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An Australian communications technology firm has been announced as the first international graduate of Lockheed Martin’s industry mentorship program.
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Global defence technologies manufacturer Lockheed Martin has confirmed that Clearbox Systems, an Australian communications and electromagnetic spectrum operations provider, has graduated from its Mentor Protégé Program (MPP).
Clearbox Systems is the first firm based outside the US to complete the MPP – a 13-month course covering best practice human resource processes, business ethics, product management, competitive intelligence and cyber security readiness.
Lockheed Martin Australia chief executive Joe North presented Clearbox Systems executive director Jeremy Hallett with a commemorative plaque acknowledging the achievement at Lockheed Martin’s Endeavour Centre in Canberra.
“As an Australian defence prime, we take our responsibility to provide tools to enable the rapid growth of innovative Australian companies through improved capacity and capability very seriously,” North said.
“The Mentor Protégé Program is as intense as it is extensive, and we congratulate Clearbox Systems as the program’s inaugural international industry graduate.
“We are proud to contribute to Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities and the Mentor Protégé Program will provide further opportunities to partner with local industry and boost skills while creating jobs and providing greater access to global supply chains.”
Hallett thanked Lockheed Martin executives involved in the program and noted the benefits of participation in the MPP.
“We are proud to be the first company outside of the US to complete the prestigious Lockheed Martin Mentor Protégé Program,” he said.
“It was a privilege to be selected and I am extremely grateful to the Lockheed Martin team for their support and willingness to increase our capacity with the capabilities we need to make us more internationally competitive.
“Clearbox Systems has already started to benefit from the program and, as we have more than doubled our workforce and continue to innovate with new intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare and space domain awareness technologies, we look forward to the possibility of future partnership opportunities with Lockheed Martin.”
Lockheed Martin Australia’s head of industrial development, Christopher Hess, said the global prime is aiming to invite more Australian firms to participate in the mentor program.
“When looking for future technology partners, Lockheed Martin fundamentally invests in enhancing the capabilities of innovative companies, and Clearbox Systems is a case in point,” Hess added.
“It’s not enough to just have a great idea or product, we need partners that have the business acumen to grow innovative, sustainable businesses that can compete for global supply chain contracts, and the MPP has already helped Clearbox Systems to achieve just that.”
[Related: Defence to benefit from Lockheed Martin AEHF-6 protected comms satellite]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
