Ben Davies, who was identified in a July 14, 2026, Northrop Grumman press release as the corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, spoke regarding the expansion of aerospace operations in Roy. The announcement of the expansion coincided with a groundbreaking event for the Legacy Building, a new structure situated at the Roy Innovation Center (RIC). This facility is designed to support the U.S. Air Force’s Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program and various other critical aerospace and defense missions.
According to the July 14, 2026, news release from Northrop Grumman, the Roy Innovation Center serves as a central campus tailored to develop the Sentinel ICBM program. The construction of the new Legacy Building was scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026 and is expected to reach completion by 2028. This new addition is intended to expand the footprint of the Sentinel program, which aims to deliver initial capability to the U.S. Air Force by the early 2030s. Through these developments, the RIC campus is expected to grow to a total of six state-of-the-art buildings, providing more than 1.1 million square feet of office space to accommodate more than 5,000 employees.
In a statement released on July 14, 2026, Davies noted that the strategic location of the site, its proximity to Hill Air Force Base, and the supportive community make it the ideal home for the expansion of the Sentinel program and other missions supported from the site. He stated that the groundbreaking symbolizes a longstanding commitment to the state and reinforces investments in national security and local prosperity through an enduring presence that will support multiple missions for decades to come.
Northrop Grumman’s presence in the region is significant. As of July 14, 2026, the company is the largest defense contractor in Utah. The company's investments in infrastructure and research and development over the previous five years totaled $13.5 billion. This figure includes $2 billion dedicated to solid rocket motor capacity and capabilities, which benefits the Sentinel program. The company’s operations in the state have a broad economic impact, as it directly employs over 11,000 Utahns and supports more than 46,000 jobs across the state, generating over $12.4 billion for the economy, according to the July 14, 2026, report.
The expansion at the Roy Innovation Center is part of a broader effort by Northrop Grumman to bolster missile defense, rocket, and national security facilities. While the company opened an Enhanced Production and Integration Center in Madison, Alabama, in April 2025, and announced details for a Propulsion Innovation Center in Elkton, Maryland, in June 2025, the Roy facility remains a primary hub for the Sentinel program's development.
What this means for Roy
For the residents of Roy, the leadership of Ben Davies and the expansion of the Roy Innovation Center signify continued industrial growth. The construction of the Legacy Building through 2028 supports the Sentinel ICBM program and is expected to create hundreds of new jobs, further integrating the local economy with national defense and aerospace missions.
