Logicon: History

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In April 1961, eight engineers, all working for Southern California aerospace companies, founded Logicon Inc. The company's name was a derivation of two words, logic and controls, and represented their plan to apply computer technology to the national defense needs.

The venture was launched with a single task - a subcontract with Univac to support digital systems engineering work related to the U.S. Navy's Tactical Data System.

In 1962, Logicon won its first prime contract to directly support that tactical data system, beginning the company's long and successful relationship with the Navy. That same year, Logicon landed an important Air Force contract to support the Titan III space booster program. The company won its first competitive contract award in 1963, capturing the ICBM Advanced Targeting Study for the Air Force. These three contracts fueled the company's growth during the remainder of the 1960s.

During the early 1970s, the company engaged in some activities aimed at diversifying its customer base. Under a contract with the U.S. Postal Service, Logicon produced the process control systems - including computers, electronics and software - that would automate mail handling at 21 bulk mail centers throughout the United States. Another unit of Logicon was engaged in producing a line of pre-press automation systems for the printing industry.

The company's most significant contracts remained with the Department of Defense. Key activities included software development for the Air Force's ballistic missile program, verification and validation of software developed for Air Force weapon systems, and the development of large-scale simulation systems for the Navy.

By the early 1980s, Logicon was engaged in a broad range of activities including: space systems; aircraft & avionics; command & control; information processing; mission planning & analysis; strategic missiles; text & message handling for the intelligence community; air traffic control; automated training systems; newspaper text processing; and industrial plant automation.

In 1983, Logicon acquired R&D Associates, a company whose founders came from the Rand Corporation. RDA was focused on policy issues, research into nuclear weapons effects, analysis of national intelligence collection systems and energy problems. This acquisition increased Logicon's size by about 50 percent and added a whole new customer base.

Logicon went on to acquire Operating Systems Inc.; Chase, Rosen and Wallace; Eagle Technology; and Fourth Generation Technology, Inc., during the 1980s. These companies expanded Logicon's markets and brought new expertise in message text handling, information dissemination, interoperability and fourth generation software programming languages.

Throughout this period, Logicon remained focused on its core defense business. Key contracts included support related to the Strategic Defense Initiative; experimental and technical support for the Defense Nuclear Agency; software development and test support for MX Peacekeeper and small ICBM; the Identification Friend, Foe or Neutral test bed; an air defense simulator; software and system support for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and software development for the Federal Aviation Agency's National Airspace Modernization System.

The early 1990s saw the end of the Cold War and a reduced threat to world peace. The resulting decline in defense budgets caused the government to place emphasis on the maintenance and modernization of existing weapon systems and on the sharing of information across the services in order to maximize resources.

Logicon was well positioned to take advantage of this shift in priorities. It had a solid reputation for its work in the areas of software development and maintenance and modification of existing software for a number of key weapons systems.

In addition, Logicon had established itself as an information technology (IT) company. IT projects were getting high priority within the federal government as it began a massive effort to make the transition from legacy computer systems to distributed, networked systems with common operating environments.

During the 1990s, Logicon made additional strategic acquisitions. It added new capabilities and customers in the area of satellite communications and command and control of space systems when it acquired Ultrasystems in 1991 and Geodynamics Corporation in 1996.

In 1995, Logicon purchased Syscon Corporation, a company nearly a third the size of Logicon. Syscon specialized in support to the Navy, most notably on the AEGIS program and the Naval Sea Systems Command. Syscon also successfully expanded Logicon's role into providing IT support services to federal government agencies such as the Department of Justice, the National Archives and Records Administration and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

While Logicon was growing its business through the 1990s, Northrop Corporation was transforming itself.

Founded in 1939 in Hawthorne, Calif., Northrop was best known for its pioneering work in military airplane design and manufacturing. Faced with a declining defense budget in the 1990s, the company made a strategic decision to reduce its reliance on military aircraft and grow in commercial aerostructures, electronics and information systems.

The first step came in 1992 when Northrop acquired a 49 percent interest in Vought Aircraft Company, a major supplier of aerostructures. Northrop acquired Grumman Corporation in 1994 and renamed itself Northrop Grumman. This acquisition doubled the company's electronics-related business and strengthened its information systems business. Also in 1994, Northrop Grumman purchased the remaining 51 percent of Vought Aircraft.

In 1996, Northrop Grumman made another major acquisition, the defense electronics group of Westinghouse Electric Company. This purchase set Northrop Grumman on a course where its electronics business would exceed its aircraft business.

However, additional opportunities in the information systems world remained.

In 1997, Northrop Grumman acquired Logicon, and established it as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 1998, Northrop Grumman merged its existing information systems business with Logicon, retaining the Logicon name. Also in 1998, Northrop Grumman acquired Inter-National Research Institute Inc., a privately owned software and application development company, to add to its burgeoning information systems business.

Today, Logicon has more than 11,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of nearly $1.5 billion. The company provides expertise in command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR); weapon systems; information systems; training & simulation; science & technology; base & range support; and commercial information services for a variety of state and federal government agencies and scores of commercial enterprises.