A delegation from UAE Ministry of Defense, headed by Major General Dr. Mubarak bin Ghafan Al Jabri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Support and Defense Industries at the Ministry of Defense, visited Sunday Lockheed Martin’s Center for Security Solutions and Innovation (CISS) – located in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.
Robert Bob S. Harward, Lockheed Martin’s Chief Executive in the Middle East, received the delegation and expanded on the Emiratization and human capital development efforts undertaken by the company to develop highly skilled UAE engineers, Emirates news agency WAM reported.
During the visit, Major General Al Jabri received a detailed briefing by Hala Al Zargani, Lead Engineer and the first Emirati employed by the CISS, on the progress of Lockheed Martin’s efforts to develop Emirati talent and help build sovereign capabilities within the UAE’s defense and space industry.
Major General Al Jabri noted the wise UAE leadership’s dedicated efforts to empower national cadres with opportunities to continue competing in the high-tech global economy, including the defense sector. He pointed out that continued training and mentoring of young engineers to run and operate advanced defense-related systems will serve as vital elements for the UAE defense and aerospace industry’s future.
Efforts are currently underway to onboard the summer cohort for Lockheed Martin’s CISS internship program for UAE university students. The merit-based internship program complements the UAE’s human capital development goals, by offering talented Emirati students the opportunity to focus on key defense industry imperatives, such as operations analysis, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence.
Since 2017, Lockheed Martin’s CISS has trained more than 100 Emirati engineers, developing their skills through specialized training programs. The programs provide training in artificial intelligence development and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle design, defense simulation exercises, business administration skills, software development and IT networking, allowing students to work on real-world projects that positively impact the industry.
Earlier this month, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE’s Minister of State for Defense Affairs, received in his office June 16th, Robert (Bob) S. Harward, Lockheed Martin’s Chief Executive in the Middle East, in the presence of the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and senior officials.
Discussions during the meeting focused on the latest technology developments in the aerospace and defense industry and highlighted ongoing cooperation between the two sides, WAM reported then.
Al Bowardi was also briefed on the Emiratization and human capital development efforts being undertaken by Lockheed Martin to increase the number of highly skilled Emirati engineers in the aerospace, defense, and software development fields in the UAE.
Harward reaffirmed Lockheed Martin’s commitment to train and mentor young UAE engineers as vital elements for the future of the defense industry, with the ultimate aim of having Emiratis design, test, operate, and maintain all the cutting-edge systems supported by Lockheed Martin from its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 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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