Greaves, Ambrose get Teets awards; Lockheed Martin announces $350 million space production facility in Denver

Greaves, Ambrose honor Teets in accepting namesake space service award

Event is setting for Lockheed Martin announcement of $350 million spacecraft facility

CHANTILLY, VA – Air Force Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves of the Missile Defense Agency and Richard “Rick” Ambrose of Lockheed Martin Corp. both paid homage to Peter B. Teets in accepting the space award named for him during a dinner ceremony Aug. 1 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly, VA.

“I have a great deal of admiration for Peter Teets,” said Greaves, who began as MDA director in June. Teets was influential throughout Greaves’ career, he said, particularly during space and missile training studies at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The Honorable Peter B. Teets Award, given by the Space Division of the National Defense Industrial Association, honors Teets, revered for his dedication and career in the aerospace industry and his service as Air Force undersecretary from 2001 to 2005. The Teets award recognizes public- and private-sector leadership or achievement that contributes significantly to space systems.

“It gives me a great deal of pride to be chosen for this award,” said Greaves, who received the government focused award. “To be in space systems my entire career and then receive an award with Teets’ name on it, it makes it all worthwhile.”

 “Teets knew the need for integration,” Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin, Space Systems, said in accepting his award for the industry side. Ambrose then announced Lockheed Martin’s new Gateway Center, a $350 million investment. The 266,000 square-foot spacecraft production environment will make the Denver-based facility one of the largest satellite and space manufacturing centers in the world at 3.5 million square feet.

 The new center is designed to assemble, integrate, and test national security, scientific, and commercial satellites, according to the company, and is optimized for a streamlined process that enhances quality, efficiency, and affordability.

“It’s an exciting time to be in space,” Ambrose said. “It’s very dynamic, and there are a lot of activities going on.” He noted the enthusiasm surrounding space exploration in the 1960s that spurred a generation of professionals in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“That’s where we’re headed now,” Ambrose said. “Five decades later, we are doing it again.” The question now, he said, isn’t will space grow but in what direction it will grow.

“Now more than ever there is a need to excel” in the space realm, particularly with cyberspace and intelligence, Teets said in remarks read by Marc Johansen, chairman of the NDIA Space Division and vice president of satellites and intelligence programs at Boeing Government Operations. These are particular keys in the ability to respond, Teets said, “and give us the superiority we need.” 

More than 100 people from government, military, and industry attended the Teets award dinner, which was a prelude to the classified National Security Space Policy and Architecture Symposium, Wednesday, Aug. 2, in Chantilly.

For more details about the Lockheed Martin Gateway Center, please visit www.lockheedmartin.com/gatewaycenter

 

 

About NDIA

The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is the trusted leader in defense and national security associations. As a 501(c)(3) corporate and individual membership association, NDIA engages thoughtful and innovative leaders to exchange ideas, information, and capabilities that lead to the development of the best policies, practices, products, and technologies to ensure the safety and security of our nation. NDIA’s membership embodies the full spectrum of corporate, government, academic, and individual stakeholders who form a vigorous, responsive, and collaborative community in support of defense and national security. For more information, visit www.ndia.org.

 

About the Space Division

The mission of the Space division is to be the focal point and coordinating element within NDIA for the identification, study, and resolution of technology, operations, management, and business issues associated with government policy and practice in national security space activities; to serve as an effective vehicle for the exchange of views and information between government and industry on all matters of common concern relating to space; to provide, in cooperation with government elements, collective industry viewpoints, recommendations, and advice on matters of national security interest regarding space; to foster mutual understanding and effective working relationships between government and industry for the purpose of ensuring effective and reliable space support to national security objectives. For more information, visit www.ndia.org/divisions/space.