union- and immigration-related responsibilities.
Curtiss-Wright’s Washington office handles lobbying,
although the law department plays a close advisory
role. With the exception of government contracts and
securities compliance, regulators typically are dealt
with through outside counsel. On defense contracts,
oversight comes from various agencies of the U.S.
government, including the Defense Contract Audit
Agency and the Department of Defense Office of
acquisitions since 2001, helping to raise the com-
pany’s annual revenues from $325 million to $1.6
billion in 2007. This strategy of growth through
acquisitions stands as a Denton career highlight.
He singled out two key purchases. In the first, the
company acquired the electromechanical division of
Washington Group International Inc., which had taken
over the nuclear business of Westinghouse Electric
Co. This “enormously successful” transaction helped
Security issues are of vital importance, particularly
those involving export controls on technology.
Inspector General. Securities oversight originates
with the New York Stock Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The firm also must satisfy environmental regulators, and has made a point of reducing emissions
and seeking alternative manufacturing techniques.
Security issues are of vital importance, particularly
those involving export controls on technology with
military applications. The government’s classification
system represents another level of security involving the way information is stored and disseminated,
and to whom.
Curtiss-Wright profit from the “current nuclear renaissance,” Denton said. It provided a foothold in the
sale of pumps for nuclear reactors, and those that
power submarines and surface vessels. The firm
also acquired United Kingdom-based Spirent PLC’s
aerospace business.
Denton’s job has become much more internationally focused, particularly in China. His staff attorneys
undertake the “lengthy and arduous” trips there and
to other emerging markets, he said. The group is
assisted by local counsel abroad, particularly by Morrison & Foerster in Beijing. Innovations prompted by
the digital revolution have allowed Denton to conduct
his international business more efficiently, especially
in nullifying the 12-hour time difference with China.
ROUTE TO PRESENT POSITION
Denton graduated from Dartmouth College in
1977 and from the University of Michigan Law
School in 1980. He served until 1983 as a trial
attorney for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Next, he became an associate at
the northern Virginia-based firm now known as Watt,
Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald. He moved on to Crowell & Moring as an associate from 1984 to 1987.
Denton went in-house as counsel and then senior
counsel with Westinghouse from 1987 until 1989.
General Electric Co. was his next stop; there, he
served as compliance counsel, litigation counsel
and public policy counselor from 1989 to 1993.
Through 2001, when he became Curtiss-Wright’s
general counsel, Denton acted in several legal
capacities for Honeywell International Inc. (formerly
AlliedSignal Inc.).
PERSONAL
Denton, a native of Summit, N.J., and his wife,
Mary Ann, have three children: Richard, Jessica, and
Emily. He enjoys running, golfing and playing guitar
in his free time.
A BOOK AND MOVIE
Waiting, by Ha Jin, and No Country For Old Men.
—ROGER ADLER
GROWTH SPURT
Curtiss-Wright has completed approximately 40
An earlier version of this profile appeared in The
National Law Journal on June 9, 2008.
