Northrop Grumman Corporation has appointed Joseph C. Downie as site director of the company's Amherst Systems Inc., effective immediately. In this new position, Downie will have executive responsibility for the successful execution of all Amherst Systems programs in addition to oversight of all operations at the Buffalo facility, which is part of the company's Land and Self Protection Systems Division. Downie joined Northrop Grumman in 1984 and has held a number of leadership positions within the engineering and program management disciplines. In his most recent position, Downie served as simulation systems director at Amherst Systems with oversight of the Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator, Advanced Multiple Environment Simulator, Real-time IR/EO Scene Simulator, Signal Measurement System and Synchronization Control Subsystem programs.

Amherst Systems Inc. is laying off 94 employees, its second round of significant job cuts in less than a year. The cuts represent more than a quarter of the local work force at Amherst Systems, on Wehrle Drive near Erie Community College's North Campus. In February 2011, the company laid off 119 employees, blaming a lack of orders for its electronic warfare simulation products. And in summer 2010, the company eliminated 54 local jobs. The latest round of cuts was not unexpected. Last October, the company warned employees of its electronic systems sector, including those in Amherst, that it would eliminate about 800 positions by the end of January. The company hoped to avert layoffs by offering a voluntary separation program. More than 300 employees signed up. Employees will be given severance and other benefits, as well as help searching for jobs.

Amherst Systems Inc. was awarded an $11.4 million federal contract by the U.S. Air Force's Air Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., for providing sustained engineering services support (SESS) on government-owned B-1, B-2, B-52 and fighter test facilities' threat simulations.