Organisations

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Lockheed Martin's secretive Advanced Development Programs division, responsible for a lineage of classified US aircraft and a recurring point of contact in accounts of UAP-related outreach.

Advanced Development Projects (pseudonym: Skunk Works) · U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, F-117A Night Hawk, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning, P-175 Polecat, RQ-170 Sentinel · Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is the working name for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs division, a secretive engineering unit responsible for a lineage of classified American military aircraft.¹ Its programmes have produced the U-2 spy plane and SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117A Night Hawk stealth attack aircraft, the F-22 Raptor fighter, and the F-35 Lightning stealth jet.²¹ David Fravor described the SR-71 Blackbird, developed in the 1950s by Kelly Johnson at the division, as an engineering marvel from a pure-speed perspective.² More recently, according to the Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with UAP, Skunk Works built the P-175 Polecat unmanned aerial vehicle to study the flight dynamics of tailless, bat-wing-shaped, high-altitude UAVs,³ and developed the RQ-170 Sentinel UAV for the United States Air Force.⁴ Engineer Ben Rich, later remembered by Jim Goodall as a friend, served as the division’s president in the 1990s and was responsible for modern stealth aircraft;⁵⁶ Jesse Michels characterised Ben Rich as having been central to building reconnaissance aircraft for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and advanced American defence technology.⁷ Christopher K. Mellon said that colleagues at Lockheed Martin and Skunk Works have stated privately that if a TR3B craft exists, it is not made by Lockheed Martin.⁸

Skunk Works recurs in accounts of Tom DeLonge’s efforts to engage the aerospace and defence establishment on UAP disclosure. According to Lockheed Martin’s own account, Tom DeLonge approached the division proposing a documentary on secret machines and advanced development projects; multiple Skunk Works staff met with him to hear his pitch, but the company ultimately decided not to participate.⁹ Leaked Podesta emails separately showed plans for a Google Hangout meeting involving DeLonge, two US Air Force generals, and Robert Weiss, the Lockheed Martin executive vice-president and general manager of Skunk Works.¹⁰ Other proposed attendees for that meeting were DeLonge, John Podesta, Weiss, Hillary Clinton presidential campaign assistant Milia Fisher, and retired Major General Michael Carey.¹¹ Weiss led Skunk Works as executive vice-president and general manager until 2019.¹² Ross Coulthart judged it a fair bet that the executive DeLonge met at a Skunk Works families’ event was Weiss,¹³ and separately considered that DeLonge likely concealed his real UAP-related intentions in his pitch to the division in order to gain access, calling it a classic media ruse.¹⁴

DeLonge’s own account of this outreach, part of what has been catalogued as Tom DeLonge’s meetings with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) disclosure, describes being asked during a meeting what his intentions were with the “conspiracy stuff”.¹⁵ DeLonge said the executive he referred to as “BossMan”, probably Weiss, told him Lockheed Martin could not be involved in any project associated with UAP, specifically because there had never been any evidence it exists.¹⁶ He also described visiting the division’s underground bunker as part of his broader meetings with military and intelligence sources on disclosure,¹⁷ and, in his “Sekret Machines” documentary, recounted passing through a guarded checkpoint with armed personnel, fingerprint scanning, and vault-like doors with rotary locks to reach a secure hallway.¹⁸ In that same documentary, DeLonge described Skunk Works as the US government’s top-tier aerospace organisation for developing advanced aircraft that meet national security needs.¹⁹ Jason Samosa said Jacques Vallée validates the account that DeLonge made contact with an individual working at Skunk Works,²⁰ and that this individual invited DeLonge to act as master of ceremonies at a large Skunk Works family event, which DeLonge accepted on condition he could sit down and speak with the person who ran the organisation.²¹ Samosa further described DeLonge sending his Skunk Works contact a piece of content, written by his adviser, about cargo cults.²² Separately, DeLonge exchanged emails with a top Skunk Works executive.²³

