Lockheed official's retirement sets off executive realignment
Aeronautics EVP Ralph Heath will retire in April after 37 years at Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin Corp. has announced the appointment of Larry Lawson, currently vice president and general manager of the company’s F-35 program, to serve as executive vice president of the Aeronautics business area.
The appointment follows the announced retirement of Aeronautics Executive Vice President Ralph Heath.
The transition takes effect on April 1, according to a Jan. 26 company announcement.
Heath, a U.S. Army veteran and qualified Airborne Ranger, will retire after a 37-year career with the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics business area and its heritage companies.
Lawson’s more than 32-year career in the aerospace sector began at McDonnell Douglas Corp. In 1986, he joined Martin Marietta Corp., where he served in various technical and managerial roles in capturing, developing and producing air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon systems.
Lawson will be succeeded by Orlando Carvalho, a 30-year veteran at Lockheed, who currently serves as vice president and deputy of the F-35 program.
Lorraine Martin, vice president of the C-130 program, will succeed Carvalho as vice president and deputy of the F-35 program.
George Shultz, currently vice president of modernization programs for Aeronautics, will become the new vice president of the C-130 program.
Lockheed Martin Corp., of Bethesda, Md., ranks No. 1 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.