Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Tuesday appointed Rick Kirkland to the newly created position of vice president of International Strategic Initiatives, leading initiatives that support the company’s international growth priorities.
International business is one area the company is focusing on to help mitigate the impact of declining defense and federal spending in the United States.
Kirkland will report to Patrick Dewar, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin International, who is responsible for the company’s global operations and the development and execution of strategies for business and customer relationships in 70 countries.
Kirkland is currently vice president of International Strategy and Business Development, responsible for the company’s international business development activities across its five business areas. Previously, Kirkland was responsible for the company’s business in India, Australia and Singapore and also has served as the principal deputy, assistant secretary of defense, legislative affairs.
Kirkland will be succeeded by Steve O’Bryan, vice president of Business Development for the F-35 fighter program.
“Both Steve and Rick have extensive experience in our industry and have made tremendous contributions to the corporation,” Paul Lemmo, senior vice president of Corporate Strategy and Business Development, said in a statement. “In their new roles, they will support our objective of growing our international business and our efforts to provide our products, capabilities and citizen services to our customers around the world.”
Kirkland and O’Bryan will assume their new roles on June 30. O’Bryan will be succeeded by Jack Crisler, effective immediately. Crisler most recently served as the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics vice president of Business Development for Air Mobility, Special Operations, and Maritime programs.