Christopher Adams is the sector vice president and general manager for the Payload & Ground Systems Division of Northrop Grumman Space Systems.
In this role, Adams has executive responsibility for the overall growth and performance of the division’s business portfolio, which includes a wide range of space technology and mission solutions for national security, defense, and civil space customers.
Previously, Adams served as vice president for the Advanced Responsive Integrated Systems (ARIS) business unit within the Strategic Space Systems Division (SSSD) as well as the lead of the National Security Space (NSS) corporate campaign. Prior to that, he was chief engineer and director of systems engineering across a variety of programs and mission areas.
Adams has more than 20 years of experience with Northrop Grumman in the areas of program management, mission systems engineering, and advanced concept development across multiple restricted mission areas, missile warning and missile defense, and high energy lasers.
Adams holds a master’s degree in aeronautics from Caltech and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also holds an engineer’s degree in controls from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and has completed the Executive Program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.