Q&A with Northrop Grumman chief executive Wes Bush

Northrop Grumman chief executive Wes Bush, inside of his office in Arlington. (Jeffrey Macmillan - for The Post)

Yes, we don't have exact numbers. But we will begin that process later this year.

Did the Maryland senator's recent letter to you, contending that you should choose Maryland over Virginia because the state was more friendly to gay residents, have any impact on your decision? Or the Virginia governor's recent move where he issued a proclamation in honor of Confederate History Month that at first omitted reference to slavery.

There is nothing about our choice of Virginia vs. Maryland that should be interpreted as diversity inclusion not being important to us. It is important to me personally. It is important to our corporation. It is a fundamental principle on which we operate. We can't be competitive unless we are at the top end of inclusion in our workplace.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I went to high school in West Virginia. My father was an engineer and then in corporate management, and I've lost count of all the places I've lived.

Have any favorite local sports teams?

When it comes to sports, I'm a Mountaineer fan.

What are your personal interests?

I like the outdoors. I'm not so much of a runner anymore. I enjoy hiking and camping with my family.

What will you and the company get involved in here?

We already have 30,000 employees in Virginia and 11,000 in Maryland, and they're very active in those communities . . . We're going to take that up a notch. . . . We'll be involved in activities focused on helping military families and we expect to get more involved in education and making sure the nation's education system is producing scientists, engineers and technical folks.

The Pentagon is shifting its priorities. Where do you see the growth areas?