WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) high-level, secure voice conferencing system work center, located at the Pentagon, was selected by the Defense Information Systems Agency as "Facility of the Year" in its "Large Switches" category. The award recognizes Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN) facilities that demonstrate outstanding performance in all areas of the program. Lockheed Martin's contract partners, SAIC and SERCO, also played key roles in providing the support that led to the award.

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"At the Pentagon, switch availability and functionality is key, given the high importance of the missions executed there," said Terry White, program director for Lockheed Martin IS&GS-Defense. "The DRSN consistently performs at the highest level, allowing for the military to have the utmost confidence in its communications."

As the nation's premier command center, the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon has never had less than 99.999 percent system availability. It provides a consistently high level of support to its numerous, no-failure missions. The team also maintains 100 percent uptimes on the Red Switches, displays customer satisfaction ratings above 99 percent and has exceeded its metrics for seven consecutive years.

The DRSN provides fast, high quality secure and non-secure communications exclusively for the Department of Defense. The system offers access to ground networks, telephones, air platforms, sea platforms and various Allied instruments from a single device. A series of digital switches allows for users of multiple security clearance levels to participate on the same call. The network also passes security access levels between users to further verify end-to-end security, providing subscribers with a reliable tool through which they can share sensitive information.

The award was presented at the DRSN Node Site Coordinators Conference. It honors the Pentagon Red Switch Work Center's initiative, mission success, training, facility improvements and excellence in providing customer service to clients that include The Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin