Lockheed Hits Some Reports

Lockheed’s board of directors recently approved a series of senior management appointments, some because of the creation of new positions, others because of retirement decisions by several senior executives.

Unfortunately, some news reports suggested that the retirements occurred because of a classified documents investigation at one of our companies.

Other stories cited the diversion of two Lockheed-built airplanes to Libya, a matter which we first helped bring to the attention of authorities and in which we are not charged with any wrong-doing.

Suggestions that Lockheed’s management changes are in any way related to the above incidents simply are not true.

The retirement decisions were made by the individuals involved and had no relationship to either the documents or Libyan issues. Planning for the appointment of their successors had been under way for several months.

The retiring executives have had long and productive career for which Lockheed is most appreciative.

We are gratified that each of these individuals has made numerous contributions of significant importance to the corporation.

In every case, the retiring person will support his successor’s transition.

As I reported to all 87,000 Lockheed employees, “these men have given 100 years to Lockheed--a notable achievement. Their century of service and dedication has contributed greatly to our corporate strength and standing in our industry. We are grateful for all they have done; we will miss their counsel.”

To allow innuendo to suggest any other cause for their retirements is unfair, wrong, and a great disservice to these outstanding individuals.

LARRY O. KITCHEN

Chairman

Lockheed Corp.

(Editor’s note: The Times’ Aug. 5 account of the management changes noted that Lockheed said they “had been planned for three months and had nothing to do with the highly publicized congressional probe of the documents missing from the Burbank plant.”

The story also cited general agreement among analysts that the changes were part of Lockheed’s normal retirement cycle.