Tracing Our Lockheed Martin History

My family and my community have strong company ties

by Charlie H.

My family's path with Lockheed Martin started in the 1940s. My dad, C.A. Honea, was hired by the company that built all of the buildings called Bell Bomber Plant. He gained a lot of experience operating big machines, including forklifts. After Dad heard the plant was, he applied and started work at Lockheed-Georgia in September 1951.He had many job titles, but he loved working in transportation. His friends told me that he was the best at backing the large aircraft. After I graduated from Marietta High School in 1962, my dad gave me an application and I was hired one week after school let out. I had many job titles, but I was very happy working as a technician in manufacturing research with some very smart engineers. I eventually was lucky enough to work in the Black Hole. I retired after 40 years and was never laid off. Three of my uncles, two aunts, one cousin, one brother and my son were all lucky to work for a great company. That company is Lockheed Martin.

From the Machine Shop to the Legislature

Lockheed Martin prepared me for work and beyond

by Charles J.

In 1951, my girlfriend Bonnie and I were in the early stages of a courtship that developed into a happy marriage, which has continued for over 50 years. During this period, the good times far exceeded the tough times, including layoffs.

Early on, our pay was less than $1.50 per hour. Bonnie was a clerk typist and I was a tool crib attendant. Over the years, Bonnie progressed to an executive secretary position and I worked in public relations. During the last 10 years before retirement, I served as special assistant to the company president.

Since retirement, I served as a legislator in the Georgia General Assembly for over five years.

We have much for which we are thankful. Our many friends in the Lockheed Martin family and our experiences at Lockheed were very meaningful.

Proud to Advance Technology

I’m still enjoying the benefits

by Vince P.

My story started in 1966 in Orlando working for the Electronics Prototype Laboratory (EPL). Over a span of more than three decades, I worked on just about every major program that came through Martin Marietta's door.

I started out as a prototype machinist, and then eventually worked my way up to EPL staff engineer. I retired in 1999 after what I called a wonderful 34 years with some great people. I love retirement, but do miss the folks I worked with all those years. Lockheed Martin was good to me and I am still enjoying the benefits!

Code Name "Senior Trend”

A stealthy story about Lockheed’s Nighthawk

by James W.

I had a 35-year career at Lockheed, with the majority of years supporting Skunk Works projects that used their mainframe computer. Until 1994, Skunk Works projects were performed in multiple buildings in Burbank, California, alongside the Hollywood-Burbank Airport. That is where I worked and where the classified F-117A stealth fighter was designed and manufactured.

One of the challenges was to get the completed F-117A fighters out of Burbank without anyone seeing them. Since there are no commercial flights in or out of the airport from approximately 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning, it was decided to fly them out inside the belly of a C-5A Galaxy. Sometime after midnight on the scheduled night, all of the airport lights were turned off, a C-5A landed and the F-117 fighters (in multiple pieces) were loaded into the plane. Then the plane would take off and fly out well before the sun came up and the airport reopened for business. Of course the airport “neighbors” knew something unusual and hush-hush was going on because the four giant C-5A engines made a very loud, deep and menacing sound when the plane took off. But they did not know!

Flying High to Accelerate Tomorrow

Working here was a dream come true

by Robert R.

In 1974, I started with Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (LMSC) at Vandenberg Tracking Station. Unfortunately we lost the contract in 1976, and I stayed on with the new company as my three offers with LMSC were on the west coast. My dream was to be able to move east with Lockheed, but at that time, I had no prospects.

In 1977, I was approached to come back to LMSC and work in Virginia. This was a dream come true. I felt LMSC was a top-notch company technically, and more importantly, one that cared for its people. I retired from full-time work after 32 years. I still do call back work for Lockheed Martin even though I had part-time offers from other companies for more money.

I am proud of Lockheed Martin and I wear a special embroidered cap that says "Lockheed Martin Retiree." And, now I have a daughter that works for Lockheed Martin. She has the same pride.

Out of the World Came Within Reach

Discovery was our team’s mantra

by Jon A.

Going to work for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in 1980, I never thought I would play a role in the legacy of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). From 1987 to 1990, I served as project leader for the nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2) battery design activities for the HST electrical power system. Ni-H2 batteries were launched in place of baseline nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries. Ni-Cd batteries would have required servicing mission replacement every three to five years, but HST’s Ni-H2 batteries did not require replacement until Servicing Mission 4 (SM4) in 2009. The decision to use Ni-H2 batteries saved NASA millions of dollars and allowed many HST system components to be launched on other servicing missions, extending the life of the satellite and quality of the pictures and information that are so important to our understanding of the beginning of the universe. The company employees who worked on the HST satellite should be very proud of their contributions! 

A Global Trek of Innovation and Teamwork

I’m thankful for an amazing career

by John W.

I worked on teams writing, editing and producing proposals for new business at Martin Marietta Orlando from 1962 through 1994. My first thoughts include endless days, nights and weekends. Then the good times come to mind—Sprint celebration, finding a school of amberjacks aboard the boat to test Seafire, the proposal manager serving spaghetti so the team wouldn't go out to dinner during the TADS/PNVS proposal, a party on a boat trip up the St. Johns River, a dinner aboard a ship on the Zürichsee and skiing in the Alps. And there was confusing corporate staff with contracts for Job Corps recruiting materials and a cost-effectiveness study of Alcohol and Highway Safety. Finally, I remember a proposal for ballistic missile defense, which was an initial teaming of Lockheed and Martin Marietta capabilities. In all, it was a most rewarding career!

Thanks for the memories, Lockheed Martin!