Lockheed Martin Government Affairs in 2026

Lockheed Martin Government Affairs (LMGA) is one of the most influential corporate government relations organizations in the defense industry. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia — steps from the Pentagon and a short Metro ride from Capitol Hill — LMGA shapes the policy landscape that governs defense spending, space exploration, export controls, and technology development. In 2026, with defense budgets navigating congressional dynamics and space policy evolving rapidly, LMGA's role has never been more central to the company's success. This guide covers the government affairs function, available roles, salary expectations, required experience, and career trajectories for professionals interested in defense policy and government relations.

What Lockheed Martin Government Affairs Does

LMGA manages Lockheed Martin's engagement with government at every level — federal, state, and local. The organization's mission is to advocate for policies and funding that support Lockheed Martin's programs and the broader defense industrial base. All activities are managed by the Senior Vice President of Lockheed Martin Government Affairs and are regulated under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA).

Federal Government Relations

The core function of LMGA is managing relationships with Congress and the Executive Branch:

Congressional Relations: LMGA professionals engage with members of the House and Senate, their staffs, and committee professionals on legislation affecting defense authorization, appropriations, space policy, and trade. This includes monitoring markup sessions, preparing testimony materials, organizing member briefings on Lockheed Martin programs, and advocating for specific funding lines.

Executive Branch Engagement: The team works with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, military service headquarters, NASA, and acquisition officials to support program decisions, address performance matters, and influence policy development.

Defense Authorization and Appropriations: Each year, LMGA closely tracks the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the defense appropriations process, advocating for funding levels that support the F-35, Orion, missile defense, and other major programs.

State and Local Government Relations

With operations across all 50 states, Lockheed Martin maintains state and local government affairs capabilities to manage relationships with governors, state legislators, and local officials. Key issues include:

• Economic development and facility investment incentives
• Workforce development partnerships with state education systems
• Environmental and regulatory compliance
• Community relations in locations where Lockheed Martin is a major employer

Political Activities and Compliance

LMGA oversees Lockheed Martin's political activities including:

• Lobbying compliance — Quarterly disclosure reports filed with the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate
• Political Action Committee — Lockheed Martin's employee PAC, which makes contributions to candidates based on business-relevant criteria
• Political disclosures — Transparency reporting on political spending and activities
• Ethics and compliance — Ensuring all government engagement activities comply with federal and state lobbying laws

Organizational Structure

LMGA operates with several functional teams:

Government Relations Teams

• Defense Programs — Congressional advocacy for major weapons systems and platforms
• Space and Intelligence — Policy support for space exploration, satellite programs, and intelligence community engagement
• International Affairs — Export policy, foreign military sales, and international trade advocacy
• Domestic Policy — Tax, workforce, healthcare, and regulatory issues

Communications and Strategic Initiatives

• Strategic Communications — Messaging development for advocacy campaigns
• Policy Analysis — Research and analysis supporting government engagement strategy
• Consultant Management — Coordinating with external advocacy firms and consultants

State and Local

• Regional Government Affairs — Dedicated representatives in key states (Texas, Georgia, California, Maryland, Colorado)

Available Roles and Salaries

The estimated average salary for Government Affairs professionals at Lockheed Martin is approximately $193,000 per year. Total compensation for senior roles includes annual bonuses, long-term incentive awards, and executive benefits.

Current Openings (2026)

Recent LMGA job postings include:

• Staff, Government Relations & Policy Communications (Arlington, VA) — Supporting advocacy campaigns, managing consultant relationships, facilitating strategic campaign information flow. Posted January 2026.
• Government Relations Senior Manager (Arlington, VA) — Leading a portfolio of congressional relationships and program advocacy efforts.
• Government Affairs Strategic Communications Rep (Arlington, VA) — Developing communications strategies for government engagement campaigns.

