The leading global defense technology company and Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Premier Engineering and Technology University are expanding a more-than-40-year partnership that has greatly impacted the State of Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 economic prosperity, fueled innovation and strengthened student success from kindergarten through college.
Joined by Gov. Ron DeSantis, UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and Lockheed Martin Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John ’87 ’91MS signed the Pegasus Partnership agreement in June at the Paris Air Show, the global aerospace industry 麻豆精品 S檚 premier meeting 麻豆精品 S� and a fitting venue for two organizations that are leaders in Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 robust and rapidly growing aerospace industry.
As part of the agreement:
- Lockheed Martin will expand investments in the highly successful , which since 1981 has provided unrivaled work experiences for more than 10,000 students in engineering, business and many other disciplines 麻豆精品 S� and led to many of those students earning full-time employment with Lockheed Martin.
- Lockheed Martin will significantly grow research with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 world-class faculty in key areas such as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, advanced manufacturing and hypersonic technologies.
- UCF will develop a new executive education program that would provide an opportunity for Lockheed Martin to upskill and train their leaders for the future.
- Both organizations will work together to pursue joint federal funding opportunities that will further strengthen their roles as leaders in cutting-edge research and development.
What This Means for Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Future
The Pegasus Partnership supports many of Gov. Ron DeSantis 麻豆精品 S� goals, including maintaining Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 role as setting the national standard for economic growth, workforce development and innovation.
“This partnership between UCF and Lockheed Martin is an example of how Florida leads in workforce education,” DeSantis says. “Our state is proud to prioritize educational opportunities that produce practical knowledge and immediate job opportunities.”
UCF has provided much of the talent that has fueled Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 growth and success. The university is the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 top provider of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry, according to Aviation Week Network.
麻豆精品 S淟ockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 unwavering partnership empowers our students with real-world opportunities, drives innovation, and strengthens our shared commitment to building a brighter future, 麻豆精品 S� Cartwright says. 麻豆精品 S淭ogether, we will work even more closely to shape the next generation of leaders and advance industries and technologies that benefit Florida and the world. 麻豆精品 S�
The agreement builds on UCF and Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 longstanding partnership and designates UCF as Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 first university strategic partner in Florida. UCF joins 11 other prestigious universities in this designation, committed to supporting Lockheed Martin as the world 麻豆精品 S檚 largest Aerospace and Defense corporation.
麻豆精品 S淭his agreement is a celebration of more than four decades of partnership between Lockheed Martin and UCF, built on innovation, shared values, and a commitment to developing the next generation of STEM talent, 麻豆精品 S� says St. John, who earned 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 and master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in electrical engineering from UCF and began at Lockheed Martin through the CWEP. 麻豆精品 S淎s an alum, I 麻豆精品 S檓 incredibly proud of the role UCF plays in shaping the future of aerospace and defense. 麻豆精品 S�
About UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Partnership with Lockheed Martin
Thanks to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 partnership with Lockheed Martin, UCF students for decades have gained invaluable hands-on experience through internships and cooperative education programs, which strongly enhance their practical skills and employability. Lockheed Martin also provides scholarships and mentorship opportunities that help students excel in fields such as engineering, cybersecurity and technology.
The two organizations have worked closely on cybersecurity initiatives 麻豆精品 S� including the Cyber Innovation Lab, where UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 national champion collegiate cyber defense team trains 麻豆精品 S� and educating K-12 STEM teachers who are inspiring Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 future workforce to become interested in science, math and engineering fields.
About the Pegasus Partners Program
UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy and co-location at UCF. The university is proud to also include Addition Financial, AdventHealth, Nemours Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Health, Orlando Health and Siemens Energy among its Pegasus Partners.
