Justin Kautz joined the U.S. Army in 1989 with every intention of making it a solid, successful career. He held several different positions while on active duty, in specialties that included Signal, Ordnance, and Military Intelligence. In March 2003, Justin’s Intelligence Company was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. Justin, now a Platoon Sergeant, was proud to serve and eager to contribute anything he could to the fight. But on the morning of September 26, 2003, his life changed forever. The vehicle he was driving was hit by a remotely detonated improvised explosive device (IED), and Justin sustained life-threatening injuries. He was evacuated from Iraq and awoke several days later at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with a severely damaged left knee, right hip, and right femur.

After several consultations with the orthopedic staff, Justin decided that the best course of action was to have an above-knee amputation and begin the rehabilitation process. While at Walter Reed, Justin received outstanding care from the entire staff. “The care that our wounded heroes receive, in my opinion, is the best in the world,” says Justin. His disabilities led to his medical retirement from the service, and he was presented with the Purple Heart by Sen. John McCain. Soon afterwards, with “fantastic support from family, friends, and other amputees,” Justin began to look to a new future and a new life.

With help from the Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program, Justin quickly got to work on completing his degree in Software Engineering and Database Management at Tarleton University. He was shocked when one day the phone rang and Michael Lady of Northrop Grumman asked him if he was interested in employment with the corporation. Justin expressed interest, and a few weeks later Ward Critz offered Justin a job with Northrop Grumman's Technical Services sector in Killeen, Texas.

On January 23, 2006, Justin began work in Killeen as an Intelligence Analyst. He says he couldn’t ask for a better situation. “It is great to know that we still have outstanding Americans and American companies that are reaching out and helping our wounded war heroes,” says Justin. “It is my opinion that we ALL need to fight the Global War on Terrorism. Northrop Grumman is doing this on two sides; providing the nation’s military forces with the tools necessary to win the fight and helping those wounded veterans who have fought and sacrificed for this GREAT COUNTRY!” Thank you, Justin, and welcome to the Northrop Grumman family.