Apprenticeship Week 2024

After gaining hands-on experience as a teaching assistant in the design and manufacturing lab at the University of Florida, Roxanna joined Lockheed Martin’s robotics apprenticeship program in the Applications Development Center (ADC). Despite having limited experience in programming and manufacturing robots, the apprenticeship equipped her with the skills and confidence to deploy automated solutions on the factory floor.

Beyond technical skills, Roxanna’s apprenticeship has given her the chance to network with apprentices from across Lockheed Martin, expanding her professional community and connections. Through opportunities like these, Lockheed Martin’s programs provide Roxanna and others with continuous support to learn, connect, and advance in their careers.

Josh Kweon’s fascination with robotics began in his childhood in Fairfax, Virginia, where he participated in STEM competitions and joined robotics groups from elementary school through college. Today, as a manufacturing engineer apprentice at Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems in Manassas, VA, Josh is building expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics.

In his role, Josh collaborates with vendors to explore robotic use cases that could enhance Lockheed Martin’s operations. Looking ahead, he envisions a future where he can independently recommend and design robotic solutions. “Currently in my role as a manufacturing engineer, I work with vendors to identify robotic use cases for the scope of our work, but in the future, I hope to be knowledgeable enough to make my own recommendations and build robots that can do the tasks we need,” Josh shared.

Our Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship Program has been instrumental in providing Josh with the skills to advance his career. Through specialized training courses, hands-on experience with external vendors, and support from mentors and colleagues, Josh is gaining new perspectives and preparing for a future in robotics at Lockheed Martin.

Before joining Lockheed Martin, Karl was a full-time student focused on IT and cybersecurity. Through our apprenticeship program, he says he “reignited” his passion for learning and gained invaluable skills that prepared him for a successful career here. Recently, Karl transitioned from apprentice to full-time employee, applying his skills to support a range of Lockheed Martin programs.

A major factor in Karl’s journey has been his mentor, a senior systems engineer, who introduced him to new areas like mechanical engineering, AV engineering, programming, and network architecture. Mentorship not only helped Karl gain technical expertise but also provided him with a deep understanding of Lockheed Martin’s business and mission.

Karl now uses this knowledge in his role, including maintaining simulators at our Innovation Demonstration Center (IDC). 

Tiffany forged a new career path for herself after completing Lockheed Martin Space’s Advanced Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Program (AMTAP) in Littleton, Colorado.

“AMTAP not only got my foot in the door at a respected company, but it reignited my passion for lifelong learning and inspired me to set new goals,” she shared. The six- to nine-week “Earn While You Learn” program teaches in-demand skills, such as soldering and cable harnessing, with no upfront costs.

Tiffany credits the supportive AMTAP instructors—many of whom are program graduates themselves—for her confidence and pride in her work. Inspired by her experience, she’s now pursuing her degree online while advancing as an environmental and functional test technician, eager for a long, rewarding career at Lockheed Martin.

“When I saw that I was capable of succeeding in this new career, I knew I could set myself up for opportunities that I didn’t think were possible before,” she said. “I want to learn all I can, and eventually I hope to work my way into project engineering and beyond. I feel like almost anything is possible at Lockheed Martin.”

Like many of our apprentices, Kiersten wanted to build her career near home. Kiersten grew up outside of Lufkin, Texas where she graduated from Central High School in 2015. She enlisted in the Navy in 2018 and after four years of active-duty service, she participated in the Lockheed Martin Heroes program, allowing her to leverage her military skills and experiences for employment.

In 2022, Kiersten was offered full-time employment with Lockheed Martin as an electronic assembler in our apprenticeship program, registered with the US Department of Labor. As an apprentice, she is receiving critical training and mentoring. She is also utilizing our tuition reimbursement benefit to continue her education at Angelina College so she is ready for long-term career growth. Together, with Angelina College, we have created a manufacturing skills training lab on campus where all apprentices receive their initial training for which they earn college credit.