UT, Lockheed Martin Expand Master Research Agreement

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and defense technology company Lockheed Martin announced the signing of a new five-year master research agreement Oct. 31, reinforcing a longstanding partnership that helps UT take its research capabilities from the lab to the field.

"This partnership allows UT researchers to conduct true translational research," said James Andes, director of national security research initiatives for UT. "Our research concepts are matured by working with technical champions at Lockheed Martin, and as a result our technologies get scaled up and out into defense applications."

Linda O'Brien of Lockheed Martin, left, and Chancellor Donde Plowman

As a global security, innovation and aerospace company, Lockheed Martin carries out the majority of its business with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. In addition, Sikorsky - a Lockheed Martin Company - provides military and rotary-wing aircraft to all five branches of the U.S. armed forces as well as to military services and commercial operators in 40 nations.

While Lockheed Martin does not have a physical presence on any of UT's campuses, the master research agreement serves as a prenegotiated contract so the university can quickly respond when UT's capabilities align with Lockheed Martin's needs, Andes explained.

"Lockheed Martin is an important strategic partner," said Deb Crawford, UT vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development, "We're excited to renew our partnership to advance technological solutions to national security challenges while also preparing the aerospace workforce of the future."

Historically UT's work with Lockheed Martin has centered around hypersonics solutions, helping evaluate and test prototypes that will travel at eight or nine times the speed of sound, Andes said. However, the research agreement extends beyond hypersonics technologies, allowing UT to support Lockheed Martin in other mission areas such as advanced materials and manufacturing, energy and power systems, and trusted artificial intelligence and machine learning - areas that align with UT's innovation gateways and core research strengths.

"Our partnership with Lockheed Martin is not specific to any one academic unit but covers a broad spectrum of both fundamental and applied research, from engineering to agriculture," Andes said. "There are very few areas they have a concern for that we don't have an expert in."

Marc Gibson, associate vice chancellor, speaks before a group of people from Lockheed Martin and UT

The 2019-2024 master research agreement produced six Lockheed Martin-funded projects totaling more than $3 million. It also included the company's annual sponsorship of Tickle College of Engineering senior design projects, one of which resulted in a paper presented at the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics fall 2024 symposium. Students from other UT colleges also reap the benefits of the partnership.

"Experiential learning is at the heart of our mission at the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies," said Vice Provost and Founding Dean Ozlem Kilic. "We're not only enriching our students' education across campus but also equipping them with the adaptability, critical thinking and collaborative skills that cut through disciplines essential for the careers of the future that revolve around emerging technologies. We are thrilled that this new master research agreement between UT and Lockheed Martin will allow us to continue providing students access to real-world experiences and also expand our ability to offer more students these opportunities."

UT has played an important workforce development role for Lockheed Martin as well, Andes said, by providing quality students for internships and co-ops at Lockheed Martin and well-prepared graduates for employment. At last count, Lockheed Martin employed more than 350 UT alumni.

"Our partnership with UT is key to solving some of the most complex challenges in the aerospace domain," said Linda O'Brien, vice president and chief engineer for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and a UT mechanical engineering graduate. "It's personally exciting to see the sophistication and relevance of the research, as well as the caliber of talent, from my own alma mater."

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