US defense manufacturing giant expands in Lexington, adds 70 jobs to Central KY
An American defense and aerospace manufacturer is increasing its footprint in Lexington.
City officials joined leaders from the University of Kentucky and Lockheed Martin to cut a ribbon on the Lexington Engineering Center of Excellence in UK’s Coldstream Research Campus Aug. 18 where an expanded partnership between the school and the defense contractor will add 70 new, full-time jobs.
Lockheed Martin, which already has 1,500 employees in Kentucky, is expanding its partnership with UK to continue working with U.S. Special Operations Command, a central part of the Department of Defense responsible for conducting or continuing military missions across the world.
Through UK Innovate, an arm of the school that connects its research to corporate partners and community resources, the university and Lockheed Martin are combining industry and expertise in engineering, energy, materials and manufacturing.
The facility will provide engineering support for its emerging defense and aerospace technology.
Lockheed Martin Deputy Vice President of Lexington Programs Robert Bockrath said earlier this year the corporation’s local workforce has been built on the back of strong partnerships with the Central Kentucky community, especially with UK, since around 2010.
“As the demand increases for innovative solutions quicker than ever, it is critical to continue to develop and foster our collaboration for future generations of engineers for years to come,” Bockrath said.
UK President Eli Capilouto said the Coldstream Research Campus stands as a center for companies, researchers and entrepreneurs to work together in a tech-friendly environment. He said the research campus is central to the school’s vision to prepare students for new challenges.
Lockheed Martin has been a “valued partner” in the region, Capilouto said, offering employment to the school’s graduates and “at the same time, creating new pathways for innovation, workforce development and economic growth.”
“Lockheed Martin could have hired experts or invested capital in other facilities, but they see value in partnering with us,” Capilouto said. “That choice and today’s ribbon cutting reflect the confidence they have in our faculty and students ... and it reaffirms the impact the university has when we bring our full mission to bear alongside strong partners.”
Lockheed Martin Vice President of Lexington Programs Vic Torla said the center will supports the corporation’s projects worldwide.
“This Engineering Center of Excellence ... symbolizes our dedication to engineering, innovation and collaboration — the same qualities that have always been the foundation of America’s security and our strength,” Torla said.
UK’s Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering offers the only undergraduate aerospace degree program in the state. Student researchers are working in manufacturing and materials sectors at UK’s Next Generation Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory and its Gas Surface Interactions Lab.
“Working with Lockheed Martin allows us to leverage our engineering faculty’s deep expertise, creating an ideal environment for impactful innovation,” said UK’s College of Engineering Dean Rudy Buchheit.
“Our college works every day to prepare the next generation of engineers. This collaboration offers our students a unique opportunity to work with a leading industry partner and better understand what awaits them after graduation.”
Last year, aerospace products and parts were Kentucky’s top export at around $13.8 billion, according to the state’s export initiative. The second top export, pharmaceuticals and medicines, brought in $10 billion less, followed closely by motor vehicles.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, who announced July 30 she would seek a third term, said the growth of the local economy is “on purpose.” Of all the cities in the Federal Reserve’s Fourth District, Lexington recovered the most jobs the quickest following the pandemic.
“We are working on that (job creation and recovery) every single day because we know jobs and economic development are here, are what float our boat, and are what make us a wonderful community with the ability to serve the people who live here,” Gorton said.
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