OTTAWA, June 21, 2019 /CNW/ - Lockheed Martin has announced that Lorraine Ben has been appointed vice president and chief executive for Lockheed Martin Canada effective immediately reporting to Richard H. Edwards, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin International.

Lorraine Ben assumes the leadership of a broad range of portfolio activities in Canada and serves as the corporation's lead representative in Canada.

"Lorraine is a strategic thinker and business leader with extensive business experience working in the Canadian market," said Edwards. "Originally employed with us in the late nineties in Kanata and Owego, NY, we were delighted when she returned to the corporation four years ago and have full confidence that she is the right person to lead Lockheed Martin's strategy in Canada."

Lockheed Martin Canada includes 1,000 employees spread across more than 10 facilities and customer sites from coast-to-coast and was recently selected as the prime contractor to deliver the design and systems integration for the Canadian Surface Combatant program. Its C-130 Hercules aircraft platform has been operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force for nearly 60 years and its Sikorsky division delivers commercial and military helicopters including the Royal Canadian Air Forces' CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter.

"I am honoured and humbled to assume this leadership role and look forward to continuing to nurture positive relationships with our customers, partners, suppliers and academic leaders across our country," said Lorraine Ben, vice president and chief executive for Lockheed Martin Canada. "It is an exciting time to be part of the innovation fabric for the defence and aerospace industries as Canada delivers its defence policy Strong, Secure and Engaged and the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada publishes Vision 2025: Beyond Our Imagination."

Currently, Lockheed Martin has an extensive supply chain of 1400 Canadian companies, of which also includes 110 small and medium sized businesses, which have contributed to the development and production of the F-35 Lightning II 5 generation fighter jet.

Born in Belfast, Ireland and having immigrated first to Alabama before settling in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Lorraine is a graduate of Laurentian University and the Canadian Forces National Security Studies program. Before joining Lockheed Martin in 2015, she served in a variety of business development and pursuit capture roles with Telus Corporation, Accenture and IBM. Prior to this, Lorraine worked for Lockheed Martin supporting business development in Owego, NY and Kanata.

About Lockheed Martin Canada:

Lockheed Martin Canada, headquartered in Ottawa, is the Canadian-based arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 105,000 people worldwide. Lockheed Martin Canada has been Canada's trusted defence partner for 80 years specializing in the development, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The company employs approximately 1,000 employees at major facilities in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Victoria, working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and commercial sector.

More about Lockheed Martin Canada at https://www.lockheedmartin.ca