Main image of article Lockheed to Cut 4,000 Positions by Mid-2015
Lockheed Martin is once again cutting its workforce, this time planning to lay off approximately 4,000 workers from nearly half a dozen sites across the U.S., its CEO Marillyn Hewson announced in an email to employees Thursday. Lockheed Martin Logo"Today our customers face an increasingly complex global security environment with rapidly shrinking budgets. Now more than ever, they are expecting us to help them stay ahead of the threats by delivering innovative products and systems at the most affordable cost," according to a Lockheed employee who read us the memo but requested anonymity. "For the past several years we have taken proactive actions to address our customers’ challenges and remain competitive in the marketplace. While we have made significant progress, there is more work we must do to help our customers achieve their missions and prepare for the continued reductions in U.S. government spending," Hewson added in the memo. Lockheed plans to eliminate approximately 2,000 positions by mid-2015, as it closes operations in Newton, Pa.; Akron, Ohio; Goodyear, Ariz.; and Horizon City, Texas. It will also shutter four buildings in Sunnyvale, Calif. In addition, the defense contractor is planning to lay off 2,000 people tied to its Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS), Mission Systems and Training (MST) and Space Systems business by the end of 2014. These include the 600 jobs in MST that Lockheed announced previously. Hewson called the moves “part of our continued affordability initiative and follow a thorough review of our current facility capacities and future workload projections."

Snip, Snip, Cut, Cut

Earlier this year, Lockheed issued a voluntary buyout package to employees of its IS&GS division. At the end of 2012, the company’s headcount stood at 120,000, according to the company's annual report. That means the latest round of cuts represents a 3 percent decrease. Here are the specific cuts:
  • Space Systems, Newtown, Pa:  Site closure by early 2015 -- 800 people impacted
  • Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif: Close four buildings – 200 jobs cut
  • IS&GS, Goodyear, Ark: Facility closure by early 2015 – 600 people impacted
  • MST, Akron, Ohio: Close most of facility by early 2015 – 500 people impacted
  • Missiles and Fire Control, Horizon City, Texas: Close facility by early 2015 – 11 people impacted