Exploring Innovation and Collaboration with Lockheed Martin

On 15 January 2026, Marine Corps University Foundation supported a trip for faculty from Marine Corps University (MCU) to visit the Lockheed Martin Center for Innovation in Suffolk, Virginia (informally known as the Lighthouse).The visit provided an opportunity for MCU faculty to gain firsthand exposure to Lockheed Martin’s approach to innovation, experimentation, and advanced defense research in support of national security objectives.

The Lighthouse serves as both a physical and virtual gateway into Lockheed Martin’s extensive network of laboratories, research centers, and engineering facilities across the enterprise. Designed to foster collaboration, the facility enables government, academic, and industry partners to explore complex operational challenges in a controlled, highly interactive environment. Capabilities supported by the Lighthouse include joint wargaming, tabletop exercises, analytical workshops, modeling and simulation, and live virtual and constructive (LVC) experimentation.

During the visit, faculty engaged with Lockheed Martin representatives to discuss emerging trends in military operations, technology integration, and professional military education. Conversations emphasized the value of collaboration between academia and industry in exploring future concepts, refining analytical approaches, and informing decision-making at the operational and strategic levels.

The engagement provided both Lockheed Martin and Marine Corps University faculty the opportunity to identify areas of mutual interest and consider potential avenues for future collaboration. Such exchanges reinforce the importance of cross-sector partnerships in advancing innovation, education, and warfighting effectiveness for the joint force.