Northrop-Grumman employee honored

Diane LaFortune, a digital technology manager for Northrop Grumman in Rolling Meadows, received a Society of Women Engineers’ Emerging Leader award for her active engagement in engineering and outstanding technical accomplishments.

LaFortune supports airborne tactical sensor programs. She was recently named a Northrop Grumman Engineering Fellow.

She was responsible for the mechanical design of a new space-based, radio frequency transmitter for NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which launched in 2009 and searched for water and conducted high-resolution radar mapping of the moon. Her team received NASA’s Group Achievement Award.

LaFortune was the lead mechanical engineer for the integrated electronic warfare suite and has served as president of the Society of Women Engineers Chicago section. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois.