NDIA honors the legacy of Peter Teets

Peter Teets as undersecretary of the Air Force during a Pentagon press briefing in 2003.

ARLINGTON, VA  –  The National Defense Industrial Association mourns the loss of Peter Teets, who for nearly 40 years forged an incomparable career in the aerospace industry and federal government. Teets, who resided in Colorado Springs, Colorado, died Nov. 29 at age 78.

 “Aerospace in the United States – its discoveries, development and achievements – is at its level of excellence because of Peter Teets,” said Hawk Carlisle, NDIA’s president and CEO. “While we are saddened by his passing, through his contributions to aerospace and defense, Peter will be with us, always.”

Teets began his career in 1963 as an engineer with The Martin Company. He advanced through what became Martin Marietta and was named president of its Space Group in 1993. In 1997, Teets was named president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. After retiring from there in 2001, he began an illustrious public-sector career, serving as undersecretary of the Air Force and then as director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

Teets was on numerous boards and was lauded with notable awards, including the Wernher von Braun Space Flight Trophy, the Goddard Memorial Trophy and induction into the Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame. NDIA’s Space Division gives an annual award named for Teets to a person in government and in industry who exemplify him through their contributions to space systems. About 25 people have received the Teets award since it began in 2006. Teets himself received NDIA’s Gen. James V. Hartinger Award in 2003 for his outstanding achievements in U.S. military space missions.

“Our country has lost a great American, leader, visionary, executive and friend,” said Kevin Mortensen, president of NDIA’s Rocky Mountain Chapter. “Teets embodied the values and characteristics of leadership, service and outstanding support to the space mission of United States.” 

A memorial service with family only will take place Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m. EST/4:30 p.m. MST. Friends are invited to join by livestream; click here for the memorial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Teets to the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the Challenger Center of Colorado or First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs. 

Teets’ obituary from the Washington Post is available here.