Jim Taiclet is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. He is driving a vision for 21st Century Security that brings together leaders in the aerospace and defense industry, new entrants, and the tech and telecom industries using an open systems, standards-based architecture to help deliver integrated deterrence for the U.S. and allies. The objective is to accelerate the most advanced digital and physical technologies into critical national defense missions to continually improve capability and deter armed conflict.
Taiclet became chairman in March 2021 after joining the company as president and CEO in June 2020. He has been a director on the Lockheed Martin board since January 2018.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Taiclet was chairman, president and CEO of American Tower Corporation, one of the largest global real estate investment trusts (REITs) and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate. Under his leadership, the company’s market capitalization grew from approximately $2 billion to more than $100 billion. Taiclet guided the company’s transformation from a primarily U.S. business to the only truly global player in its industry, with significant assets and operations in 19 countries.
Taiclet also served as president of AlliedSignal (subsequently Honeywell Aerospace Services), a company that conducts worldwide aircraft engine and component overhaul and repair, parts sales and distribution, space operations, and technical services. Preceding his tenure at AlliedSignal, he served as vice president, Engine Services at Pratt & Whitney, where he was responsible for leading both military and commercial jet engine overhaul and repair.
Taiclet began his career as a U.S. Air Force officer and pilot, logging over 5,000 flying hours (most of which in a Lockheed C-141B StarLifter) as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and unit chief of Standardization and Evaluation. His rotational assignments included stints with the Joint Staff and Air Staff at the Pentagon. Taiclet served in the Gulf War during which, among other missions, he piloted one of the first transport aircraft to bring U.S. forces into Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield.
As a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Taiclet earned bachelor’s degrees in engineering and international relations. He also holds a master’s degree from Princeton University, where he was awarded a fellowship at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.
He is a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group (UAG) and the Business Council. In June 2022, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce appointed Taiclet private sector co-chair of the U.S.-India CEO Forum. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Taiclet serves on the board of directors of Mass General Brigham and on the board of trustees of Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
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As a global security and aerospace company, the majority of Lockheed Martin’s business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. federal government agencies. In addition, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, provides military and rotary-wing aircraft to five branches of the U.S. armed forces along with military services and commercial operators in 40 nations. The remaining portion of Lockheed Martin’s business is comprised of international government and commercial sales of products, services and platforms.
