For four decades, UCF and Lockheed Martin’s partnership has strengthened Florida’s economic prosperity and the success of students from kindergarten through college. As the two organizations expand their relationship as Pegasus Partners, UCF celebrates the outstanding impact they have achieved together.
Investing in UCF Students for More Than 40 Years
Launched in 1981, the UCF Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program provides paid work experiences to about 500 students each year, and many are offered full-time jobs at the company. The program is one of only two that Lockheed Martin offers in the nation.
With its location in Orlando — a national hub of aerospace and defense innovation — UCF provides Lockheed Martin a vast talent pool of undergraduate and graduate students studying engineering, business, finance, communications, mathematics, computer science and other disciplines.
“CWEP did a couple things for me. It cemented my desire to work in engineering as a career, and it also gave me a perspective while I was getting an education of how that was going to be used in the future. It was also beneficial for the company because they got to try me out as a part-time employee.”
Cyber Champions
The Cyber Innovation Lab, which opened in 2019, provides a dedicated practice and learning space for students and helps strengthen the pipeline of cyber workforce talent, addressing a critical need both locally and nationally.
Hands-on learning in the lab mirrors the pace and complexity of the cybersecurity industry. Lockheed Martin’s support brings expert mentorship and advanced software tools that connect academic learning and industry application — ensuring graduates are well-educated and workforce-ready.
“Thanks to a transformative investment from Lockheed Martin, our Cyber Innovation Lab is setting a new standard in cybersecurity education. This cutting-edge facility offers students a professional-grade environment where they engage directly with real-world cyber challenges — from threat detection to active defense strategies.
Strengthening K-12 STEM Education Across Central Florida
For the past 30 years, the Lockheed Martin/UCF Mathematics and Science Academy has provided tuition support for K-12 mathematics and science teachers who have earned master’s degrees. The academy offers two comprehensive programs, one for experienced educators and one for those transitioning into education. The program also explores emerging technologies such as how STEM teachers can best incorporate AI into their classes.
The program boosts the quality of mathematics and science education Central Florida youth receive — and academy graduates are fiercely dedicated to inspiring children to become passionate about mathematics and science, which can increase the likelihood they will pursue a career in a STEM field.
The Lockheed Martin/UCF Mathematics and Science Academy fundamentally transformed my perspective and practice as a STEM educator and leader… The program challenged me to move beyond traditional instruction and embrace critical thinking and innovation. It empowered me to create more engaging and authentic STEM learning experiences for my students.
Helping First Responders
Most recently, Lockheed Martin invested in UCF RESTORES’ new Resiliency Command Center, a first-of-its-kind mobile unit designed to provide on-site resiliency support and behavioral health care to first responders working at the scenes of crises, including natural disasters, mass casualty events and line-of-duty tragedies.
UCF RESTORES provides clinical treatment services to first responders, front-line medical personnel, military veterans, active-duty military personnel and survivors of mass violence. In the aftermath of critical incidents, its team is often called to provide mental health support to those affected. UCF RESTORES also offers an innovative exposure therapy program, based at a clinic on campus, which includes elements of virtual reality to realize treatment success rates that far exceed the national average.
Thanks to the generous support of Lockheed Martin and our partners, our UCF RESTORES team can ensure that when disaster strikes, the men and women who run toward danger are equipped with the resources they need to achieve their optimal physical and mental health and wellness.
UCF Alumni at Lockheed Martin
No. 1 Supplier of Talent
UCF has provided much of the talent that has fueled Lockheed Martin’s growth and success. The university is the nation’s top provider of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry, according to Aviation Week Network.
20 Lockheed Martin Knights
serve on UCF boards and committees playing important roles in helping UCF colleges and departments support student success and stay at the forefront of industry trends.
UCF has provided much of the talent that has fueled Lockheed Martin’s growth and success. The university is the nation’s top provider of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry, according to Aviation Week Network.
serve on UCF boards and committees playing important roles in helping UCF colleges and departments support student success and stay at the forefront of industry trends.
Together We’re Driving Central Florida’s Future Prosperity
Lockheed Martin will expand investments in the highly successful CWEP and significantly grow research with UCF 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 tailored to Lockheed Martin’s evolving workforce needs, helping to upskill and train their employees 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.
About the Pegasus Partners Program
UCF’s Pegasus Partners Program represents the launchpad from which world-changing collaborations have taken flight. It’s where intent meets action, and grand ideas have become grander realities. This elite group of partners accounts for some of the most intentional, meaningful and impactful partnerships that UCF has forged to date.
With more than 69,000 students and four campuses anchoring industry clusters, we fuel Orlando’s $194 billion economy and inspire impactful discoveries to better the world.
