Experienced industry executive Heather K. Armentrout has been appointed US President and General Manager of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Inc., representing the Norwegian defence contractor’s activities in the United States. Ms Armentrout joins Kongsberg from Northrop Grumman, where she has held several senior leadership positions.
She also brings to KDA knowledge of how think tanks inform US policy from her time as the intelligence fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, and more than a decade of experience at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“I am very pleased to have recruited such a strong leader to head up our US company,” said Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “Heather has had a unique career, combining experiences from Northrop Grumman, academia, and the CIA to make her an accomplished international affairs executive as well as a strategic, global defense industry leader.”
Heather joined Northrop Grumman in a government relations role, leveraging her experience from a joint-duty assignment in the US Senate during her tenure at the CIA. Heather has extensive knowledge of military acquisition and the global security environment. Her subsequent assignments have involved strategic investment in technology to align Northrop Grumman’s solutions with the Department of Defense’s future needs. Most of her assignments have involved strategy to expand Northrop Grumman’s presence in international markets.
“I am very excited to join Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace at a critical time for the global defence industry. I know the company as a strong niche player that has been traditionally focused on its home market, but with growing international success in recent years,” said Heather K. Armentrout. “The portfolio of products is well-suited outside Norway, which forms a good platform for future growth. The innovation Kongsberg represents is welcomed by US authorities and armed forces, and I look forward to building on that,” she added.
In her new role, she will deploy her vast experience from one of the world’s leading defence contractors, but she also sees commonalities with her work at the CIA. “There are many relevant experiences from my old assignments. The ability to consume vast amounts of information, evaluate and condense it, and then make it actionable, is one example. There is also commonality in the mission – which is to secure the US and its allies with the best tools available,” she adds.
“We really look forward to welcoming Heather to lead the strong KDA US team. Heather will build the organization to support our rapidly growing ambitions in the US,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra, executive vice president, Integrated Defence Systems and chairman of the US entity.
Heather K. Armentrout has a Master’s degree in Security Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service, both from Georgetown University. She assumes her role on February 5, and is based in Alexandria, VA.