Steve Justice is the figure most frequently linked to Skunk Works in these accounts. An aerospace engineer who spent thirty-one years at the division,²⁴ Justice served as its former head, or director, of Advanced Systems,²⁵²⁶²⁷ finishing that role a month before the October 2017 2017 To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences launch event.²⁸²⁹ At that launch, on 2017-10-11, Justice, then Skunk Works Program Director for Advanced Systems, said that To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science (TTSA) was working on a revolutionary Advanced Electromagnetic Vehicle intended to dramatically reduce current travel limits of distance and time.³⁰ He went on to lead TTSA’s aerospace division before leaving in 2021,³¹ and subsequently joined DeLonge’s advisory board.³²²⁴

Skunk Works also surfaces in Lex Fridman’s podcast conversation with David Fravor, where Fravor recounted speaking with Lockheed Martin’s chief technology officer, Keoki Jackson, about the division,³³ and Fridman remarked that some of the best engineering and science work is done in secrecy there.³⁴

References (35)

Christopher Mellon said colleagues at Lockheed Martin and Skunk Works stated privately that if a TR3B craft exists, it is not made by Lockheed Martin
“Mellon says, 'My current and former colleagues at Lockheed Martin and the Skunk Works are very clear in private settings that if there is a TR3B it is not made by Lockheed.”
In Plain Sight ch28:10916-11079 View the source record →
Skunk Works is Lockheed's advanced development programme, with a history developing the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy planes, the F-117A Night Hawk, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning
“Skunk Works is a nickname for Lockheed's advanced development programs and it has an illustrious super-secret black-budget history for its role in developing the U2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy-planes, the F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft, the F-22 Raptor fighter and the F-35 Lightning stealth jet – all by far the most advanced known aerospace defence technology of their day on the planet.”
In Plain Sight ch18:15942-16329 View the source record →
At the TTSA launch on 2017-10-11, Steve Justice, then Skunk Works Program Director for Advanced Systems, said TTSA was working on a revolutionary Advanced Electromagnetic Vehicle
“At TTSA's October 2017 launch, Steve Justice, the then Skunk Works Lockheed Martin Program Director for Advanced Systems, stated that TTSA was working on a revolutionary Advanced Electromagnetic Vehicle that could 'dramatically reduce the current travel limits of distance and time.”
In Plain Sight ch28:6936-7213 View the source record →
Steve Justice was former head of Advanced Systems at Skunk Works
“former head of Advanced Systems at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works”
In Plain Sight ch21:9293-9352 View the source record →
Ben Rich was president of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in the 1990s and was responsible for modern stealth aircraft
“Ben Rich also, who is the, you know, Skunk Works guy, you know, in the 90s, president of Skunk Works, who is responsible for, you know, the SR-71 and, or sorry, he was responsible for modern stealth aircraft.”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 01:17:26.5-01:17:38.5
Lex Fridman said some of the best engineering and science work is done in secrecy at Skunk Works
“the some of the best if not the best engineering and science but engineering really ever is done in secrecy”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 03:16:46.6-03:16:55.4
David Fravor said Steve Justice previously ran Lockheed Skunk Works
“I mean, they've got Steve Justice who used to run Skunk Works where they built projects.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 01:54:28.6-01:54:31.9
Jason Samosa said Jacques Vallée validates the account that DeLonge made contact with an individual who worked at Skunk Works
“But Vallee, Jacques Vallee, validates the original story, which is that DeLonge had made contact with someone who worked at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 00:35:32.8-00:35:41.0
Jesse Michels characterised Ben Rich as having been at the tip of the spear building reconnaissance aircraft for the CIA and advanced American defence technology
“you hear a guy who's at the tip of the spear when it comes to building recon planes for the CIA and, you know, very advanced American defense tech”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 01:51:02.0-01:51:11.3
DeLonge said the executive he called 'BossMan', probably Rob Weiss, told him Lockheed Martin could not be involved in any project associated with UAP, since there had never been any evidence it exists
“DeLonge admits that when the executive he called 'BossMan' (probably Skunk Work's then General Manager Rob Weiss) walked into the meeting, he was told, 'We cannot be involved in any type of project whatsoever that has this topic associated with it, specifically because there's never been any evidence whatsoever that this stuff even exists.'”
