State leaders salute Lockheed expansion

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

$30M building will be firm's 8th in Research Park

Local, state and federal officials joined Lockheed Martin Corp. at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for Lockheed Martin Huntsville Operations' $30 million, 166,000-square-foot office building on its Bradford Drive campus.

The company was the first to build in Cummings Research Park and started with 12 employees in 1962, said Bob Drolet, director of Lockheed Martin Huntsville Operations, which now employs nearly 550. Growth of at least 15 to 20 percent is expected over the next year, he said.

When the company became the first landowner in Cummings, few could envision what would happen with the Huntsville operation 40 years later, said Dr. Bob Trice, senior vice president, business development with Lockheed Martin. The new building, Building 406, represents the bright future "we see in Huntsville," he said.

"This is a great economic development benefit for this community and this state, and for that I'm very appreciative," Gov. Bob Riley said.

Riley praised Lockheed Martin employees "for what you do for our fighting men and women." The company's work helps make "the fight for freedom a reality," he said.

Lockheed Martin Huntsville Operations provides program management and engineering for key missile defense contracts and is the site of the company's Battle Management Center of Excellence.

Others making remarks at the groundbreaking were U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile; U.S. Reps. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, and Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; and Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie.

Construction of the office building is scheduled to start later this month, subject to final negotiations between Lockheed Martin and Sunnyvale II development group of Huntsville.

The building will be the eighth at Lockheed Martin's 80-acre campus on Bradford.



State leaders salute Lockheed expansion Wednesday, August 16, 2006 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com $30M building will be firm's 8th in Research Park Local, state and federal officials joined Lockheed Martin Corp. at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for Lockheed Martin Huntsville Operations' $30 million, 166,000-square-foot office building on its Bradford Drive campus. The company was the first to build in Cummings Research Park and started with 12 employees in 1962, said Bob Drolet, director of Lockheed Martin Huntsville Operations, which now employs nearly 550. Growth of at least 15 to 20 percent is expected over the next year, he said. When the company became the first landowner in Cummings, few could envision what would happen with the Huntsville operation 40 years later, said Dr. Bob Trice, senior vice president, business development with Lockheed Martin. The new building, Building 406, represents the bright future "we see in Huntsville," he said. "This is a great economic development benefit for this community and this state, and for that I'm very appreciative," Gov. Bob Riley said. Riley praised Lockheed Martin employees "for what you do for our fighting men and women." The company's work helps make "the fight for freedom a reality," he said. Lockheed Martin Huntsville Operations provides program management and engineering for key missile defense contracts and is the site of the company's Battle Management Center of Excellence. Others making remarks at the groundbreaking were U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile; U.S. Reps. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, and Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; and Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie. Construction of the office building is scheduled to start later this month, subject to final negotiations between Lockheed Martin and Sunnyvale II development group of Huntsville. The building will be the eighth at Lockheed Martin's 80-acre campus on Bradford. © 2006 The Huntsville Times © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.