TEWKSBURY, Mass., Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has established an annual $10,000 scholarship in honor of Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, a U.S. Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient.

The scholarship will be awarded through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides financial assistance to help surviving children of fallen military members pursue post-secondary degrees. 

Monsoor lost his life while serving in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. In 2008, the Navy announced that the name of DDG 1001, the second Zumwalt-class destroyer, would be the USS Michael Monsoor. Raytheon is the prime mission-systems-equipment integrator for the three DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers.

"Through the Raytheon-Monsoor Scholarship, we offer our support to family members of the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country," said Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' Paul Ferraro, vice president of the Seapower Capability Systems business area. "We are hopeful that scholarship recipients are inspired by the legacy, dedication and commitment of Petty Officer Monsoor, and honor him through their academic achievements."

"Thank you to the Raytheon team for your generosity in awarding this annual scholarship in honor of Petty Officer Michael Monsoor. This scholarship will fully fund a semester for one of the 154 children of fallen special operators that are currently attending universities across the nation," said Vice Admiral Joseph Maguire, USN (Ret), president and CEO of SOWF and the principal speaker at the christening of the USS Michael Monsoor. "Thank you for remembering and honoring Mike with this scholarship."

Vice Admiral Maguire was serving as Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command at the time of Monsoor's death. 

Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. As noted in the official citation, "by his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

The future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) was christened on June 18, 2016 at Bath Iron Works in Maine. The first ship of the class, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), will be commissioned on October 15 in Baltimore, Maryland. 

DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class Destroyers

The DDG 1000-class destroyer is the Navy's next-generation, multi-mission surface combatant. DDG 1000 is tailored for sustained operations in the littorals and land attack, and will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. Its advanced mission capabilities are driven by critical technologies that give the ship unprecedented versatility in a variety of operational environments and dramatically reduce manning requirements. Raytheon provides electronic and combat systems for the three-ship class, contributing some of the most advanced systems in the Navy. These technologies will benefit these ships and the Navy for years to come.

About Special Operations Warrior Foundation

The SOWF ensures full financial assistance for post-secondary degree from an accredited two- or four year college, university, technical or trade school, as well as family and educational counseling, including in-home tutoring, to the surviving children of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations service members who lose their lives in the line of duty. The foundation also provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded and hospitalized special operations service members.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contact 
Carolyn Beaudry 
+1.401.842.3550  
idspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company