In Plain Sight ch18:18088-18422 View the source record →
Jim Goodall befriended engineer Ben Rich, former Director of Skunk Works, the pseudonym for Lockheed Martin's secretive Advanced Developments Projects division
“He befriended engineer Ben Rich, the former Director of US aerospace company Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works (the pseudonym for Lockheed Martin's secretive Advanced Developments Projects division, where many of America's most advanced aircraft have been designed).”
In Plain Sight ch13:13431-13709 View the source record →
The leaked Podesta emails showed exchanges planning a Google Hangout between DeLonge, two US Air Force generals, and Rob Weiss, Lockheed Martin's executive vice-president and general manager of Skunk Works
“Amidst them was a smoking gun that lent strong support to DeLonge's extraordinary claims: a string of exchanges between Podesta and DeLonge, revealing plans for a Google Hangout meeting between DeLonge, two US Air Force generals and Rob Weiss, the Lockheed Martin executive vice-president and general manager of its advanced development programs known as Skunk Works.”
In Plain Sight ch20:4492-4853 View the source record →
Lockheed Martin stated that Tom DeLonge reached out to Skunk Works about a documentary on secret machines, that team members met with him, and that Lockheed Martin ultimately declined to participate
“'Tom DeLonge reached out to Skunk Works with interest in collaborating on a documentary focused on secret machines and advanced development projects,' Lockheed Martin said in a statement. 'Multiple members of the Skunk Works team met with DeLonge to explore his vision for the documentary, as we would with any individual or organisation interested in telling the story of Skunk Works and the technologies we've developed. We ultimately decided to not move forward with our participation in the documentary. During this exploration period, DeLonge attended a Skunk Works employee event.'”
In Plain Sight ch18:15278-15884 View the source record →
The other proposed Google Hangout attendees were Tom DeLonge, John Podesta, Skunk Works' boss Rob Weiss, Clinton campaign assistant Milia Fisher, and retired Major General Michael Carey
“The other meeting attendees were listed as DeLonge, Podesta, Skunk Works' boss Rob Weiss, an assistant to the Hillary Clinton campaign Milia Fisher, and retired Major General Michael Carey.”
In Plain Sight 29-31 View the source record →
Rob Weiss was executive vice-president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works until 2019
“...Rob Weiss, the Lockheed executive vice-president and GM of Skunk Works until 2019.”
In Plain Sight ch18:16627-16704 View the source record →
Ross Coulthart considered it a fair bet that the executive DeLonge met at the families' event was Rob Weiss
“It is also a fair bet that the executive whom DeLonge subsequently met at the families event was Rob Weiss, the Lockheed executive vice-president and GM of Skunk Works until 2019.”
In Plain Sight ch18:16530-16704 View the source record →
Tom DeLonge was asked during the meeting what his intentions were with the 'conspiracy stuff'
“'What are your intentions with the . . . conspiracy stuff?' he was asked.”
In Plain Sight ch18:18013-18081 View the source record →
Steve Justice is a former director of Advanced Systems Development at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division
“my friend Steve Justice, former director of Advanced Systems Development at Lockheed Martin’s mysterious Skunk Works division”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch19:5009-5126 View the source record →
Before leaving TTSA in 2021, former Skunk Works engineer Steve Justice led TTSA's aerospace division
“Before he left TTSA in 2021, the former Lockheed Martin Skunk Works engineer Steve Justice led TTSA's aerospace division”
In Plain Sight ch23:16038-16150 View the source record →
Steve Justice, an aerospace engineer, spent thirty-one years at Skunk Works before joining DeLonge's advisory board
“DeLonge’s advisory board included Steve Justice, a highly respected aerospace engineer who’d spent thirty-one years working for Lockheed Martin’s highly secretive Skunk Works”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch29:13378-13547 View the source record →
Steve Justice finished his career as Director of Advanced Systems at Skunk Works the month before this broadcast
“Literally, last month, Steve finished his career as Director of Advanced Systems at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.”
Tom DeLonge's 'Sekret Machines' FULL Documentary #ufo #uap 00:08:51.8-00:08:58.4
David Fravor spoke with Lockheed Martin's chief technology officer Keoki Jackson about Skunk Works
“i talked to cto of lockheed uh keiko jackson and just just kunkworks”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 03:16:41.1-03:16:45.0
