Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review STEM Special Edition – August 2025

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Lockheed Martin helps grow their future workforce
By KC Rawley
Aerotech News STEM editor
The United States is experienc- ing an increasing shortage of engi- neers, especially in manufacturing and technology fields. A few reasons include universities graduating fewer home-grown engineers, caps on H-1B visas for foreign engineers, declining interest in the subject, and American students falling be- hind in math and science.
Ali Villalobos, the social impact lead for Skunk Works Lockheed Martin, works to promote sci- ence, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the Antelope Valley, Calif. She says encouraging students who might otherwise not think about math and science as vocations must start early.
“About 92 percent of boys and 97 percent of girls will lose interest in STEM if they’re not fully merged in it by about fifth grade. That’s early on. We usually think kids need to be in high school to really make college-style decisions about what they’re going to do with their future, but it really starts as early as elementary school. By that time if we haven’t already captured them and their attention, it just won’t happen,” said Villalobos.
Like many aerospace companies, Lockheed Martin encourages their employees to volunteer in schools, robotics, the Science Olympiad, and other activities that help grow the
Lockheed Martin photos
Students have a photo opportunity with everyone’s favorite skunk, the mascot of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the site of groundbreaking aircraft and technologies, including the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, and F-117 Nighthawk.
One of Lockheed Martin’s favor- ite ways to take their enthusiasm to schools is Engineer’s Week, a national celebration of engineers and the contribution that they make to society held every Febru- ary. “It gives us an opportunity to really recognize the work that engineers do, design, and develop —improving and innovating real world problems. We take our real- life engineers, go to classrooms and put on a presentation for them and give kids an opportunity to see someone who might look like them, and say ‘Hey, this is an engi- neer, and this is what an engineer looks like,’” said Villalobos.
Representation is important to recruiting future STEM workers, according to Villalobos. “Hopefully our engineers look like somebody in that room who can be inspired to do that job as well.”
In addition to engineers, there is also a need for people to bring their designs to life, which is why Lockheed Martin partners with Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, Calif. “A big part of developing this future workforce pipeline is the Aircraft Fabrica- tion and Assembly Program. Not everyone’s going to college for a four-year degree, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t knock out a certificate and have an incredible career in aerospace where you can comfortably support a family, and raise them here in the Aerospace Valley, so all of that fabrication in that pipeline is just as important,” said Villalobos.
“STEM really isn’t just about what’s in the books and master- ing clinical skills, which of course it is, but it’s also about having a very curious creative mindset and I think as long as we continue to encourage that in our kids we will be in a really good place in years to come,” Villalobos concluded.
LEFT: Representation of diverse groups is important to let students know that people who look like them are engineers, astronauts, test pilots, aerospace fabricators, and research scientists. Here, a volunteering Lockheed Martin employeevisitsaclassroom.
next crop of STEM workers to take their places.
“STEM is obviously a very im- portant component to us. We’re very committed to inspiring and
developing the next generation of STEM artists, scientists, technolo- gists, engineers, mathematicians — everything, so we have a very robust outreach of programs we
offer: scholarships to students pursuing some degrees, as well as internships, and we provide a lot of hands-on experience and mentor- ship,” said Villalobos.
In 2024, Lockheed Martin high school interns build planes at the AIAA Design. Build. Fly. Competition. STEM competitions are a high-interest way to attract students to math and science majors.
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