TOP 100 DIVERSITY EMPLOYERS OF 2005, THE

Advice for New Graduates: Get involved with something you truly enjoy doing, and don't be afraid to try new things. At the same time, give yourself some time to get adjusted to all the changes that your life is going through.

Why did you choose to join Lockheed?

I joined Lockheed Martin because I had two very successful and fulfilling experiences as a summer intern with the company. As an intern, I received real work. I developed a program that automates radio frequency (RF) measurements and processes the raw data into a format that is easily recognizable. My colleagues continued to use this work after I returned to school and they called me when they had questions. I also had an incredible mentoring experience with my supervisor. He took an avid interest in me as a person in addition to seeing me as an employee.

What are you proudest of about Lockheed?

I am proud of the advanced technology that Lockheed Martin is involved in. I work in the corporate laboratory, the Advanced Technology Center, and all the projects are simply amazing and clearly cutting edge. There is never a dull moment, and I'm always learning about something new. The best thing about working at Lockheed Martin is being able to say that my work helps protect people around the world.

What is the value or diversity in your work?

In addition to race, gender, sexuality, religion, and age, I think that diversity includes aspects we typically don't think of, especially in the working environment: level of education, areas of study, schools attended, etc. Diversity helps a team of people draw from their different perspectives and varying experiences to reveal more ways to approach the engineering problems we face. Lockheed Martin truly strives to and succeeds in encouraging all aspects of diversity. There are many opportunities for everyone to advance their careers in whatever direction they see fit. Looking at the hierarchy of management as well as the technical expertise that I've seen, there is clear evidence of that.

As it relates to diversity, please describe the corporate culture at Lockheed.

The corporation as a whole is undoubtedly committed to diversity. There are endless programs to educate employees Loth as part of normal training and also as voluntary activities we can choose to get involved in. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale has found a simple way to incorporate inyour-mouth diversity (vs. in-your-face diversity) where they have a fantastically delicious multi-cultural luncheon with ethnic foods.

Why should ambitious, career-minded minority students target your company as a future employer?

Lockheed Martin is a great place for all ambitious and career-minded students. We have so much great technical work to accomplish for our customers that it is nearly impossible to complete it all without help from new and vibrant students. We also have great opportunities for advancement in management since our work-force is fairly mature. We, as recent college graduates, also have a lot to learn from those at the corporation who have had between 20-30 years of experience.