Lockheed Martin and KFUPM Strengthen Commitment to Empower Saudi Youth
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May. 15, 2023 – Lockheed Martin, the U.S.-based global technology leader, has extended its partnership with Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) by sponsoring technical graduation projects by its students for the second consecutive year.
This initiative strengthens the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills among Saudi youth in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Lockheed Martin ultimately aims to develop sovereign capabilities in the aerospace and defense sector by increasing the pipeline of highly skilled Saudi scientists and engineers.
Lockheed Martin’s Chief Executive for Saudi Arabia and Africa Joseph Rank expressed his enthusiasm for the continuation of this partnership, saying: “Our work with KFUPM is a testament to our deep-rooted belief in the immense potential of this nation, which begins with empowering its youth. Yet this partnership is about more than creating job-ready graduates. It is about empowering the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and trailblazers who will further strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a global technology hub.”
The partnership includes support for competitions that evaluate senior year graduation projects at KFUPM’s College of Computing and Mathematics. Winners are announced in award ceremonies, and experts from Lockheed Martin and KFUPM jointly review and evaluate student submissions.
Lockheed Martin has been a committed partner to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 1965. Today, the company’s presence has moved beyond defense systems to provide products and services, technical support, manufacturing, and educational expertise to strengthen the Kingdom’s aerospace and defense industry.
Globally, Lockheed Martin is investing heavily in the next generation of engineers and innovators in the defense sector. In the next 10 years, the group expects to hire around 50,000 new STEM professionals in the U.S. and around the world.
