TEWKSBURY, Mass., Nov. 3, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Mary D. Petryszyn, vice president of Joint Battlespace Integration (JBI) for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), has been selected by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to receive its prestigious Upward Mobility Award.

Petryszyn was selected for the award for her leadership in engineering organizations; for her commitment to creating environments that actively support diversity; and for her significant contributions to higher education and local communities. The award is to be presented at a ceremony Nov. 4 at the national Society of Women Engineers' conference in Anaheim, Calif.

"Mary is an integral part of the IDS team," said Dan Smith, president of IDS. "Her pioneering efforts are opening a new business area and market segment for our business as we prepare for the future."

In her role as vice president of JBI in Colorado Springs, Colo., Petryszyn leads a business area whose innovations and technologies align Raytheon IDS as the global mission integrator of choice in the areas of surveillance and maritime domain awareness, providing these capabilities to a variety of customers. Her business area has major systems engineering, development, production, integration and test centers located in Colorado, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

"Mary Petryszyn's career path is a road map of success for many young engineers today," says Ronna Robertson, president of the Society of Women Engineers. "She is the perfect role model for young women in search of just how far their engineering degree can take them."

The award is made to a qualified woman who, in addition to making outstanding contributions in the field of engineering and/or technical management, has also, as a minimum, achieved the level of general manager or equivalent upper management position within her current organization, industry, academia or government service. The Upward Mobility Award acknowledges and provides visibility to women in significant engineering and technical management who are role models for women aspiring to be engineering leaders. A recipient of this award has risen within her organization to a position that influences the decision-making process. The main criteria for selection are based on the significance of her current position and the evidence of her growth within the organization cited on her behalf.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Petryszyn serves on the Corporate Advisory Council for the Women in Engineering Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder; the Corporate Partnership Council for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE); and the Board of Directors for Colorado Mile-Hi Girl Scout Council. She is a life member of both SWE and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

Based in Tewksbury, Mass., Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in joint battlespace integration. With a strong international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. armed forces, Integrated Defense Systems provides a wide spectrum of integrated air and missile defense and naval and maritime warfighting solutions.

Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

   Contact:
   Guy Shields
   978.858.5246

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Guy Shields of Raytheon Company, +1-978-858-5246

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/