Qualifications and Skills

Education

• Required: Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, international relations, communications, or related field
• Preferred: Master's degree (MPA, MPP, MA in IR or Political Science) or law degree (JD)
• Valued: Graduate work from schools with strong defense policy programs (Georgetown, GWU, Johns Hopkins SAIS, American University)

Experience

The most competitive candidates bring:

• Congressional staff experience — Legislative assistants, professional staff members, or committee staff with defense or space portfolios
• Executive branch service — OSD, military service headquarters, NASA, or intelligence community civilian roles
• Military experience — Retired or transitioning officers with Pentagon, COCOM, or Congressional liaison experience
• Other defense contractors — Government affairs professionals from Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, or L3Harris
• Think tank or policy organization experience — CSIS, Brookings, RAND, Heritage, or Aerospace Corporation

Key Skills

• Deep understanding of the defense authorization and appropriations process
• Established relationships with congressional staff and executive branch officials
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to translate technical program information into policy-relevant language
• Knowledge of lobbying compliance and ethics regulations
• Comfort with ambiguity and rapidly changing political dynamics

Career Trajectory

Government affairs careers at Lockheed Martin follow a progression from analytical and support roles to strategic leadership:

Years 1-3 (Analyst): Research policy issues, track legislation, prepare briefing materials, support senior staff during congressional interactions. Learn the Lockheed Martin program portfolio and build internal relationships.

Years 3-7 (Specialist): Own a specific policy portfolio or set of congressional relationships. Draft advocacy materials, lead briefings, and manage day-to-day engagement with assigned stakeholders.

Years 7-12 (Staff/Manager): Lead advocacy campaigns for major programs. Manage junior team members. Serve as the primary Lockheed Martin contact for specific congressional committees or agency officials.

Years 12-18 (Senior Manager/Director): Direct government relations strategy for a business area or major policy domain. Manage budgets, external consultants, and cross-functional teams. Engage directly with senior government officials.

Years 18+ (VP/SVP): Set overall government affairs strategy. Report to the C-suite. Represent Lockheed Martin in the highest-level government engagements.

Alternative Career Paths

LMGA experience also opens doors to:

• Revolving door to government — Senior LMGA professionals sometimes transition to Senate-confirmed appointee positions or senior executive service roles
• Business development — The government relationships and program knowledge transfer directly to BD roles
• Consulting — Defense policy consulting firms and strategic advisory practices
• Trade associations — Leadership at AIA (Aerospace Industries Association), NDIA, or other defense trade groups
• Corporate leadership — Some executives move from government affairs to general management or corporate strategy

The Government Affairs Work Environment

Day-to-Day

A typical day for a mid-level government relations professional might include:

• Morning briefing with the LMGA team on the day's legislative calendar
• Meeting with a congressional staff member to discuss an upcoming program hearing
• Reviewing and editing advocacy materials for a committee briefing
• Coordinating with Lockheed Martin program managers on technical questions from government customers
• Attending a defense industry reception or panel discussion
• Preparing a weekly update on legislative developments for company leadership

Travel

Government affairs roles are primarily based in Arlington but may involve:

• Travel to Capitol Hill for hearings, meetings, and events
• Visits to Lockheed Martin facilities to build program knowledge
• Trips to state capitals for state government engagement
• Attendance at defense industry conferences and events

For related career opportunities, explore Lockheed Martin Crystal City positions, Lockheed Martin careers in Maryland, and other defense industry jobs on Zero G Talent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do government affairs roles require security clearance?

Some do, particularly roles that involve classified program briefings or engagement with classified customers. Many government relations positions at the analyst and specialist level do not require clearance. Senior roles with program-specific responsibilities frequently require at least Secret clearance.

Can I enter government affairs directly from college?

Entry-level government affairs roles typically require some prior experience — Hill internships, campaign work, or policy research. Lockheed Martin's government affairs internship in Arlington provides a structured entry point for current students. Most professionals enter LMGA mid-career after building government experience.

How does government affairs differ from lobbying?

Lobbying is a specific subset of government affairs that involves direct advocacy with government officials on legislation or policy. Government affairs is broader, encompassing lobbying, political strategy, compliance, state and local engagement, and strategic communications. Lockheed Martin employees who meet the legal definition of lobbyists are registered and disclosed in quarterly reports.

What is the work-life balance like?

Government affairs generally offers better work-life balance than engineering or launch operations roles. Standard hours are typical most of the year, with periods of increased intensity during budget season (typically spring through fall), major legislative votes, and high-profile program events. The Arlington location offers good quality of life for DC-area professionals.

How large is the LMGA team?

The exact headcount is not publicly disclosed, but LMGA employs several dozen professionals in Arlington and regional offices across the country. The organization also engages numerous external lobbying firms and consultants, bringing total advocacy capacity well beyond the internal team.