Leading The World’s Largest Defense Contractor

Marillyn A. Hewson is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation and also the Executive Vice President of the Electronics Systems division. This is a very high position in the world’s largest defense contractor company. Yet there is even more in store for her.  On November 9, 2012 she was elected by Lockheed Martin’s Board of Directors as director and the next Chief Executive Officer and President effective January 1, 2013.

Her current position as Executive Vice President of Electronic Systems is already a huge responsibility in itself. This enterprise had sales of about $14.6 billion in 2011 with 45,500 employees. Its operation is global with facilities in the U.S, U.K., Australia, and Canada.

While some say she will have a steep learning curve to follow, Hewson is no doubt a company veteran having spent almost 30 years with the Lockheed. During that time she steadily climbed the corporate ladder and has managed systems integration, internal audits, global supply chain management, and aeronautics.

Her leadership skill will surely be put to the test given the fact that the top position was supposed to go to someone else. This person had to go though because of a relationship scandal. Lockheed will also have to look at new areas of growth as defense spending cuts will eat into its profit.

Hewson has willingly taken the challenge and will surely make the most of this golden opportunity.

A Marine On Top

Before becoming a top corporate man Robert J. Stevens was actually in the United States Marine Corps. The tough environment must have certainly helped him in the jungle of the business world.  Stevens is now the Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin.

There is a military connection with Lockheed Martin since it is a global security and aerospace corporation based in Bethesda, Maryland.  The company is involved in research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advance technology systems, products and services.  It’s been involved with Space Shuttle program, mission to Mars, and C 130 Hercules aircraft, just to name a few of its undertakings. The company has around 120,000 employees around the world with sales of $46.5 billion in 2011 and an order backlog of $80.7 billion.

Among Stevens’ accomplishments during his rise to the company top position was his restructuring of the then Lockheed Martin Energy and Environment Sector where he was president and CEO. Stevens was also president of Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management and steered a successful turnaround of the business.

Stevens graduated summa cum laude from Slippery Rock University. He is a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from that institution. He holds a master’s degree in engineering and management from the Polytechnic University of New York. Stevens also earned a master’s degree in business from Columbia University.