-class honors. His prior research focused on modeling ship stability in rough sea states and assessing the impacts of climate change on shipping and asylum seeker voyages to Australia.

Currently, Adam is about to begin a PhD in computational mechanics in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests lie in high-performance computing and computational fluid dynamics, particularly their applications to environmental flow problems.

Adam's research centers on computational hydraulics, with a focus on wave-structure interaction, flooding, and geomorphological modeling. He aims to develop efficient parallel models for simulating complex environmental and civil systems. His work supports the advancement of sustainable infrastructure and the future of engineering education in Australia.

Adam's research plan involves developing advanced modeling techniques and leveraging AI to create cutting-edge fluid-structure interaction models. His goal is to enhance the understanding and prediction of complex interactions between natural environmental systems and human-engineered systems, ultimately contributing to more resilient and sustainable engineering solutions.

2023 - NG Scholar Recipient ALWYN JOHNSON

Research: Critical supply chains, focussing on AUS guided missiles at MIT

Alwyn Johnson is the 2023 American Australian Association - Northrop Grumman AUKUS Tech Scholarship recipient, awarded Round 1, 2023 (AUS to USA).

Alwyn Johnson is a supply chain management expert and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) veteran. He was a recipient of the 2023 Northrop Grumman scholarship and recently graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Applied Science in Supply Chain Management. Alwyn's study at MIT included researching methods for improving supply chain resilience.

Alwyn previously served as a Logistics Officer in the RAN for 10 years. He is a veteran of four tours including Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Gulf of Aden, and Africa as a UN peacekeeper. In addition to his private sector work, Alwyn remains connected to the defence community where he aims to contribute to defence supply chain and manufacturing policy.

He currently lives in Melbourne with his wife and two young children, Ned and Maggie.

FORMER AAA-NG SCHOLAR:

2015 AAA-NG Scholar Recipient - Dr. John Bartholomew
Director, Quantum Integration Lab, University of Sydney

Dr. John Bartholomew is developing technologies to create a quantum internet. Currently he is focusing on using crystals containing the rare-earth element erbium to integrate optical photons, microwave photons, and solid-state spins in a single quantum system.

John received his PhD in physics from the Australian National University in 2014 working with Associate Professor Matthew Sellars in the Solid State Spectroscopy Group. The focus of John's thesis was advancing the miniaturisation and scalability of rare-earth ion systems for quantum information science.

In 2015 he took up a research position with the Crystal and Quantum State Dynamics Group (Chimie Paristech, France) to study the quantum optical properties of rare-earth ions in nanoparticles. The following year John received the American Australian Association Northrop Grumman Fellowship to join the Nanoscale and Quantum Optics Group at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Following three and a half years in Pasadena, John returned to Australia commencing as the Director of the Quantum Integration Laboratory in the second half of 2019.

"Opportunities like the American Australian Association Northrop Grumman scholarship ensure that Australians will continue to lead scientific and technological innovation on the world stage. In my field of quantum technology, Australia has long been recognised as making the key breakthroughs and my scholarship to Caltech a decade ago equipped me to drive initiatives that have contributed to the world continuing to look to Australia for leadership".