OWEGO, NY, 02-JUN-05 -- The U.S. Navy and the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) have awarded a lead system engineer for Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] the 2004 Contractor Tester of the Year award for exemplary work performed on the MH-60R helicopter flight test program.

Presented to Brendan Rhatigan, Leonardtown, MD, the award honors an individual working for a defense contractor who shows “outstanding achievement and excellence” in the field of test and evaluation. Rhatigan, who works at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, where the U.S. Navy oversees the helicopter’s development, accepted the award from Rear Adm. David Architzel, Operational Test and Evaluation Force commander, at a recent NDIA conference.

The award cites Rhatigan’s “outstanding performance and superior technical knowledge of engineering principles and practices, system integration, test and evaluation processes and in-depth understanding of the complex MH-60R Air Weapons System.” It also describes his “engineering acumen and test integrity” resulting in new test methods that proved the MH-60R weapons system to be an effective submarine hunter during recent technical evaluation tests at sea.

“We are very proud of Brendan’s work ethic and dedication to customer satisfaction,” said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Multi-Mission Solutions at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY. “The MH-60R helicopter successfully completed an operational assessment and seven months of intensive technical evaluation by the Navy in part because of Brendan’s significant engineering initiative and team leadership in 2004.”

Rhatigan was nominated for the award by Cmdr. Jeff Danielson, the MH-60R government flight test director, and endorsed by Capt. Paul Grosklags, the MH-60R program manager.

“Mr. Rhatigan’s engineering and system testing skills resulted in successful entry of the MH-60R weapons system into the technical evaluation phase of the program, and successful entry into the operational test phase,” said Danielson. “His leadership, managerial skills, technical expertise, ambition for success and accommodating personality make him a sought-after commodity among acquisition professionals.”

“I am proud to receive the NDIA award for Tester of the Year,” said Rhatigan. “Our test successes in 2004 were built on the foundation of hard work and commitment of the entire integrated test team, system and software engineering in Owego, NY, and the Navy MH-60R leadership provided by Captain Grosklags, Captain William Shannon, deputy program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs, Commander Danielson, and Wes Brubacher, deputy flight test director.”

Lockheed Martin is the systems integrator for the MH-60R, and also provides the digital cockpit, which is common to all MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters. Sikorsky designs and manufactures the MH-60S and MH-60R aircraft and is responsible for the mechanical and electrical modifications on the airframe.