On August 1st, Dr. Ray O. Johnson, Lockheed Martin Corporation Senior VP and Chief Technology Officer testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Research and Science Education. Dr. Johnson is a prestigious spokesman for STEM education, K-12 through advanced university degrees. On behalf of Lockheed Martin, Dr. Johnson is a recognized and respected advocate of the mission of ARCS Foundation, and engages with the organization at both the Chapter and National levels.
Lockheed Martin participated in a congressional hearing on August 1, 2012 before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Research and Science Education to discuss the company’s work with U.S. universities. Representing the company was Dr. Ray O. Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.
The subcommittee held the hearing to gain perspective from business leaders on corporate partnerships with academia and the ways that the federal government can help drive innovation and job creation.
During his testimony, Dr. Johnson shared Lockheed Martin’s plans to invest around $20 million in university research and development in 2012. He discussed how the company is concentrating its efforts in fewer and larger partnerships across several strategic areas, including cyber security, energy, healthcare, logistics and sustainment, and nanotechnology and advanced materials.
Dr. Johnson also discussed the need for the federal government to restore a permanent research and development tax credit to help spur corporate investments in U.S. universities. He also addressed the important roles of businesses and the government to help students realize their potential through science, technology, engineering, and math education.
In addition, he stressed that Lockheed Martin works with universities on talent acquisition. The company is a large employer of entry-level talent with over 75 percent of the company’s required skill sets being technical in nature. The skills most in demand are computer science, systems engineering, and electrical, computer, mechanical, and aerospace engineering.
To learn more about Lockheed Martin’s university outreach, please visit the subcommittee’s web site. Click here to view an archived webcast of the hearing and read the prepared written remarks of all panel participants.
- Photo courtesy of House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
© 2012 Lockheed Martin Corporation
