Lockheed Martin appoints executive vice president of Aeronautics

Posted by- Neelam Mathews

Jan 27, 2012

Lockheed Martin Corporation announced that its board of directors has approved the appointment of Larry A. Lawson to serve as the executive vice president of the Aeronautics business area. The appointment follows the announcement of Ralph D. Heath’s retirement; the transition is effective on April 1, 2012. 

Heath retires after a distinguished 37-year career with the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics business area and its heritage companies. In addition to leading the consolidation of the three business units to create the current Aeronautics business area, Heath led the revitalization of the C-130 program, international expansion of the F-16 program, and the development and delivery of the F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft to secure the long-term future of the business. 

Lawson, currently the vice president and general manager of the F-35 program, will be succeeded by Orlando Carvalho, who currently serves as vice president and deputy, F-35 program. Lorraine Martin will succeed Carvalho as vice president and deputy for the F-35 program; she is currently the vice president, C-130 program. George Shultz, currently vice president of Modernization programs for Aeronautics, will become the new vice president for the C-130 program.

Lawson has held a broad range of positions of increasing responsibility in his career of more than 32 years in aerospace. Prior to leading the F-35 program, he served as vice president and general manager of the F-22 Raptor program, and vice president of business development for Lockheed Martin’s Electronic Systems business area. Lawson started his career with McDonnell Douglas, and in 1986 joined Martin Marietta, where he served in various technical and managerial roles in capturing, developing and producing air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon systems.