Lockheed Martin is the Recipient of the 2020 SpaceGen Ambassador Award
VIENNA, AUSTRIA, 19 December 2020 – SGAC is very pleased and honoured to announce that Lockheed Martin, nominated by JR Edwards (Staff within the Chief Technology Office and Executive Secretary for the Corporate Technology Advisory Group), has been selected as the 2020 recipient of the SGAC SpaceGen Ambassador Award!
Through the SpaceGen Ambassador Award programme, SGAC wants to acknowledge organisations that deeply care for our generation, our talents, skills and needs that actively support us as the ‘next’ generation of space leaders, empower us as such and enable us to grow. The award is presented to an organisation from the space sector, either governmental, non-governmental, or private company that demonstrates genuine care for the next generation, actively supporting and empowering young space professionals and students.
Lockheed Martin has been a sponsor and partner of SGAC for over a decade, and has greatly contributed to SGAC’s mandate of providing a platform for growth and engagement for our members around the world to gain skills that prove essential to their future careers. The significance of our partnership with Lockheed Martin is reflected in the many accomplishments of our members who have propelled their way into prominent careers in the space sector.
As SGAC’s long-term anchor sponsor, Lockheed Martin has helped raise the visibility of SGAC to a global audience, laying the foundation for SGAC to recruit partners from industry, agency and academia. Noting Lockheed Martin’s leading role in supporting SGAC, national agencies have initiated their involvement, reflected in the increase of agency scholarships, working group discussion topics and speakers at SGAC events.
SGAC is grateful that so many of Lockheed Martin’s representatives go above and beyond to share their knowledge and dedicate their time to SGAC. Special mention must be made of Mr. Randy Sweet, Dr. Michael Hawes, Mr. JR Edwards, Mr. Christopher Nie, Ms. Mary Snitch and Ms. Kat Coderre, who are always willing to give their valuable time to network with our members and learn about the latest developments at SGAC. From our first announcement that Lockheed Martin would fly the SGAC flags onboard the Orion EFT-1 to Dr. Hawes latest update on the Orion Program’s advancements in achieving human and robotic exploration, SGAC members, driven by their passion for the industry, are intrigued and invested in learning and being part of Lockheed Martin’s exciting endeavors.
For these reasons, SGAC is thrilled to present the 2020 edition of this Award to Lockheed Martin Corporation, congratulating its employees and representatives, vital for making the organization a true SpaceGen Ambassador!
Arnau Pons, SGAC Chair, remarked the award presentation saying “We are thrilled to recognize the outstanding contributions from Lockheed Martin for their unwavering support of SGAC and the next generation of space leaders. Their longstanding commitment to the progress of the space youth has had an enormous impact in the progress of SGAC members across the globe.”
“Lockheed Martin is a longstanding and invaluable supporter of SGAC and we are so grateful for their continued support of students and young professionals within the space industry! ” adds Harriet Brettle, SGAC co-chair.
“As a long time sponsor of the Space Generation Advisory Council, we are honored to be acknowledged with the 2020 SpaceGen Ambassador Award,” said Lisa Callahan, VP and GM for Commercial Civil Space at Lockheed Martin. “We are passionate about space exploration and how it is benefiting humanity here on Earth. There’s no doubt we have a need for strong STEM talent to continue our passion. It’s through partnerships like the SGAC that we will continue to inspire and learn from the next generation and strengthen the future talent pipeline”.
Davide Petrillo, SGAC Executive Director, commented the news saying “Through Lockheed Martin’s key support, SGAC has been able to continue to provide an international platform for its members to discuss key issues in the space industry, and take back global insights, new perspectives and collaborative opportunities to their home countries and local network.”
The 2020 SGAC SpaceGen Ambassador Award has been virtually presented during the SGAC End-of-Year Party, held Saturday 19 December, at 1PM UTC. The award will be presented in person in 2021.
About SGAC
The Space Generation Advisory Council in Support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications is a global non-governmental, non-profit (US 501(c)3) organisation and network which aims to represent university students and young space professionals ages 18-35 to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, the SGAC network of members, volunteers and alumni has grown to more than 15 000 members representing more than 150 countries.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
About the SpaceGen Ambassador Award
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), the organisation launched its “SpaceGen Ambassador Award” Award Programme. SGAC wants to acknowledge organisations that deeply care for our generation, our talents, skills and needs – organisations that actively support us as the next generation of space leaders, empowering us as such, enabling us to grow. The award is presented to an organisation from the space sector, either governmental, non-governmental, or private company that demonstrates genuine care for the next generation, actively supporting and empowering young space professionals and students. Past winners of the award include the Secure World Foundation.
Nominations to the award will be open again in 2021. For info, please contact [email protected].
