Commemorating Military Appreciation Month

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May 03, 2021

Lockheed Martin has a rich tradition of supporting the military community through innovative technologies, best-in-class employment opportunities for cleared talent transitioning from service, and through robust corporate giving to support those who serve and have served to defend freedom. During 2020, the company dedicated nearly $12 million to military and veteran social impact initiatives, including $5.5 million to military-connected COVID-19 support.

Here’s a full picture of our multi-dimensional model of support for military service members, veterans, and their families.

During 2021 National Military Appreciation Month, we reflect, express our gratitude to service members and their spouses, and remember the ultimate sacrifice of so many who have defended our freedom. Throughout the year, we support international, regional, and local military-connected nonprofit organizations in communities where our employees live and work, through giving and volunteer efforts.

We partner with nonprofit leaders and deploy workforce development strategies to ensure service members and their families, and military veterans, are prepared, well-supported, and enabled to fully participate and thrive in society.

Economic Opportunity and Well Being

We work with some of the nation’s leading military-connected nonprofit organizations to support service members, veterans, and their families in areas ranging from mental health to economic security. Lockheed Martin is a proud supporter of national veteran and military spouse employment initiatives with partners such as American Corporate Partners, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Student Veterans of America, Veteran Institute for Procurement, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Hiring Our Heroes. Nearly 100 Lockheed Martin employees serve as mentors for transitioning service members and military spouses looking for guidance on meaningful civilian employment. We support certification and upskilling programs in high-demand industries to bolster transitioning veterans’ resumes as they explore career opportunities. We support a nationally recognized entrepreneurship program for veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to help them compete and succeed in the federal marketplace. We also support fellowship programs designed to give military spouses and veterans on-the-job experience at major companies across the country.

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we are thrilled to sponsor the 5^th Annual Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Employment Summit on May 12. Military spouse employment is an incredibly important and timely topic, particularly given the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on women in the workforce. We are proud of the momentum within our own ranks in building the Lockheed Martin Military Spouse Alliance, part of our Military and Veteran Business Resource Group run by passionate and committed volunteers across the company.

Ask any service member – mission readiness is tied to military family well-being. Lockheed Martin is honored to support dozens of organizations that support military children specifically. One such organization, Our Military Kids, is committed to supporting the children of deployed or severely injured National Guard and Reserve service members – a uniquely vulnerable subset of school-aged military youth who often don’t have access to military installations or a military community. In 2020, Lockheed Martin’s total financial support reached $1 million, funding a total of nearly 3,400 grants for extra-curricular activities for children serving on the Homefront. Surveys show that these family enrichment experiences are linked to academic improvement, reduced psychological stress, and increases in family well-being and service member morale.

We partner with Blue Star Families on key initiatives addressing two of the most pressing concerns of today: racial equity and COVID-19 vaccination rates in its military community. Blue Star Families’ highly regarded Annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey provides a comprehensive understanding of the experiences and challenges encountered by military families and offers crucial insight and data to help inform national leaders, local communities, and philanthropic actors. The 12^th annual survey is available throughout National Military Appreciation Month – we encourage military families to share their voices.

Mental Health Awareness Month and Service Member Well Being

In addition to National Military Appreciation Month, May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. In 2020, Lockheed Martin chose to dedicate additional resources to address mental health needs of the military and veteran communities, particularly for those returning from combat tours or with severe injuries. Lockheed Martin became the first corporate partner of Boulder Crest / The Avalon Fund and the now-expanded Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network. This network is a new cognitive health and wellness network providing transformative care to veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse. This is an exciting expansion of programs developed by the Boulder Crest Foundation.

To learn more about Lockheed Martin’s social impact and military hiring initiatives visit

Military and Veteran Support and Lockheedmartinjobs.com/military.

Lockheed Martin is grateful to those who serve and have served. We extend our gratitude during National Military Appreciation Month and all year to our employees, suppliers, customers, and the entire military community. We thank you for your service and sacrifice to defend our freedom and will continue to do our part to support you.