NASHUA, NH, 27-JUN-00 -- Gregory Griffin and William Dobbs, senior principal systems engineers for Sanders, a Lockheed Martin Company, have each received Lockheed Martin's 2000 NOVA award, the Corporation's highest recognition for individual or team achievements. The sixth annual award ceremony was held Friday, June 23 at the National Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C. The NOVA award program was established in 1995, upon Lockheed Martin's formation, to honor 50 individuals and teams across the Corporation who have made outstanding contributions to Lockheed Martin's mission and business objectives. Awards are made annually in four categories - Exceptional Service, Leadership, Teamwork, and Technical Excellence.

The NOVA award honorees represent an extraordinary level of individual and collective achievement that earns customer satisfaction, builds shareholder value and enhances Lockheed Martin's reputation, said Robert B. Coutts, executive vice president of the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration business area, of which Sanders is part. These talented people are what sets Lockheed Martin apart from its competitors and enables our Corporation to grow as we successfully take on some of the world's most complex technical challenges.

Griffin, who received a Technical Excellence award, was honored for his work on the high-priority, fast direction-finding function for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 program. He led the development of an innovative approach to improve the F-22 electronic warfare radio frequency subsystem's performance against several emitters.

Griffin, who joined Sanders in 1997, received a bachelor's degree in electrical science and systems engineering from Southern Illinois University, and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University. He resides in Bedford, N.H., with his wife Joni and their two children.

William Dobbs was a member of the 25-person team that received a NOVA Teamwork award for supporting the U.S. Navy's CVN 77 program. Dobbs was the sensors team lead for the eight-month concept development and proposal effort. His team was responsible for selecting state of the art sensor systems and exploring the best approach to integrate both topside and below deck components into the integrated warfare system for the Navy's CVN 77 transition ship.

Dobbs, who resides in Merrimack, N.H., with his wife Anita, joined Sanders in 1969. He received both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in physics from Texas A&I University, today known as Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

The NOVA award derives its name from the Latin word for new, and its astronomical definition as a stellar outburst of creative power, with the star motif building on the Lockheed Martin symbol. The NOVA awards program recognizes those stars who contribute their own creativity to the overall success of Lockheed Martin.

Sanders is an operating company of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and a major producer of aircraft self-protection systems and tactical surveillance and intelligence systems for all branches of the armed forces. Other major business areas include microwave, mission and space electronics; infrared imaging; and automated mission planning systems.