BETHESDA, Md., May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] announced the appointment of Gordon Johndroe, 38, as vice president of Media Relations and International Communications, reporting to Jennifer Whitlow, vice president, Corporate Communications. In this role, Johndroe will serve as chief spokesperson for the Corporation, counsel senior leaders on media engagements and oversee the Corporation's media relations and international outreach campaigns and strategies.

Johndroe joins Lockheed Martin with more than 15 years of communications and media relations expertise. He most recently served as a vice president at APCO Worldwide, a Washington, D.C. based public affairs agency, where he was responsible for executing integrated communications campaigns, and advising global corporations on strategic communications, traditional and social media strategy and government relations.

Prior to APCO, Johndroe served as spokesman for the National Security Council (NSC) and White House deputy press secretary, where he provided strategic communications advice to the Executive Branch and was responsible for communicating the U.S. government's position on national security issues. He helped prepare the president, national security advisor, first lady and press secretary for media interviews and briefings and worked closely with NSC experts on regional affairs, energy and the environment, counter-proliferation, counter-terrorism, defense and intelligence. Johndroe coordinated with cabinet secretaries, U.S. embassies and military commands, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency on crisis communication efforts and a broad range of policy releases.

Earlier in his career, Johndroe served as director of Strategic Communications and Planning at the U.S. State Department; press secretary to First Lady Laura Bush; press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security; and, assistant White House press secretary. He has guest lectured at Georgetown and American universities, and participates in the State Department's International Visitor Program, where he speaks to foreign government delegations and journalists.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 118,000 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 2012 were $47.2 billion.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin