Lockheed Martin Lexington, KY Doubles Workforce, Seeks Top Engineers

Lockheed Martin Doubles Lexington Workforce with New Facility

Lockheed Martin has substantially expanded its presence in the Bluegrass State. The company celebrated the grand opening of a new Engineering Center of Excellence at the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Campus. This expansion will add 70 new full-time jobs and double the company’s Lexington workforce.

“We are excited to expand our presence in Lexington and create new job opportunities for the local community,” said Vic Torla, Vice President of Lockheed Martin Lexington Programs. “This new facility will enable us to tap into the region’s talented workforce and further enhance our ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our customers across the globe”.

The defense sector needs innovative engineering solutions. This facility will provide vital support for emerging technologies. Lockheed Martin’s Kentucky presence includes more than 1,500 employees statewide who support critical missions and meet global security customers’ needs worldwide.

Lockheed Martin and the University of Kentucky through UK Innovate announced their partnership in April 2025. Their collaboration advances innovation in engineering, materials, energy, and manufacturing technology. The university’s College of Engineering stands as the only program in Kentucky offering an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, making it instrumental in developing future talent.

Mayor Linda Gorton praised the development, stating, “We are thankful for Lockheed Martin’s commitment to being a strong corporate partner, and to increasing job opportunities in Lexington. Lexington is a great place to grow a business, thanks to our strong, resilient workforce”.

The facility supports the U.S. Special Operations Command, part of the Department of Defense. This strengthens Lexington’s role in national security infrastructure and boosts the local economy.

Local Leaders Praise Job Creation and Economic Impact

Lockheed Martin’s expansion in Lexington creates economic benefits that ripple across Central Kentucky. Local leaders praise these widespread advantages. Mayor Linda Gorton stressed how these investments matter, stating, “We are working on that every single day because we know jobs and economic development here are what float our boat, what make us a wonderful community”.

The partnership between Lockheed Martin and University of Kentucky will help grow the regional workforce, according to Commerce Lexington’s President and CEO Bob Quick. He believes Commerce Lexington plays a vital role by connecting educational institutions with businesses to foster meaningful relationships and create a strong talent pipeline.

Kentucky’s aerospace industry shows remarkable strength. Last year, aerospace products and parts topped the state’s exports at $13.80 billion. This amount was nowhere near the state’s second-highest export category, exceeding it by $10 billion.

UK President Eli Capilouto sees broader advantages in this collaborative effort. He explains that it “accelerates solutions to some of our state’s most pressing challenges — expanding opportunity for our students, strengthening Kentucky’s economy and advancing technologies that matter to our nation’s future”.

Lexington demonstrates strong economic resilience. The city recovered jobs faster than any other city in the Federal Reserve’s Fourth District after the pandemic. These new positions enhance the local economy significantly, especially with Lockheed Martin’s Kentucky salaries averaging $66,754 annually.

Lockheed Martin Partners with University of Kentucky to Build Talent Pipeline

Lockheed Martin’s expansion in Lexington builds on an educational collaboration with the University of Kentucky. This partnership creates a steady stream of skilled engineers. UK Innovate connects academic expertise with industry requirements in advanced engineering fields.

“Our skilled workforce has been built in partnership with strong pillars in the Central Kentucky community, like the University of Kentucky,” explained Robert Bockrath, deputy vice president of Lockheed Martin Lexington Programs. “As the demand increases for innovative solutions quicker than ever, it is critical to continue to develop and promote our collaboration for future generations of engineers”.

The Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at UK provides Kentucky’s only undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering. Students get practical experience in specialized facilities. The Next Generation Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory and the Gas Surface Interactions Lab help researchers develop innovative spacecraft heat shield technology.

Rudy Buchheit, Dean of UK’s College of Engineering, emphasized, “This collaboration offers our students a unique opportunity to work with a leading industry partner and better understand what awaits them after graduating”.

Lockheed Martin employs over 70,000 engineers among its 121,000 global workforce. The company wants to increase access to engineering education to fill future technologist positions. This partnership plays a key role in its Lexington growth strategy.

Conclusion

Lockheed Martin has doubled its local workforce through expansion at the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Campus. This move strengthens national security capabilities and supports the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The economic impact reaches way beyond the reach and influence of job creation. The addition of 70 high-paying engineering positions has enhanced Lexington’s proven economic resilience. Kentucky’s top export category remains aerospace products, which generated $13.80 billion last year. This expansion builds naturally on the state’s economy’s existing strengths.

Lockheed Martin’s strategic collaboration with the University of Kentucky creates a lasting talent development system. UK’s College of Engineering students get ground experience through specialized facilities and move into aerospace and defense sector roles. This partnership meets the growing need for innovative engineering solutions while creating career paths for Kentucky graduates.

Local leaders see this development as a game-changer. Their strong support shows how corporate partnerships boost national security, education, and regional prosperity together. As this Engineering Center of Excellence grows, Lexington continues to emerge as a leader in aerospace and defense innovation. This builds on Kentucky’s strengths and creates opportunities for tomorrow’s engineers.