Northrop Grumman VP Jeannie Hilger named a Cool Woman

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Jeannie Hilger, vice president, communications business, has been named one of Girl Scouts San Diego’s Cool Women of 2018. The honorees were selected for the personal and professional achievements that make them consummate role models for girls.

Jeannie Hilger, vice president of Northrop Grumman’s communications business, celebrated the honor of being named a Cool Woman of 2018 at the Girl Scouts San Diego annual Cool Women luncheon and ceremony. Jeannie was introduced by Paige Zimmerman, an Emerging Leader Girl Scout and a junior at Escondido Charter High School, and joined by Carol Dedrich, CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego.

The annual Cool Women luncheon and ceremony demonstrates support for programs that help empower girls to use their voices, develop a strong sense of self, step outside their comfort zones and build resilience.

Where others see obstacles, Jeannie sees opportunities

Paige Zimmerman, a junior at Escondido Charter High School, introduced Jeannie during the program. “Like most innovators, where others see obstacles, Jeannie sees opportunities,” Zimmerman said. “In fact, she loves solving problems so much, she’s encouraging Girl Scouts and others to do so.” The teen wrote the introduction based on her recent, one-on-one meeting with Jeannie.

Zimmerman is one of 30 “Emerging Leader Girl Scouts” who attended the luncheon and participated in a morning mentoring session where Jeannie and other successful female executives and community leaders shared insights about careers, education pathways and overcoming challenges. The Emerging Leader Girl Scouts were selected for their potential and the outstanding achievements that are already making the world a better place.

You can do anything in life

Jeannie, a former Girl Scout, said a common bond she shares with the Girl Scout organization is a passion for involving young women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). “It’s so important, and so vital to our country, to have students in leadership roles and to have them involved in STEM,” Jeannie said. “Girl Scouts has given you the foundation you need. You can do anything in life.”

In support of the Girl Scouts, the San Diego-based business that Jeannie leads launched “Think Outside the Cookie Box.” Now in its fourth year, this day-long STEM conference gives girls the opportunity to perform hands-on science activities, engage with a panel of women engineers and visit company labs. Northrop Grumman is also a bronze sponsor and active participant in the Girl Scout Outreach STEM camp.

Jeannie also established the Adelante Engineering Academy at the company’s San Diego site, which has enlightened more than 2,000 students, from elementary school to college, about the benefits of receiving a STEM degree.

Jeannie is an impressive high achiever

Jeannie leads strategy and operations of Northrop Grumman’s San Diego-based communications business, which develops and deploys advanced military communications and support systems. These include fifth-generation aircraft avionics, airborne gateways and networks, distributed mission live-virtual-constructive training and military satellite communications systems.

During her 30-year career with Northrop Grumman, Jeannie - an expert in the full-lifecycle development and integration of large-scale systems - has executed multiple programs and led multi-disciplinary, cross-organizational teams to solve complex programmatic and technical problems.

Jeannie was named a 2016 National Latina of the Year by the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), one of the nation's largest Latino human service organizations.

“Our organization provides girls with a world’s best girl leadership experience, in an inclusive, girl-led space that empowers them to take the lead,” said Girl Scouts San Diego CEO Carol M. Dedrich. “By shining a spotlight on these extraordinary Cool Women, we are inspiring today’s Girl Scouts to reach their own potential.”

Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with a mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts San Diego has more than 35,000 girl and adult members in San Diego and Imperial counties who benefit from year-round activities and training. Headquartered in Balboa Park, Girl Scouts San Diego maintains two camps in the Cuyamaca Mountains, a program center in Escondido and a service center in Carlsbad.