Lockheed Martin's Michele Evans Dies

Michele Evans, chief of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, died New Year’s Day, a month after the company announced she was taking a leave for an undisclosed health issue. Her illness was not related to COVID-19, a company spokesman said. She was 55.

Lockheed Martin President and CEO James Taiclet made the announcement Saturday. Gregory Ulmer, general manager of the company’s F-35 Lightning II program, will serve as acting executive vice president of Lockheed’s largest business segment during Evans’ absence.

"The entire Lockheed Martin team was saddened to learn that Aeronautics Executive Vice President Michele Evans passed away on New Year's Day,” Taiclet said.

The family hasn’t released a cause of death, Joseph LaMarca Jr., a company spokesman, told Bloomberg News. The cause wasn’t related to the coronavirus, he told Bloomberg.

“Throughout her career, Michele led some of the most important programs that ensure the security of our nation and its allies and help make our world a safer place,” Taiclet said. “She embodied our company's values in spirit and action every day – to do what's right, respect others, and perform with excellence.

“Her example was an inspiration to those of us fortunate enough to have worked with her closely, and her leadership in the aerospace and defense industry will have a lasting impact for years to come. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family, the entire Lockheed Martin team, and everyone she touched in her remarkable life and career."

Evans was took a temporary leave in September 2019 for cancer treatment, Reuters reported then. Evans told employees in a memo then that Ulmer would temporarily lead the aeronautics division while she underwent treatment for a “significant” medical issue.

Evans, who did not disclose specifics, was diagnosed with cancer several months earlier, but continued to work while undergoing treatment, Reuters reported in September 2019, attributing the information to three sources familiar with the situation.

Evans gave no details in her memo to employees. “While it’s certainly been an unexpected shock for me and my family, the prognosis is excellent and the condition is curable,” she wrote in the memo, a copy of which was viewed by Reuters.

She said she would remain engaged as much as possible, while she focused on her recovery, Reuters reported.

Evans led a significant number of programs in support of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy; as well as for commercial and international military customers. In 2018, she became executive vice president of the Aeronautics business area for Lockheed Martin. She also was actively involved in Lockheed Martin's diversity and inclusion initiatives, serving as the executive sponsor for the Women's Impact Network.

Evans held positions of increasing responsibility during her career at Lockheed Martin. At the corporation's Rotary and Mission Systems business area, she served as vice president and general manager of the Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors line of business.

While at RMS, she also served as vice president for C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and worked in the Undersea line of business.

In addition, Evans was vice president for Business Development and Strategy for the Mission Systems and Training organization. Throughout her career, she was responsible for multiple platform programs including the A-10 weapons system as well as avionics programs on the C-130 and F-35. And she was the executive manager for multiple domestic and international campaign wins for Lockheed Martin.

Evans graduated magna cum laude from Clarkson University with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. She served on the boards of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and Girls Inc., and was a member of Clarkson's Coulter School of Engineering Advisory Board.

She is survived by her husband David and two sons, Clark and Parker.

This report contains material from Defense News, Reuters, and Bloomberg News.