Supporting Military Service Members – It’s More Than a Job

There is nothing more noble than serving your country, and every day when I walk into work, I have the privilege of supporting those who serve. The technology of our world is constantly shifting and evolving, and what many people don’t realize is the impact that this has on service members. The military and soldiers need the most innovative, advanced technology to be ready for today and tomorrow. So, to me, supporting our U.S. and Allied military service men and women is more than just a job, it’s a privilege, and I don’t take that lightly.

When I started working at Lockheed Martin more than 30 years ago, the United States was in the middle of the Cold War and the focus was on the threat of the Soviet Union. In terms of our customer mission, we were focused on performance and what we could do to protect the troops and defeat enemy capabilities. One of the aspects that drew me to the company was its simple mission – to support service men and women. In the past 30 years, the threats have evolved, but the mission has not wavered, nor will it.

I’ve witnessed the technological advances, the pioneering creativity and the consistent drive employees have here to make the world’s most advanced products. To me, it’s not about having the best product, but it’s about the purpose the product serves and that when needed, our products work the first time, every time. The products Lockheed Martin provides to the military are at the front lines protecting our lives and freedom. I do not want to leave anything to chance in those situations, so the call to action for my team every day is to help service men and women successfully take on the challenges they face.

Lockheed Martin pioneered Hit-to-Kill (HTK) technology, and it is one example of the way we’re answering the call to meet today’s global security environment demands. HTK isn’t new technology, but its intentions are often misunderstood.

Our HTK technology is a game changer in one of the most challenging domains: air and missile defense. Imagine hitting a bullet with a bullet - which is what our HTK interceptor technology does when it hits an enemy missile head on. This allows for complete destruction of an incoming target, while also defusing the risk of potential collateral damage on the ground. This technology keeps military service men and women, cities, homes and citizens safe, and we’re continuing to invest in furthering its capability and its applications to broader threats.

HTK technology is just one of the many capabilities we’ve developed to better assist our U.S. and Allies as they serve to keep the world safe. Defending freedom is a large team effort and we’re proud to do our part.

As Memorial Day approaches, I encourage you to take a moment and remember those who sacrifice to make our tomorrows possible. Lockheed Martin salutes the brave service members who keep our nation safe, and we never forget who we're working for.