Published: August 30, 2009 12:34 am      

Meridian employees receive Aero Star Awards

Several employees of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Meridian were 2009 recipients of the company’s prestigious Aero Star Award, which goes to exemplary employees and teams from across the Aeronautics Company. Sonny Dean of Chunky and Richard Gough of Meridian won awards for their individual contributions, and a team award went to the F-22 Vertical Stabilizer Build Team.

Dean joined Lockheed Martin in 2003 as a production assembler and was promoted to tooling maintenance mechanic in 2008. He was honored for designing, building and implementing several production aids to enhance safety and efficiency on both the F-22 Raptor and C-130 Hercules manufacturing programs. The award cited Dean’s commitment, can do attitude, and ability to “think outside the box.” 

  Gough, a production service attendant, has worked at Lockheed Martin in Meridian for 25 years. He currently supports the F-22 team with cost, quality and service as his priorities. He is self motivated, conscientious and has team and program success at heart. He was honored for going beyond his regular duties in recommending a cost avoidance on the F-22 program.

  The F-22 Vertical Stabilizer Build Team has made continuous improvements in quality, cost, safety and schedule since Meridian began assembling this F-22 part in 2000. Team members included Morris Fields, James Owens, Pete Hopson, Jerry Dale Dearman, Cathy DeLaine, Calvin Driggers, Jerry Neyman, Pam Prather, Barry McKissack, Tom Frank, Al Taylor, Roy Gentry, Randy Wright, Melvin Cross, Eddie  Davidson, Pete Threatt, Blake Clark, Jack Johns, Jeff McWilliams, Anthony DeVaughn, Russell Sonak, and Ed Perry.             

  Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Meridian has 231 employees. The team assembles 50 percent of the C-130 fuselage, key C-130 wing components, the F-22 vertical stabilizers and more than 500 subassemblies. The plant has been in operation for 40 years.

  Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.