Acquired · Lockheed Martin · History
History
Lockheed Martin was founded in 1912 (Bethesda, Maryland, United States). The timeline below traces every inflection point Acquired identified — founding, leadership changes, strategic pivots, crises, cultural moments.
The story
The modern company combines two aviation lineages: the Lockheed brothers' aircraft business and Glenn Martin's aircraft company. Their 1995 merger created Lockheed Martin, while the Skunk Works operating model preserved a small-team path for unusually hard programs.
Inflection points · grouped by decade
1910s
- 1912Founding
Two aviation lineages begin
The Lockheed brothers and Glenn Martin establish separate aircraft companies that will eventually combine.
[Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)]
1940s
- 1943Strategic shift
Skunk Works operating model emerges
Kelly Johnson leads a small, autonomous team to deliver the XP-80 jet on an accelerated schedule.
[Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)]
1990s
- 1995Acquired co.
Lockheed and Martin Marietta merge
The combination creates today's prime contractor across aircraft, missiles, space, and mission systems.
[Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)]
2000s
- 2001Product
Joint Strike Fighter contract awarded
The F-35 becomes a platform program spanning development, production, sustainment, allies, and suppliers.
[Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)]