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Graziadio School of Business and Management Celebrated Fall 2006 Graduation
The Graziadio School of Business and Management (GSBM) celebrated the Fall 2006 graduation on Dec. 9 in Firestone Fieldhouse on the Malibu campus. Wesley G. Bush, president and CFO of Northrop Grumman Corporation, gave the commencement speech and received an honorary doctorate. Duane Denney, vice president and director of the Corwin D. Denney Foundation, also received an honorary doctorate. Distinguished alumni Richard D. Cordova, president and CEO of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), was also honored.
About Wesley G. Bush
Wesley G. Bush is the president and chief financial officer of Northrop Grumman Corporation headquartered in Century City, California. Northrop Grumman is one of the nation’s leading national security companies with major businesses in information services, electronics, aerospace, and ships. A recognized worldwide leader, Northrop Gumman records annual sales of about $30 billion, and employs 125,000 employees located in every state in the United States and in 25 countries around the globe.
Now at the pinnacle of a 19-year career with the company, Mr. Bush originally joined the space technology sector (then TRW prior to acquisition) as a systems engineer. He proceeded to rapidly advance through several positions, including program manager of a defense satellite program where he was responsible for management of the satellite and ground segment developments, launch services, and operations and maintenance. In addition, he served as vice president of TRW space and electronic planning and business development where his duties included organization planning, resource management, and strategic development initiatives.
From 2000 to 2001, Mr. Bush led TRW Ventures, an organization focused on launching commercial ventures based on the advanced technologies developed for defense applications. Today, these technologies continue to serve a number of uses in the commercial telecommunications and semiconductor manufacturing industries. In 2001 Mr. Bush became president and CEO of TRW’s UK-based Global Aeronautical Systems.
After TRW’s acquisition by Northrop Grumman in 2002 Mr. Bush was appointed Space Technology president in 2003; he was elevated to corporate vice president and chief financial officer in 2005, and named president in May of this year.
Mr. Bush received his bachelor’s and his master of science in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of the UCLA Executive Management program.
Wesley G. Bush lives with his wife, Natalie, in Manhattan Beach, California.
About Duane Denney
Duane Denney is vice president and director of the Corwin D. Denney Foundation which provides grants for health and medical research. He previously founded and was senior officer of the former Automation Industries, Inc., of Van Nuys, California. Automation Industries was launched by Mr. Denney and his brother Corwin in 1948 in Manhattan Beach, California, under the name American Helicopter. Together they built the company from a staff of two into a worldwide operation with more than 17,000 employees. Through mergers and acquisitions, Automation Industries became a producer and global supplier of high-tech services. The firm was acquired by General Cable in 1978 and Mr. Denney served as senior vice president and chief financial officer and member of the executive committee for more than 40 years.
Mr. Denney was a forceful presence in the business community serving as a director on the boards of Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Inc., and Frontier Savings and Loan Association, where he also served as corporate treasurer. He also was a member of the Finance Executives Institute, the American Management Association, the Los Angeles Treasury Club, and the Los Angeles Pension Club.
Mr. Denney served the United States Navy as a petty officer, first-class yeoman, participating in all major Pacific theatre battles in World War II in 1944 and 1945. His life of service to others continued through his membership in the Shriners, Rotary International, and the Elks Club; and he is a Life Member of the Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation.
Mr. Denney attended naval officer training school, and then Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. Pepperdine University enjoys a longtime relationship with Mr. Denney as a member of both the University Board and the Pepperdine Associates.
Duane Denney lives with his wife, Patricia, in Redondo Beach, California.
About Richard D. Cordova
Richard D. Cordova is president and chief executive officer of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Childrens Hospital is a nonprofit, 285-bed teaching hospital that operates a Level I pediatric trauma center, teaching programs, and the renowned Saban Research Institute. Founded in 1901, CHLA has been treating the most seriously ill and injured children in the Los Angeles area and is acknowledged as one of the top pediatric institutions in the United States. Before assuming the presidency, Mr. Cordova served CHLA as chief operating officer.
Previously, Mr. Cordova was president of the Southern California region of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Hospitals from 2002 to 2004 where he was responsible for directing operations in 11 medical centers.
Mr. Cordova has earned numerous accolades; he was named by Hispanic Business magazine as one of the Top 100 Hispanic Leaders (both 2003 and 2005) and one of America’s Top Influential Hispanics; he was also named as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare (2006).
Mr. Cordova serves the wider health care field as a diplomate of the American College of Health Care Executives, as chair of the National Association of Public Hospitals, and as a board member of California Healthcare Association, the California Association of Public Hospitals, and the Hospital Association of California.
Mr. Cordova is active in the leadership of several community organizations including the Institute for Diversity in Health Care Management and the National Forum for Latino Healthcare Executives. He was also appointed by the U.S. secretary of health and human services to serve on the Council on Graduate Medical Education (1996-1998).
Mr. Cordova received his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in 1984.
Richard D. Cordova lives with his wife, Janice, in Pasadena, California.
