Releases
Littleton, CO – December 21, 2018 – Lockheed Martin Space is relocating portions of its production for the Navy’s Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program to its headquarters in unincorporated Jefferson County. The project will relocate portions of the program’s manufacturing capabilities as well as engineering positions across all disciplines. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is actively pursuing local talent to staff a number of these key roles primarily in systems, electrical, and mechanical engineering, project management and business operations.
"Lockheed Martin is a long-standing leader in Colorado’s aerospace industry. We are thrilled to welcome its Fleet Ballistic Missile program to our state, and in particular to Jefferson County," said Governor John Hickenlooper. "The addition of hundreds of highly skilled, high paying jobs in support of this vital national security program offers Coloradans quality employment opportunities and advances Colorado’s reputation as Aerospace Alley."
Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation (Jeffco EDC) worked on the expansion project in partnership with Jefferson County and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
“We are excited to partner with Lockheed Martin to bring the Fleet Ballistic Missile program to unincorporated Jefferson County,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Casey Tighe. “This will bring many quality employment opportunities, with this long-standing aerospace leader, to our highly-skilled local talent.”
“We appreciate the continued support from our partners at Jefferson County EDC and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. We are thrilled to expand our presence in the community and are eager to add exceptional, local talent to the Lockheed Martin team. The Fleet Ballistic Missile program is a critical component of our nation’s strategic deterrent and working in close partnership with the Navy we remain committed to solving their most complex mission needs,” said Eric Scherff, vice president of Navy strategic programs at Lockheed Martin.
About the Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Program – Lockheed Martin has developed, built and sustained six generations of submarine-launched ballistic missiles under the FBM program. The current generation of missiles, designated Trident II D5 are carried aboard the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class submarines and make up the sea-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad. They are also carried aboard the United Kingdom’s Vanguard-class submarine as their nation’s sole nuclear deterrent. Lockheed Martin’s contribution to the FBM program has been anchored in Sunnyvale, California, since its inception more than 60 years ago.
About Lockheed Martin in Jefferson County – Lockheed Martin established operations in Jefferson County in 1955 at the request of the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force wanted its new rocket facility to be built inland where it would be less vulnerable to enemy submarine attacks. During this time, “Industries for Jefferson County” (now Jeffco EDC) was formed to attract the Glenn L. Martin Company to the county.
Over the past 60+ years, Lockheed Martin has been a catalyst for the county’s aerospace industry. Today, Lockheed Martin is Jefferson County’s largest private-sector primary employer, with over 6,200 employees. The company is a huge economic driver for the region, and its operations in the county indirectly generate 10,000 jobs and bring billions of dollars to the local economy.
Recently, the company broke ground on its new Gateway Center, which will be a $350 million 266,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art satellite production facility. Upon completion, Lockheed Martin will have 3.5 million square feet of production, engineering, testing and office space at its 5,400-acre Waterton Campus, making Jefferson County home to one of the largest satellite manufacturing centers in the world.
Jeffco EDC is the premier economic development organization creating and enhancing the economic vitality for businesses and citizens of Jefferson County, Colorado through the retention, expansion, and attraction of primary jobs. To learn more, please visit Jeffco EDC’s website at www.jeffcoedc.org.