FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Employees of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (NYSE: LMT) in Fort Worth are reaching out to thousands of local students during National Engineers Week, Feb. 20-26.

Engineers at the company are participating in numerous events for students of all ages and grade levels, with the goal of interesting young people in technical careers and inspiring them to become the next generation of engineers and scientists. Activities include hands-on projects and presentations that show how engineering impacts everyday life.

Events are centered at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and in schools across the Fort Worth and Dallas area. At the museum, Lockheed Martin engineers will lead hands-on activities such as balloon rockets, paper airplane building and an aluminum boat competition. Students will also get a chance to "fly" an F-35 cockpit simulator the company is temporarily placing in the museum.

In addition, Lockheed Martin engineers will visit 32 K-12 schools throughout the area and present "Engineers in the Classroom" curriculum. Engineers will present an overview of the company, career paths, technical subject matter, and lead the students in a hands-on learning activity. The program follows a structured curriculum designed to inspire students to pursue future careers in engineering.

"One of the biggest challenges facing our country, our industry and our company is developing the future technical workforce. We are fortunate in being able to use aerospace to excite students to pursue technical careers," said Joe LaMarca, vice president of Communications for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "Lockheed Martin supports math and science education as way to help build the technically skilled workforce that's crucial to our nation's success."

Lockheed Martin employees will also celebrate Engineers Week with several internal activities at the company's Fort Worth facility, including a competition to design, build and demonstrate catapults during a lunch period.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com

SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company