Lockheed Martin appoints Michael A Hamel as President of Commercial Ventures

Bethesda, Md.,  December 18, 2013-- Lockheed Martin has appointed Lt. Gen. (Ret) Michael A. Hamel as President of Commercial Ventures, a major line of business within Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC). Hamel reports to Rick F. Ambrose, Executive Vice President of LMSSC. 

Hamel succeeds Linda Reiners, who was named Vice President of Corporate Ventures.  Hamel is responsible for leading and growing commercial satellite communications, remote sensing, and wind energy programs, driving program execution across existing commercial programs and managing related launch campaigns.  A major focus of his role will be providing design-to-cost and design-to-schedule solutions that address customers’ requirements for agility and affordability. 

“Lockheed Martin has been the leader in providing cutting edge solutions for national security space and civil space customers for decades,” said Hamel. “We recognize that a more robust commercial business is essential in driving commercial products and practices throughout our organization, to reduce cost and schedule and deliver best value.  I'm very excited to lead Commercial Ventures as we accelerate our cultural change that will benefit both commercial and government customers.” 

Before joining Lockheed Martin, Hamel was Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Relations for Orbital Sciences Corp, where he was responsible for leading Orbital Science’s strategic planning, product and business development, government relations and corporate communications.  He served in the U.S. Air Force for over 30 years in a broad range of space operations as well as development, acquisition, policy and command positions.  Hamel concluded his military career in 2008 as a Lt General.  In his later years in the Air Force, Hamel was Commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space, Commander of the 14th Air Force, served in senior command and staff positions at HQ USAF and AF Space Command and was Military Advisor to the Vice President on defense, arms control, non-proliferation and space policy.   

Hamel holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a M.A. in Business Administration from California State University.  He is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Program in National and International Security at Harvard University.  He is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He also serves on the Board of Directors of several corporations and advisory groups.