Rick Ambrose, Lockheed Space Systems EVP, Named to 2019 Wash100 for Space Technology Push, Cloud Adoption for Space Missions

Rick Ambrose

Executive Mosaic is honored to introduce Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s space systems segment, as an inductee into the 2019 Wash100 — Executive Mosaic’s annual selection of the most influential voices in the government contracting arena — for leading the improvement of space technologies, including utilizing the cloud for space missions. This marks the fourth Wash100 award for Ambrose in the last five years.

Ambrose shares over 39 years of experience in the defense and aerospace industries, having led programs supporting the military, commercial sector and national security.

He has held key positions with various business units of Lockheed Martin, including information systems, surveillance and navigation, mission systems, ground systems and astronautics.

Over the last year, Ambrose has been promoting additive manufacturing as the company continues to improve how it builds and delivers space technologies to its customers.

“That is how I bring small and large, and converge in a way that I can use many similar manufacturing techniques,” Ambrose said at an event in 2018.

In July of last year, Lockheed completed quality tests of a titanium container built with 3D-printed parts to store fuel for a NASA satellite. “These tanks are part of a total transformation in the way we design and deliver space technology,” Ambrose said.

He added that 3D printing allows the company to cut the container’s delivery time frame to three months from the usual two-year process. Aside from new manufacturing methods, Lockheed is also exploring how to utilize the cloud for future space missions.

In late 2018, the company announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services to offer private clouds supporting satellite ground communications and data management for both military and civilian operations. Ambrose said the partnership will provide satellite operators with increased flexibility, resiliency and scale.

“Our collaboration with AWS allows us to deliver robust ground communications that will unlock new benefits for environmental research, scientific studies, security operations and real-time news media,” he added.

Executive Mosaic congratulates Rick Ambrose and the Lockheed Martin team for receiving the most coveted award in government contracting.

About The Wash100

This year represents our sixth annual Wash100 award selection. The Wash100 is the premier group of private and public sector leaders selected by Executive Mosaic’s organizational and editorial leadership as the most influential leaders in the GovCon sector. These leaders demonstrate skills in leadership, innovation, achievement, and vision.

Visit the Wash100 website, where viewers can submit 10 votes for the executives of consequence they believe will have the most significant impact in 2019.