From a family legacy of Navy engineers to the inertial guidance system that steers the Trident II D5 missile, engineering runs in Krystal Horton’s veins.
Early Exposure
During her freshman year of high school, Horton toured Lockheed Martin’s Denver campus, where OSIRIS-REx was undergoing acoustic testing. She cited this moment as the one that cemented her career path.
“I was only 13 years old, but putting on the full bunny suit and getting to touch the spacecraft itself ignited a passion for Lockheed Martin’s work on assembly, test and launch operations,” Horton said.
While pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering, she landed an internship on Lockheed Martin’s Navigation Systems Mission Modeling and Analysis team. That placement launched a career specializing in GPS, where she helped develop orbital-modeling software that improves the lives of millions worldwide.
She found the work rewarding because it involved building first-time satellites.
“It was exciting to come to work every day and tackle new challenges like SV13, the first flight vehicle in the GPS Follow-On series,” she said. “It gave a granular understanding of what it means for a project to go from nuts and bolts to the launch site.”
Modern & Global Challenges
Despite being in a new role, Horton was selected for a globe-trotting excursion outside the FBM program only one month into the job.
Horton embarked on a stretch assignment with the THAAD program serving as a test operator for the first emplacement of a THAAD battery in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Traveling overseas early in my career was a breathtaking experience,” she said, highlighting Lockheed Martin’s expanding international footprint. “We built bonds with the company’s regional allies and trained soldiers on the equipment.”
While it was a formative experience to witness Lockheed Martin’s international partnerships in action, Horton says nothing beats the office back home.
Lockheed Martin has backed the U.S. Navy’s submarine launched ballistic missile program, “…since its inception 70 years ago,” Horton said. “There’s a wealth of knowledge within the company, so it’s an honor to join this team, learn from them and develop the program for today’s warfighters.”
Ready to Takeoff?
At Lockheed Martin, we’re proud to be part of that journey. Every day, our teams bring curiosity, collaboration and technical excellence to work on missions that have real impact around the world.
If you are looking for a place where your skills can grow and your work can make a difference, explore opportunities to join our team. The next generation of innovators is already on its way. You could be part of what comes next.