DENVER, March 26, 1999 – Lockheed Martin and its Russian business partners today announce the appointment of Wilbur C. Trafton as president, International Launch Services (ILS). Trafton had been serving as acting president of ILS since last December.

ILS is an international joint venture formed in 1995 by Lockheed Martin and Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia. ILS jointly markets commercial launch services on the Russian-built Proton and the Lockheed Martin Astronautics-built Atlas.

Trafton will continue his responsibilities to lead ILS in the management, marketing, sales, mission integration and support of the Proton and Atlas space launch systems. Trafton previously served as executive vice president of ILS.

“Will has the leadership, knowledge and business management skills that are necessary to ensure that ILS continues to be highly successful and competitive in this global market,” said Tom Corcoran, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space sector.

Before joining ILS, Trafton served as associate administrator for the Office of Space Flight for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where he was in charge of the space agency’s Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise. As associate administrator for Space Flight, Trafton was responsible for establishing the policies and direction of NASA’s human space flight programs, including the Space shuttle and Space Station programs.

“When Will joined ILS, he brought with him years of experience working on joint space programs with Russia. This background with our Russian partners at Khrunichev and RSC Energia, along with his knowledge of the Atlas product line, makes him particularly well suited to lead ILS,” said Ray Colladay, president of Lockheed Martin Astronautics.

Trafton retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain after a career of 26 years and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He received a master’s degree in Operational Research and Systems Analysis from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. He also is a graduate of Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, Va.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a highly diversified global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s businesses span space and telecommunications, electronics, information and services, aeronautics, energy and systems integration. Employing more than 165,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 1998 sales surpassing $26 billion.