Lockheed Martin announced today the opening of a new facility to support the Air & Space Operations Center Weapon System Integrator (AOC WSI) program. Located near Langley Air Force Base, the facility will be home to a Lockheed Martin led team that is supporting the U.S. Air Force in its quest to standardize and modernize its Air & Space Operations Centers around the world.

"Opening this office is further evidence of our commitment to our Air Force customer and the AOC WSI effort," said John Mengucci, president of Mission & Combat Support Solutions for Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Services. "We are proud to be part of the Hampton community."

Approximately 90 members of the AOC WSI team, which includes Raytheon, SAIC, IBM, Dynamics Research Corporation, Intelligent Software Solutions, Gestalt, and Computer Sciences Corporation, will occupy the new 40,000 square foot office in Hampton. The new facility is also near the company's Center for Innovation, a state-of-the art laboratory that provides the team with a rich experimentation environment.

"Technology continues to play an increasing role in our national defense," said Hampton Mayor Ross A. Kearney, II. "The defense industry recognizes the value of locating their facilities within high-technology corridors, such as the Magruder Boulevard Corridor in Hampton."

The AOC is the Joint Force Air Component Commander's primary center for commanding worldwide air and space power. In full combat mode, AOCs function 24 hours a day, with several hundred command and control professionals working to plan and execute as many as several thousand air sorties per day. Lockheed Martin's team is working to convert the more than 20 AOCs worldwide into net- centric centers that provide commanders with real-time, common operational views of the global battlefield.

Virginia's Department of Business Assistance is assisting Lockheed Martin in its move to Hampton by providing a training program to help offset recruitment costs. "This is a great opportunity for our organization to work with an industry leader like Lockheed Martin," said Virginia Department of Business Assistance Project Manager Henry Cobb. "We are excited to be part of this partnership."

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 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 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin