Northrop names new VITA program manager

Northrop Grumman Corp. has appointed Jim Kane vice president and program manager of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency program, effective Sept. 19, the company has announced.

Kane replaces Sam Abbate, who played an important role in VITA's information technology modernization efforts, according to the July 12 announcement, which gave no further details.

Kane will be responsible for Northrop’s overall program management of the IT infrastructure partnership between Northrop Grumman and the Commonwealth of Virginia, which is overseen by VITA.

This public/private venture is modernizing the state executive branch's IT infrastructure and providing resources and expertise to improve the delivery of services, the company said.

During his 17-year career at Northrop Grumman, Kane has served in a variety of management positions, including CIO and manager of information systems.

Most recently, he was Northrop Grumman's director of Information Technology Services on the Missile Defense Agency Joint National Integration Center Research and Development Contract program, where he was responsible for the strategic direction and operations of the program's IT organization.

Kane earned a bachelor's degree from National-Louis University in Chicago, and attended executive leadership programs at the Harvard University Law School, the University of Chicago and Babson College.

Northrop Grumman Corp., of Falls Church, Va., and Los Angeles ranks No. 2 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.