Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Monday named OJ Sanchez as the new vice president and general manager for the Integrated Fighter Group (IFG) within the Aeronautics segment.
Sanchez succeeds Bridget Lauderdale who in April was named vice president and general manager for the company’s F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program. Lauderdale took over the F-35 program after previous program chief Greg Ulmer took over the Aeronautics segment in February following the death of Michele Evans.
Sanchez previously was vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s F-22 fighter program. He also served in leadership roles in sustainment and the F-35 program.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Sanchez retired from the Air Force where his final assignment was on the Joint Staff in support of global operations.
As head of IFG, Sanchez will oversee the development, manufacture and sustainment of the F-16 and F-22 fighter programs, and the T-50, K-FX and J-FX international aircraft programs.
“OJ’s extensive fighter experience, along with his strong relationships and strategic thinking, position him to lead our IFG team in continuing to provide the highest level of support for our F-16 and F-22 operators and industry partners around the world,” Ulmer said in a statement.