GAITHERSBURG, MD – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined 100 top performing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) high school students at Lockheed Martin’s NexGen Cyber Innovation & Technology Center to promote cyber security careers and education, and to learn safe online practices through a series of interactive workshops.

By introducing Maryland high school STEM students to cyber security at the Third Annual Cyber Security Awareness Day, Lockheed Martin hopes to guide them on a path to Maryland universities with a cyber security curriculum and to help fill the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 65,700 new cyber security jobs in the next eight years.

 “As a hub of America’s intelligence and cybersecurity sectors, Maryland has the capacity to kick start our regional and national economies with quality jobs that keep us safer and more secure,” said Senator Cardin.  “I applaud Lockheed Martin for the value they place in education; they understand that investing in education is not only profitable but also a matter of national security.”

 “Cyberspace underpins our economy, our national security and touches every citizen. Our nation needs talented and energetic students to choose a path in STEM education and consider a future in the cyber security profession,” said Rick Johnson, Lockheed Martin CTO. “Lockheed Martin believes our students are the future cyber security workforce and this workforce will be key in enhancing our national security and the global economy.”

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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