Martin Marietta (absorbed into Lockheed Martin 1995)
nodeIntelligence & Surveillance · Defense & Military-Industrial
At a 1993 dinner, this company's CEO coined the grim nickname 'the Last Supper' — the Pentagon's signal that half the defense industry would not survive the decade.
Who they are
Martin Marietta was an aerospace and defense prime contractor led by CEO Norm Augustine from 1987 to 1995.
What they do
It built major weapons systems and then merged into the largest aerospace company in the world.
How it works
Its programs included the Titan rocket family, the MX/Peacekeeper ICBM, and surveillance satellites; in March 1995 it merged with Lockheed Corporation to form Lockheed Martin, the first $35 billion defense prime, and Augustine — who coined the phrase 'Last Supper' at a 1993 dinner where the Pentagon signaled half the room would not survive the decade — became chairman and CEO of the merged company until 1997.
Why it matters
It is a concrete example of the deliberate, government-signaled consolidation that shrank many defense firms into a few giants.
The engine's record — word for word
Report #87. Aerospace + defense prime led by Norm Augustine (CEO 1987-1995). Programs: Titan rocket family, MX/Peacekeeper ICBM, surveillance satellites, sandcrete defensive structures. **March 1995 merged with Lockheed Corporation** (CEO Daniel Tellep proposed) forming Lockheed Martin Corporation — first $35B-revenue defense prime, world's largest aerospace company. Augustine attended the 1993 Last Supper as CEO Martin Marietta and **coined the term 'Last Supper'** — the biblical framing reflecting the Pentagon's explicit message that half the room would not survive the decade. Augustine became Chairman + CEO of the merged Lockheed Martin and remained until 1997.
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