CHICAGO, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is promoting industry and academia partnerships to re-shape science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The goal is to ensure tomorrow's workforce is prepared for an evolving business environment driven by constantly changing technologies.

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At the Complex Adaptive Systems conference this week in Chicago, Lockheed Martin is joining leading technologists to discuss the complexity and future of information technology (IT) as it pertains to next generation solutions. The conference was organized by the Missouri University of Science and Technology from Rolla, Mo.

Haden Land, vice president of engineering and chief technology officer for Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions-Civil business, will deliver the conference keynote addressing why it's important for industry and academia to work together to respond to continuous global changes that impact IT systems. Emphasizing how we are living in an integrated global society, he will outline tactical and strategic steps that can be taken now to ensure workforce pipelines are ready to meet next-generation environments in industry, defense and education. Other conference speakers from Lockheed Martin will discuss topics ranging from biometrics use in law enforcement to applying our expertise in space exploration to extreme climates and health care.

In conjunction with the conference, Land is announcing an innovation campaign sponsored by Lockheed Martin to "reimagine information technology." The goal is to energize new and innovative research and drive the next-generation workforce from within the roots of academia. According to Land, a renewed and reimagined focus is needed because change across the IT landscape is occurring at a rate never seen before, and that the next wave of IT will include advanced concepts not previously studied on a large scale.

"We are living in an integrated global society – not just in the defense industry – but in commercial, political, educational, and enterprise situations," Land said. "Global society will depend on complex, distributed engineering systems that can adapt to dynamically changing needs of the society. Refocusing IT education needs to happen now so our nation's workers can be competitive in the global marketplace."

Lockheed Martin is currently investing in the study of emerging IT concepts, including big data, adaptive human systems, and DNA microfluidics. These concepts will help shape the future of solutions to the most complex problems that businesses and governments will face.

Lockheed Martin IS&GS is a leading federal services and information technology contractor with a strong heritage of delivering world-class solutions and advanced technology across a broad spectrum of domains. The IS&GS-Civil product line is responsible for a wide array of information technology systems and services in areas such as energy, health care, transportation, information and cyber security, citizen protection and space exploration.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 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: http://www.lockheedmartin.com

SOURCE Lockheed Martin