Lockheed Martin has been ranked by undergraduate engineering students as their most "ideal" employer, according to the 2006 Universum Ideal Employer Survey.

The Universum study, conducted annually since 1999, polled more than 37,000 students at 207 leading universities, including 7,642 engineering majors. Lockheed Martin ranked number one. Other companies in the top 10 include Boeing, General Electric, BMW, Walt Disney and Google. In the survey, students not only rank their top companies and industries but also answer questions regarding salary and benefit expectations; career goals; and decision drivers.

According to Universum, Lockheed Martin's success in the survey is directly attributable to the emphasis placed on developing one-on-one relationships with students, faculty and career services. Claudia Tattanelli, CEO of Universum Communications, notes that while relationship building is a key ingredient, students look to other important qualities as well.

"Students have always been impressed with Lockheed Martin's commitment to diversity and social responsibility. The company is well known for its charitable contributions and strong values," said Tattanelli. "In addition, engineers are intrigued by the fact that working for Lockheed Martin means, now more than ever, working with leading technology. Both high ethical standards and -- for the first time -- innovation are two of the most important characteristics of an 'ideal' employer according to this year's Millenials," Tattanelli concluded.

"At Lockheed Martin, we firmly believe in our vision: 'Powered by innovation, guided by integrity, we help our customers meet their most challenging goals.' It's much more than a slogan. It's the way we do business in serving the interests of our customers with an exciting work environment that also serves the professional development of our employees," said Bob Stevens, Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO. "We're very appreciative of this recognition by undergraduate students as it comes from a very credible survey -- and we'll do our best to maintain the kind of environment that attracts the best and brightest."

Lockheed Martin is one of the nation's top employers of engineering graduates in the U.S. and is anticipating more than 4,000 entry-level hires in 2006. "We believe a competitive discriminator for employment with us is the 'total value' of a career with Lockheed Martin. This includes competitive pay and benefits, career development, rewards and recognition and an inclusive work environment," Stevens added.

About Universum

Universum Communications, founded in 1988 in Stockholm, Sweden, has offices in Europe, the U.S., Asia and South Africa. Universum is the leading employer-branding specialist helping companies understand and develop their employer brand image and employer value proposition through research, consulting and the media. Reaching 28 countries in four continents, 800 universities and over 150,000 students annually, Universum's mission is to help companies attract, recruit and retain top talent.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.

For additional information, visit our website:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Corporation