Nicholas Paraskevopoulos is a visionary technology executive and former Chief Technology Officer of Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems sector, with over three decades of global leadership experience in defense systems, engineering innovation, and organizational transformation. His distinguished 22-year career at Northrop Grumman has been defined by strategic foresight, technical excellence, and a relentless commitment to delivering mission-critical solutions for national security and aerospace advancement.
Beginning his career as an engineer and rising through the ranks to executive leadership, Nicholas has held pivotal roles that shaped the trajectory of Northrop Grumman’s technology ecosystem. As Vice President of Engineering and Technology (2010–2015), General Manager and CTO (2015–2019), and ultimately Chief Technology Officer (2018–2024), he drove technology integration across complex defense platforms, spearheaded advanced manufacturing strategies, and led cross-disciplinary teams in executing large-scale programs with high-impact outcomes. In these roles, he not only delivered technical direction and innovation but also aligned engineering execution with business growth and revenue strategies.
Nicholas is especially known for his expertise in engineering leadership, team development, strategic outlook, technology transfer, and product lifecycle management. His leadership was instrumental in shaping Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems technology roadmap, as he oversaw the end-to-end lifecycle of systems designed for the U.S. Department of Defense and international partners. His fluency in navigating high-stakes environments, combined with a deep understanding of the defense landscape, makes him uniquely suited to support companies focused on transformation, innovation, and operational scale.
His academic credentials further reinforce his technical and business acumen. Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and earned both his Master’s and Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Rutgers University, where he served as Chair of the IEEE student chapter. He later completed the General Manager Program at Harvard Business School, an intensive executive program focused on advanced decision-making, finance, and business leadership at the C-suite level.
A global thinker, Nicholas brings substantial international experience, having worked with teams and initiatives across Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, and broader Asia. He is bilingual in English and Greek, and brings a nuanced global perspective to technical and boardroom discussions alike.
Now retired from his corporate career, Nicholas is actively seeking board of directors and advisory roles where he can contribute his vast experience and help organizations make better-informed decisions. His past board service includes an advisory role with Johns Hopkins, and he remains deeply motivated to support enterprises that value innovation, ethical leadership, and systems thinking.
With a personal mantra grounded in pragmatism—“He never changes his mind until new information comes across his desk, then he says no”—Nicholas embodies a leadership style that is both open-minded and disciplined. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys golf and remains a steadfast learner and mentor.
Nicholas Paraskevopoulos is a trusted executive whose legacy in defense innovation and engineering leadership positions him as a valuable asset for boards seeking guidance on technology strategy, operational excellence, and organizational growth.
Character: Nicholas demonstrates principled leadership grounded in pragmatism, integrity, and a commitment to understanding diverse perspectives.
Knowledge: With over 32 years of experience in engineering, defense systems, and technology innovation, he possesses deep technical and operational expertise.
Strategic: He has a proven ability to align complex engineering initiatives with long-term business growth and national security objectives.
Communication: Nicholas effectively leads and collaborates across multidisciplinary teams, translating complex ideas into actionable strategies.