Eric Espinoza

I am an ECP, Project, and Logistics Manager with 28 years of experience driving complex operations in the Aerospace & Defense sector. My background is defined by a seven-year tenure at Northrop Grumman, where I led F-18 ECP management and affordability initiatives. I specialize in bridging the gap between high-level project management and the technical execution team, ensuring that engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing stay aligned to hit aggressive milestones for Boeing and the U.S.

Navy.

I take full ownership of the operational lifecycle, from reviewing project status and budgets to managing the release of retrofit kits and component materials through SAP and MES. My approach focuses on developing the monitoring mechanisms and intervention strategies needed to solve project issues before they impact productivity or quality. Whether it is coordinating the buy-or-make process for parts or overseeing the logistics of packaging and shipping, I ensure all contractual deliverables and technical data are accurate and delivered on schedule.

Professional Experience

Northrop Grumman Corp. | El Segundo, CA

ECP Manager & Sustainment Lead | July 2018 – Present

• Performance Metrics & Financial Leadership: Managed complex project financials for the SATCOM contract, facilitating critical invoicing and payments while identifying efficiencies in Year 2 termination proposals. As a results-driven leader, I served as the Retrofit Kit Lead and Delegation of Authority (DOA) for the Fleet Support Logistics IPT in 4Q25. During this period, I successfully drove the Advanced Electronic Warfare (ADVEW) Flight Test Program, coordinating directly with procurement teams to ensure all A-Kits will be delivered on time and on target with 100% component accuracy. I maintain full accountability for program health by briefing monthly PMMs and bi-weekly status updates to Boeing and the U.S. Navy.
• Program Execution: Lead the F-18 retrofit program SOW, owning the end-to-end ECP process from SOW development to final delivery. Focused on streamlining workflows to cut schedule delays and reduce program costs.
• Customer & Stakeholder Interface: Serve as the primary point of contact for the U.S. Navy and Boeing. I lead IPTs and technical reviews, translating SME inputs into actionable solutions for cost, schedule, and technical hurdles.
• Operational Excellence: Partnered with Global Supply Chain (GSC) to clear constraints in the pipeline, maintaining a consistent 100% on-time delivery rate for mission-critical contract requirements.
• Financial & Risk Oversight: Manage project budgets through the lens of Earned Value Management (EVM). Rather than just monitoring risks, I develop preemptive intervention strategies to keep production benchmarks stable during shifts in program scope.
• Integrated Logistics: Synchronize the entire lifecycle of retrofit kits from procurement and fabrication to global distribution. I utilize SAP/MES to maintain real-time visibility across engineering and manufacturing departments.
• Metrics & Reporting: Develop and present executive-level performance metrics that provide transparency into program health and resource allocation.

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Ducommun Inc. | Gardena, CA

Logistics & Business Operations Manager | March 1998 – June 2017

• Business Transformation & Lean Leadership: Orchestrated a series of Kaizen events and lean manufacturing initiatives that captured over $2.1M in cumulative cost savings through process optimization and waste reduction.
• Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation: Directed vendor management and contract negotiations, successfully reducing supplier pricing by 32% to achieve $300K in annual recurring savings.
• Global Logistics Strategy: Managed high-stakes international transportation and logistics vendors, focusing on cost control, performance optimization, and the seamless movement of finished goods on a global scale.
• Regulatory & Corporate Compliance: Served as the lead point of contact for internal and external auditors to ensure strict adherence to SOX, ASO, and ITAR compliance standards.
• Team Leadership & Development: Directed and mentored a cross-functional team of 30+ staff members, fostering a culture of quality control, safety (OSHA), and continuous improvement.
• Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement: Applied corrective action protocols to customer-reported issues and utilized data analysis to refine internal inspection and testing standards.

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Key Areas of Expertise

• Project Management: ECP Management, Lifecycle Management, Risk Mitigation, Budgetary Oversight.
• Logistics & Supply Chain: Global Distribution, Vendor Relations, SAP/MES Integration, Retrofit Kit Coordination.
• Business Operations: Cost Savings Initiatives (Kaizen/5S), Contractual Compliance, KPI Reporting, Cross-functional Leadership.

Bachelor of Science in Business Management – Phoenix University

Certificate in Project Management | University of California-Irvine 2023 - 2024