William Jay Allison

William is survived by son Will J. Allison; and daughter Clair Allison.

William (Bill) J. Allison entered the defense electronics industry not with the usual electrical engineering degree, but rather with a B.S. degree in chemistry from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. He later obtained an executive M.B.A. from the Pepperdine Graziado School of Business Management and a PhD (ABD) from the Claremont Peter F. Drucker School of Management. He proudly served on advisory councils for both Cal Poly and Pepperdine for many years.

Bill started his California professional career as a quality engineer at the Northrop Corporation Electronics Division. He moved on to manage an engineering laboratory at GM Hughes Electronics.

Bill joined the Data Systems Division of Litton Systems in Van Nuys, CA in 1992 as the Director of Quality. A year later he was appointed Vice President, Product Assurance and Support. In 1994 Bill was named Vice President and General Manager of Data Systems Ocean Springs, the Mississippi business unit providing defense electronics to the Litton Shipyard for U.S. and foreign customers.

He returned to Agoura Hills, CA in 1998 to assume the role of Vice President of Engineering for the Data Systems operations in Agoura Hills, San Diego and Ocean Springs.

In 2000 Bill was elevated to become the President of the Data System Division.

Following a pre-acquisition reorganization of Litton in 2000, Bill was placed in charge as President of the newly formed Litton Integrated Systems Division headquartered in Northridge, California.

Seven months later, with the acquisition of Litton Industries by Northrop Grumman Corporation completed, Northrop Announced the formation of the new Navigation Systems Division which absorbed the former Litton Divisions Guidance and Control, Aero Products (Woodland Hills, CA); Integrated Systems (Northridge, CA); Litton Systems Canada, Toronto; and foreign subsidiaries, two in German and one in Italy.

Bill was named the Vice President and General Manager of this multibillion dollar enterprise.

Seven months later, with the acquisition of Litton Industries by Northrop Grumman Corporation completed, Northrop Announced the formation of the new Navigation Systems Division which absorbed the former Litton Divisions Guidance and Control, Aero Products (Woodland Hills, CA); Integrated Systems (Northridge, CA); Litton Systems Canada, Toronto; and foreign subsidiaries, two in German and one in Italy.

Bill was named the Vice President and General Manager of this multibillion dollar enterprise.

From successfully completing a troubled Korean Navy program in Mississippi to the stressful management of major company restructuring during a corporate acquisition and merger, Bill’s career in defense electronics was one of successfully completing one difficult senior assignment after another.

Bill retired from Northrop Grumman in 2003.

He purchased a landscaping business and remained in the landscape services business until the time of his death.]

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Allison family.