Jason Samosa said an individual at Skunk Works invited DeLonge to act as master of ceremonies at a large Skunk Works family event, on condition DeLonge could speak with the person who ran the organisation
“And that individual had said, look, would you come and sort of be the MC for this special day we're having where it's like a big family event? And he said, yes, as long as I can speak to the individual who runs the show, right, and get a chance to sit down.”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 00:35:42.0-00:35:53.6
Steve Justice had, a month before the October 2017 To The Stars Academy launch, finished as director of advanced systems at Skunk Works
“who just a month earlier had finished as director of advanced systems at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works”
In Plain Sight ch21:1281-1376 View the source record →
David Fravor called the SR-71 Blackbird an engineering marvel developed in the 1950s by Kelly Johnson at Lockheed Skunk Works
“From pure speed, I would say SR-71, I think it's an engineering marvel that was actually developed in the 50s by Kelly Johnson, you know, Skunk Works.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 01:05:36.5-01:05:42.8
DeLonge described visiting Skunk Works's underground bunker as part of his meetings with military/intelligence sources on UAP disclosure
“He made up all this stuff about flying around North America meeting The General in an airport hangar and Skunk Works in its underground bunker.”
In Plain Sight ch19:23008-23144 View the source record →
DeLonge exchanged emails with a top Lockheed Martin Skunk Works executive
“with a top Lockheed Martin Skunk Works executive”
In Plain Sight ch28:28494-28533 View the source record →
Ross Coulthart considered that DeLonge likely hid his real intentions about UAP in his pitch to Skunk Works to gain access, calling it a classic media ruse
“When I read DeLonge's account of this meeting, I took a cynical view that what he must have done was hide his real intentions about UAPs in his pitch to Skunk Works to get in the door, a classic naughty media ruse if one is being honest.”
In Plain Sight ch18:17478-17735 View the source record →
Steve Justice is a former Skunk Works executive who was affiliated with TTSA
“TTSA’s Steve Justice, former Lockheed Martin Skunk Works executive”
In Plain Sight ch22:21142-21199 View the source record →
DeLonge sent his Skunk Works contact a piece of content written by his adviser about cargo cults
“then he sent this individual a piece of content that the vendor had written, and it was all around cargo cults... they could see these planes landing and dropping off all this cargo and stuff, food, resources.”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 00:36:55.7-00:37:07.0
DeLonge said Skunk Works is the US government's top-tier aerospace organisation for developing advanced aircraft that meet national security needs
“Skunk Works is the US government's top tier aerospace organization for the development of advanced aircraft that meet our urgent national security needs.”
Tom DeLonge's 'Sekret Machines' FULL Documentary #ufo #uap 00:09:00.6-00:09:09.5
DeLonge visited Skunk Works and passed through a guarded checkpoint with armed personnel, fingerprint scanning, and vault-like doors with rotary locks to reach a secure hallway
“First time I met Steve Justice, I went through, I got the opportunity to go up to Lockheed Martin's The Skunk Works, and I remember I went through this guard gate and they had machine guns... I get into a hallway and there's like hundreds of speakers lining this long hallway with just white noise... and then there were more doors that were as thick as a safe with these rotary locks”
Tom DeLonge's 'Sekret Machines' FULL Documentary #ufo #uap 00:23:10.9-00:23:37.0
Skunk Works developed the P-175 Polecat UAV to study tailless, bat-wing-shaped high-altitude UAV flight dynamics
“Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Program organization, also known as "Skunk Works" developed the P-175 Polecat UAV to better understand the flight dynamics of tailless, bat-wing-shaped, 90-foot wingspan high-altitude UAV, including the next generation of structural composite materials and configurations.”
Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Volume I char:142244-142540 View the source record →
The RQ-170 Sentinel was developed by Skunk Works for the USAF, according to the report
“The RQ-170 Sentinel is a UAV developed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works for the USAF.”
Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Volume I char:143004-143084 View the source record →
Robert Weiss was executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
“[note: Robert Weiss - Lockheed Skunk Works executive vice president]”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event line 37

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

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