Lockheed Martin co-workers excited to cheer for their alma maters in the Celebration Bowl

Lockheed Martin co-workers excited to cheer for their alma maters in the Celebration Bowl

Although they are teammates at work, Rod McLean and Kim Butler will be cheering for opposing teams at the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl on Saturday, December 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) champion North Carolina A&T State University will face the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion Alcorn State University for the first ever Celebration Bowl.

Rod, a North Carolina A&T alumnus, and Kim, an Alcorn State alumna, are both part of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group (IFG), where Rod is the vice president and general manager and Kim is the senior manager of Program Operations.

Rod has worked at Lockheed Martin for 21 years. He has achieved numerous awards throughout his career, including the 2012 Black Engineer of the Year Professional Achievement Award (BEYA), which recognizes highly experienced professionals who have made significant achievements in their chosen career path. Rod graduated in 1992. He currently serves on the North Carolina A&T State University Engineering Advisory Board and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

Kim has worked at Lockheed Martin for 27 years. She has received multiple awards and was recently recognized as a 2016 Modern-Day Technology Leader (MDTL) award recipient. As a MDTL award winner, she will be honored for her innovative contributions at the 30^th BEYA conference in February 2016. Kim graduated from Alcorn State University in 1989, is a 3^rd generation Alcornite, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Rod and Kim look forward to cheering on their respective alma maters—both of which are Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at the Celebration Bowl. They are particularly excited to participate in a bowl game sponsored by the Air Force Reserve, which happens to be one of Lockheed Martin’s customers. Regardless of which football team wins, Rod and Kim will both leave the game as proud fans of the U.S. Air Force Reserve.