ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) will offer a new scholarship program to encourage women to pursue degrees in aviation related fields. This is ATCA's first scholarship specifically geared towards advancing women in the field.

"This new scholarship aims to encourage women to pursue exciting and challenging career opportunities in aviation and air traffic control," said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. "Our goal is to help close the distinct gender gap in the air traffic control field."

Administered by ATCA, the Raytheon Women in Aviation Scholarship will award scholarships to female college students pursuing a degree in an aviation related field. Each scholarship will include a summer internship in Raytheon's Intelligence, Information and Services, Transportation and Support Services business area.

"This program has the potential to greatly impact the industry by ushering more women into the aviation community - a progression that will really benefit our industry," said Peter F. Dumont, President and CEO of ATCA. "Through this scholarship, we hope to engage and educate more women about the career opportunities in aviation, as well as grow the percentage of women in the field - which currently sits at 26 percent."

For more information about the scholarship, visit https://www.atca.org/scholarship.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I(TM) 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

About ATCA
The Air Traffic Control Association (www.atca.org) is dedicated to the progress and safety of air traffic control and works to advance the technology and professionalism of the industry. Founded in 1956 by a group of air traffic controllers, ATCA serves more than 3,500 members throughout the world--individual air traffic controllers as well as aviation associations, educational institutions, the government and military, and companies managing and providing equipment and services in the aviation community.

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SOURCE Air Traffic Control Association