Mason named vice president of TRW UAV Systems line of business

Business Wire, April 10, 1995

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 1995--TRW Avionics & Surveillance Group Monday announced that Robert C. Mason has been named vice president.

Mason will continue to be responsible for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Systems line of business, for which he was named managing director in February. He reports to Robert J. Kohler, executive vice president and general manager of TRW Avionics & Surveillance Group.

"Bob has made numerous significant contributions to TRW over the years, most recently in leading our Joint Tactical UAV program," said Kohler.

TRW is teamed with Israel Aircraft Industries on the tri-service Joint Tactical UAV program for the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The program now is in low-rate initial production.

Without risking the lives of pilots or crew members, the system's Hunter aerial vehicle flies out to 150 kilometers beyond the forward line of troops carrying daylight television and nighttime forward-looking infrared (FLIR) video cameras to provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition support to all war fighting commanders.

From a ground control station, military personnel control air vehicle flight and analyze the video footage transmitted from the air vehicle.

Program management, design and development, and business development for the UAV line of business are based in San Diego. System assembly and test, flight operations, and logistics are performed at TRW's Sierra Vista, Ariz., facility. TRW's Huntsville, Ala., office also performs UAV work.

Mason, who joined TRW in 1961, has held various program and management positions, including director of engineering integration, director of the avionics line of business, and director of F-22 communications, navigation and identification (CNI) engineering manufacturing and development (EMD).

He holds bachelor's and master's of science degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University, as well as a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Claremont McKenna College. Mason and his family reside in Poway, Calif.

TRW Avionics & Surveillance Group is internationally recognized for airborne electronic systems and technologies, including reconnaissance and intelligence systems, and advanced integrated avionics. With headquarters in San Diego, the group has several U.S. locations. TRW provides high-technology products and services to the automotive, space and defense, and information markets. The company's 1994 sales totaled $9.1 billion. -0-

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