SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) continued its year-long centennial celebration today at its Sunnyvale, California, site, marking the 100^th anniversary of Alco Hydro-Aeroplane Company, a San Francisco small business that grew to be one of Lockheed Martin's two founding companies. Allan and Malcolm Lockheed established their airplane business on Dec. 19, 1912, and today their passion for aerospace innovation thrives in Sunnyvale at today's leading space technology company.

"Our founders began their career in San Francisco, and we're still in the Bay Area delivering game-changing systems that are literally out of this world," said Joanne Maguire, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Our centennial is not just about honoring the men and women who have made Lockheed Martin what it is today, but also those who are making what it becomes tomorrow."

Native Californians, the Lockheed brothers made innovation a part of Bay Area culture nearly a century before Silicon Valley developed. In fact, Allan and Malcom Lockheed used a car repair shop in San Francisco to build their first seaplane and made the first successful flight of the Model G at the Golden Gate entrance of San Francisco Bay.

Today, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale continues the local legacy of aerospace and technology leadership where the design and production of cutting-edge space programs for national security, civil and commercial customers is currently underway.  From the Model G's first flight to building the Hubble Space Telescope, the Bay Area has witnessed the entire history of aerospace technology development along its shores. The company continues to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow as it develops new systems designed to connect, protect and explore our world including projects on human space flight systems, communication and remote sensing satellites, strategic and missile defense systems, and interplanetary spacecraft.

Learn about our founders here, including more on Glenn L. Martin, the other early force behind Lockheed Martin, who also established his company 100 years ago this year. See how other parts of the corporation are celebrating today in this news release.

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.

Media Contact:  Steve Tatum, 408/742-7531, email stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com

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

SOURCE Lockheed Martin