Lockheed Martin CEO – Marillyn Hewson (Age – 72)

UPDATE: Marillyn Hewson served as Lockheed Martin CEO from January 2013 to June 2020. The current CEO is James Taiclet (since June 2020). Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet — Salary, Age, Email & Net Worth →

Marillyn A. Hewson served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT), the world’s largest defense contractor, from January 2013 to June 2020. A 36-year Lockheed Martin veteran, Hewson steered the $65 billion company through a period of unprecedented growth, landing the historic $1.7 trillion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and growing the stock price by nearly 400% during her tenure. Named the #1 Most Powerful Woman in Business by Fortune in 2018 and 2019, and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2019, Hewson remains one of the most celebrated defense industry leaders in American history.

Read on to discover Marillyn Hewson’s net worth in 2026, her CEO salary and compensation history, education, husband & family, current board roles, career timeline, and more.
Marillyn Hewson Lockheed Martin CEO
Marillyn Hewson, former Chairman, President & CEO of Lockheed Martin (2013–2020). Photo: Lockheed Martin

Marillyn Hewson – Quick Facts

Marillyn Hewson — At a Glance
Full Name Marillyn Adams Hewson
Former Position Chairman, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin (2013–2020)
Company Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT)
Age 72 years (born December 27, 1953)
Nationality American
Birthplace Junction City, Kansas, USA
Education University of Alabama (BS & MA Economics); Columbia Business School & Harvard Business School (Executive Programs)
Net Worth (Est. 2026) $27–75 Million
Husband James R. Hewson
Children Two sons (Will and David)
Current Roles Lead Independent Director, Johnson & Johnson; Board Director, Chevron; Chair, Catalyst Board of Directors

Lockheed Martin Competitors

During Marillyn Hewson’s tenure, Lockheed Martin competed with the world’s largest defense and aerospace companies. The key competitors include:

  • Boeing – Major defense and commercial aerospace rival
  • Raytheon Technologies (now RTX Corporation) – Missiles, cybersecurity, defense systems
  • Northrop Grumman – Stealth technology, space systems, cyber
  • General Dynamics – Combat vehicles, shipbuilding, IT
  • BAE Systems – UK-based global defense, security, and aerospace
  • L3Harris Technologies – Communication and electronic systems
  • Airbus Defence & Space – European aerospace and defense

Marillyn Hewson Net Worth 2026 – Lockheed Martin CEO Salary

As of 2026, Marillyn Hewson’s net worth is estimated at approximately $27–75 million USD, according to various financial tracking sources. She holds approximately 39,365 shares of Lockheed Martin stock (NYSE: LMT) worth over $25 million, along with approximately 4,261 shares of Chevron (~$785,000) and 3,000 shares of Johnson & Johnson (~$736,000) from her current board service.

Lockheed Martin CEO Compensation History

Year Total Compensation Notes
2019 $30.9 Million Final full year as CEO; +43% YoY
2018 $21.5 Million Named CEO of the Year
2017 $20.2 Million Top 10 highest-paid women CEOs
2013 $25.2 Million First full year as CEO; 2x prior year
2012 $11.4 Million Pre-CEO role
Key Insight: Marillyn Hewson earned over $30 million in her final full year as Lockheed Martin CEO (2019), making her the second-highest-paid female CEO in the country. Her CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio was approximately 191:1.

Early Life & Education

Marillyn Adams Hewson was born on December 27, 1953, in Junction City, Kansas. Her father, Warren Adams, died of a heart attack when she was just nine years old, leaving her mother, Mary Adams — a former member of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) — to raise five children alone, ages 5 to 15, amid financial hardship. This early loss instilled in Hewson a deep resilience and work ethic that would define her career.

Hewson earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where she met her future husband, James R. Hewson. She later completed executive development programs at Columbia Business School and Harvard Business School.

Education

University Degree / Program
University of Alabama BS Business Administration & MA Economics
Columbia Business School Executive Development Program
Harvard Business School Executive Development Program
Legacy at Alabama: In 2018, Marillyn and James Hewson made the largest one-time financial contribution in the University of Alabama’s history to fund Hewson Hall, a 108,000-square-foot business education and research facility at the Culverhouse College of Business, which opened in 2021.

Career at Lockheed Martin

Marillyn Hewson joined Lockheed Martin (then Lockheed Corporation) in 1983 as an industrial engineer at the company’s Marietta, Georgia facility. Over 36 years, she moved through 19 different leadership positions across the company, relocating eight times with her family.

Marillyn Hewson Career Timeline

Period Role Division/Company
1983–2000s Industrial Engineer → VP, Various Divisions Lockheed Martin
~2005 President & GM, Kelly Aviation Center Lockheed Martin
~2007 EVP, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Fort Worth, TX
2008–2010 President, Systems Integration – Owego Lockheed Martin
2010–2012 EVP, Electronic Systems Lockheed Martin
Nov 2012 President & COO; Board Director Lockheed Martin
Jan 2013–Jun 2020 Chairman, President & CEO Lockheed Martin
Jun 2020–Mar 2021 Executive Chairman Lockheed Martin

CEO Role – Leadership & Achievements

As CEO from 2013 to 2020, Marillyn Hewson transformed Lockheed Martin into the world’s most valuable defense company. Under her leadership:

