Lockheed Martin employees throughout the Central Florida area will bring their sons and daughters to work today in an effort to spark their interest in engineering and inspire them to believe in their dreams.

"While Lockheed Martin employees volunteer thousands of hours each year to mentor K-12 students, this is a great opportunity for us to show our own children that science and math can be exciting, and to encourage them to consider careers in engineering and technical fields," said Steve Rocca, Mechanical Engineering Laboratory manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control and a coordinator of this year's Take Your Child to Work Day activities. "Lockheed Martin is one of the nation's largest employers of engineers and scientists, and we are constantly challenged with sustaining our critical mass of talent. Take Your Child to Work Day provides our own sons and daughters with a glimpse of what we do and how exciting a technology-based career can be."

After receiving a company overview and parent-guided tour of the facility, employees' children will have the opportunity to see what it is like to be an engineer for the day. Children will learn how to use some of the high-tech equipment their parents use on a daily basis, and will be able to "meet" a robot and learn about exciting new developments in science and technology.

Depending on the Lockheed Martin location, children will be able to take a Simulation Inspiration Tour, in which they fly the AH-64D Apache helicopter, play on the F-16 jet aircraft game deck and talk with a representative from the Atlas Rocket program. Other activities include a Science through Food activity, an Orange County sheriff helicopter fly-in and stunt demonstration, a Passport in Time Journey Walk through 50 years of the Space industry's history, and an opportunity for children to learn about the role rockets and satellites play in our daily lives. Children will also be writing postcards to troops abroad throughout the day.

By supporting programs like Take Your Child to Work Day, Lockheed Martin is encouraging tomorrow's scientists, inventors and business leaders to explore their creativity and apply their ideas. Lockheed Martin has reached millions of students and excited them about math and science through its nationwide educational initiatives.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

For additional information, visit our web site:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin