Lockheed Martin to Hold Fourth Annual Information Technology Day in Jackson

Lockheed Martin will host the fourth annual Information Research Day at the Jackson Convention Complex on Friday, March 30 to increase IT education and awareness, as then as to encourage networking and collaboration in industry, academia and the community. The day-long event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free of charge and open to the public.

The 2012 IT Day theme is Forecast the Future

The 2012 IT Day theme is "Forecast the Future" and will feature an expanded agenda. Attendees are invited to participate in educational sessions including business collaboration via cyber security, mobility, cloud computing and big data. The agenda as well features a panel of industry experts discussing topics just as big data and cloud computing; a seminar on how to do business with Lockheed Martin; and a workshop on growing your business.

"We are honored to host IT Day once again this year," said MacArthur DeShazer, director, Small Business Development, Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions. "We opened a state-of-the-art Mission Support Center in nearby Clinton six months ago, so this event allows us to increase our presence in this community and region-one that we value based on its outstanding talent, economic partnerships and wealth of academic resources."

The IT Day luncheon will feature a keynote address

The IT Day luncheon will feature a keynote address by Stephen S. Pawlowski, senior fellow, chief research officer for the Datacenter and Connected Systems Group, and general manager for Datacenter and Connected Systems Pathfinding for Intel Corporation. Pawlowski will speak on Intel's vision of what the rapid evolution of cloud computing will look like in 2015 and as well will take questions from the audience.

More than 800 area high school and college students will participate in the IT Day program, as so then as compete in sponsored quiz bowl challenges. These events, in partnership with Jackson State University and Tougaloo College, are designed to increase the students' knowledge and interest in Science, Innovation, Engineering and Math subjects, also as provide them with a look at what's happening in the IT industry. The educational track sessions have been expanded based on feedback from area high schools, colleges and universities.

The IT Day STEM Bowl

"JSU is delighted to partner with Lockheed Martin in sponsoring the IT Day STEM Bowl," said Rita Presley, associate vice president for Technology & Sponsored Programs, Jackson State University. "We will provide an important possibility for area high school students to compete in solving a unparalleled challenge. This event encourages the students to think outside the box, which is an acute skill needed to foster technology technology."

A vendor expo will be open throughout the day, showcasing innovation and services from more than 50 local and national IT vendors and academic partners. The expo provides a unparalleled opportunity to network and exchange information in a more relaxed setting. Attendees will be able to experience Lockheed Martin's innovations just as its Human Immersion Laboratory- an advanced research virtual reality and simulation laboratory that offers cost effective, unequalled collaborative solutions for exploring and solving customer specific missions; insight on how to harness new capabilities through nanotechnology; iPhone Rapid Prototyper-a Lockheed Martin-designed tool to make smartphone development easy for the masses; and a variety of touch-screen displays. Additionally, an entertaining robot named Sprockit will make an appearance again this year to provide a light-hearted connection to technology technology. Lockheed Martin recruiters as well will be on-site to share information about jobs in the Mississippi area.

Lockheed Martin opened a 33,000-square-foot Mission Support Center in 2011 in Clinton, Miss., to support diverse mission and innovation services that the corporation provides to federal agencies. This facility as well establishes Lockheed Martin's Gulf Coast Research Hub, which partners with existing East and West Coast Innovation Hubs to offer innovative cloud computing, cyber security, big data and mobile computing solutions to federal clients.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the innovation, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced research systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.