  • Stock price surged ~400%, creating massive value for shareholders
  • Secured the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the largest weapons contract in history (~$1.7 trillion lifetime value)
  • Grew annual revenue from approximately $46 billion to over $65 billion
  • Expanded Lockheed’s space business, including winning the Orion spacecraft and GPS III satellite contracts
  • Led the $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies (2015)
  • Set new company records in sales, earnings, backlog, and cash generation

Awards & Recognitions

  • Fortune #1 Most Powerful Woman in Business (2018, 2019)
  • TIME 100 Most Influential People (2019)
  • CEO of the Year – Chief Executive magazine (2018)
  • Forbes Most Powerful Women in the World – ranked #20 (2015)
  • Edison Achievement Award (2018) – for leadership and contributions to innovation
  • Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement – Aviation Week (2021)
  • International Executive of the Year – Executives’ Club of Chicago (2020)
  • National Academy of Engineering – Elected member (2025)
  • Alabama Business Hall of Fame inductee
Marillyn Hewson at the University of Alabama
Marillyn Hewson at the University of Alabama, where she earned her BS and MA in Economics and later funded Hewson Hall. Photo: University of Alabama

Personal Life – Husband, Family & More

Marillyn Hewson, age 72, is married to James R. Hewson. The couple met as students at the University of Alabama and have two sons, Will and David. As Marillyn rose through the ranks at Lockheed Martin, James became a stay-at-home dad, serving as a coach, scout leader, and taking their children on field trips while Marillyn traveled extensively for work. The family relocated eight times over 29 years to follow Marillyn’s career moves across the company.

The couple resides in McLean, Virginia. Hewson is deeply connected to her alma mater, serving on the University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet and the Board of Visitors of the Culverhouse College of Business.

What Is Marillyn Hewson Doing Now? (2026)

Since retiring as Executive Chairman of Lockheed Martin in March 2021, Hewson has taken on prominent corporate board and leadership roles:

  • Johnson & Johnson – Lead Independent Director; Chair of the Compensation & Benefits Committee; Member of the Audit Committee
  • Chevron Corporation – Board of Directors (since January 2021)
  • Catalyst – Chair of the Board of Directors
  • National Academy of Engineering – Elected member (2025)
  • Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation – Board member
  • USO – Board of Governors
  • Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission, and American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Looking for the current Lockheed Martin CEO? Read about Jim Taiclet – Lockheed Martin CEO since June 2020 →

Marillyn Hewson Contact & Social Media

Marillyn Hewson retired from Lockheed Martin in March 2021 and does not maintain a public email address. She can be reached through her current board roles:

Contact Information
LinkedIn Marillyn Hewson – LinkedIn
Johnson & Johnson (Board) One Johnson & Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, NJ 08933
Chevron (Board) 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583
Residence McLean, Virginia, USA

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technologies company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Founded in 1995 through the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, it is the world’s largest defense contractor by revenue.

Business Segment Key Programs
Aeronautics F-35 Lightning II, F-16, C-130J Super Hercules
Missiles & Fire Control THAAD, PAC-3, Javelin, HIMARS
Rotary & Mission Systems Sikorsky helicopters, Aegis Combat System
Space Orion spacecraft, GPS III, Space-Based Infrared System

Lockheed Martin trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LMT. The company employs approximately 122,000 people worldwide and generates annual revenue of approximately $71 billion (FY2024). It is currently led by Chairman, President & CEO James Taiclet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was the CEO of Lockheed Martin before Jim Taiclet?

Marillyn Hewson served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Lockheed Martin from January 2013 to June 2020, when she transitioned to Executive Chairman. She retired fully in March 2021. James Taiclet succeeded her as CEO in June 2020.

What is Marillyn Hewson’s net worth in 2026?

As of 2026, Marillyn Hewson’s net worth is estimated at approximately $27–75 million USD, based on her Lockheed Martin stock holdings (~39,365 shares worth over $25 million), Chevron and Johnson & Johnson board compensation and stock, and accumulated earnings over her 36-year career at Lockheed Martin.

What was Marillyn Hewson’s salary as Lockheed Martin CEO?

In her final full year as CEO (2019), Marillyn Hewson earned approximately $30.9 million in total compensation, a 43% increase from 2018. Her 2018 compensation was $21.5 million, and her 2017 total was $20.2 million. The majority of her pay came from stock awards and performance-based incentives rather than base salary.

What is Marillyn Hewson doing now?

Since retiring from Lockheed Martin in 2021, Marillyn Hewson serves as Lead Independent Director at Johnson & Johnson, sits on the Board of Directors at Chevron Corporation, and chairs the Catalyst Board of Directors. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2025.

How old is Marillyn Hewson?

Marillyn Hewson is 72 years old (as of March 2026). She was born on December 27, 1953, in Junction City, Kansas.

Is Marillyn Hewson married?

Yes, Marillyn Hewson is married to James R. Hewson. They met as students at the University of Alabama and have two sons, Will and David. James served as a stay-at-home dad during Marillyn’s career at Lockheed Martin. The couple lives in McLean, Virginia.

Article last updated:January 2026March 4, 2026

Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including Lockheed Martin SEC filings (proxy statements), official company press releases, Johnson & Johnson and Chevron corporate pages, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.