Lockheed Case Study

Lockheed Martin – Moorestown, New Jersey
Providing Opportunity
“The IT Apprenticeship Program at Lockheed Martin provides opportunities
for talented high school students to earn valuable work experience and develop
the skills necessary to position them for meaningful
technical careers within the field.”
– Bethany Ellis, Lockheed Martin, Moorestown, N.J.
L
ockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, also
known as MS2, provides surface, air and undersea
products for U.S. and allied forces and is the premier
systems integrator of network-centric naval combat
systems. MS2 is a business unit within Lockheed Martin’s
Electronic Systems, and employs more than 12,000
individuals in a range of technical fields.
The Lockheed Martin MS2 plant in Moorestown, N.J.,
began an Information Technology Apprenticeship Program
(ITAP) in June 2007. Led by Debra Hill, outreach program
leader, and Bethany Ellis, employee development
manager, the program provides Registered Apprenticeship
opportunities for 17 teenagers from three area technical
high schools.
Under Hill’s leadership, Lockheed Martin formed the ITAP
Advisory Board for future placement of full-time
apprentices. The board is composed of Lockheed Martin
executives and managers. In addition, Lockheed Martin
has donated laptops and a dedicated company log-in to
each apprentice to enable portability of the program.
“Our Registered Apprenticeship program provides positive
outcomes for all stakeholders, including the community,
students and Lockheed Martin,” Ellis said.
conflict resolution, interview skills, time management and
resume preparation. In addition, students often have
opportunities to work longer hours during the summer
months.
After high school graduation, several alumni of the
apprenticeship program plan to work full time at Lockheed
Martin. Like Albert, Bryan, Angie and Leslie, many hope
to also attend community college part time.
“You have to adjust to managing three things at once – high
school, a job and college classes,” Angie T. said. “It is challenging
at first, but you learn to prioritize.”
That’s certainly the case for high school seniors Albert S.,
Bryan C., Angie T. and Leslie M., members of Lockheed
Martin’s inaugural apprenticeship class. While Albert and
Bryan work in the networking department, Angie and
Leslie are learning valuable desktop skills, such as
uploading data and documents to SharePoint, the
company’s intranet.
During the school year, students work in their assigned
departments for about three hours a week. Each
Wednesday, they attend an IT course at a local community
college for potential college credit. Then on Thursdays, the
students return to Lockheed Martin for professional
development classes taught by Hill and Ellis. Topics include
“This program is a great way to meet new people and learn skills
that will help you later in life,” Leslie M. said. “I really appreciate
the professional development classes because I know that I’m
learning things that will help me when I’m in the real world and
living on my own.”
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