BETHESDA, Md., July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced its interest to retain the Management and Operating (M&O) contract for Sandia National Laboratories.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sandia Corporation, Lockheed Martin has managed Sandia since 1993 for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration. 

"During our nearly two decades of oversight, we've helped position Sandia for the global security challenges of the 21st century, expanding its core nuclear security mission into adjacent areas such as non-proliferation, energy and infrastructure security, cyber technology and more," said Marillyn Hewson, who chairs the Sandia Corporation board of directors and is the executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Electronic Systems business area. "Given increasingly constrained budgets, our team's demonstrated performance and leadership will ensure affordable stewardship for this premier national lab for years to come," Hewson added. 

Dr. Paul Hommert, president of Sandia Corporation and director of Sandia National Laboratories, will continue on in both roles should Lockheed Martin be selected by the DOE to remain the M&O contractor.  Appointed to his current Sandia leadership positions two years ago, Hommert has more than 35 years of national security experience and service.  He previously led Sandia's nuclear weapons programs, was the director of Research and Applied Science at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in the United Kingdom, led the Applied Physics Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and also served as vice president of Sandia's California laboratory, directing homeland security and defense strategies.

"Sandia is entering an era of extraordinary responsibilities critical to the future of the nation's nuclear stockpile, our roles in design and production activities associated with the modernization program as well as continued assessment of the current stockpile are essential to the sustained reliability and safety of our nation's nuclear deterrent," Hommert said. "Sandia Corporation understands the magnitude and breadth of the Laboratory's national security mission, and the importance of continuity in mission delivery and our demonstrated commitment to continually improve operational effectiveness and cost performance especially given the fiscal challenges faced by the nation."

In December 2011, DOE announced its intent to award a one-year contract extension to Sandia Corporation for management and operation of Sandia, while a follow-on competition is pursued.  The contract extension is expected from October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013, with two additional three-month options, to be exercised if needed.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 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 net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin