Obituary: Yvonne Hodge, Lockheed Martin Senior Vice President, Dies in Bethesda, Maryland on January 8, 2026
BETHESDA, MARYLAND — The aerospace and defense industry is mourning the reported passing of Yvonne Hodge, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Business Transformation at Lockheed Martin, who died on January 8, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland. Hodge was widely recognized for her leadership in digital innovation, enterprise transformation, and technology-driven operational excellence at one of the world’s largest security and aerospace corporations.
At the time of her death, Yvonne Hodge served as a key member of Lockheed Martin’s executive leadership team, where she led strategic initiatives focused on modernizing business processes, integrating advanced technologies, and strengthening enterprise-wide operational systems.
Leadership at Lockheed Martin
Yvonne Hodge was appointed Senior Vice President of Enterprise Business Transformation at Lockheed Martin in 2020, following a distinguished career within the company’s Space and Enterprise Business Services divisions. Her appointment was formally announced on April 8, 2020, with her role becoming effective June 15 of that year.
In this position, Hodge was responsible for developing and executing integrated, cross-functional strategies that transformed operations through technology, culture, and process innovation. She led Lockheed Martin’s Digital Transformation, Enterprise Transformation, and Enterprise Information Technology global teams.
Former Lockheed Martin Chairman, President, and CEO Marillyn Hewson described Hodge as “an outstanding, experienced leader” who brought critical knowledge to the company’s efforts to re-engineer processes and systems using intelligent technology.
Career Background and Professional Achievements
Before becoming Senior Vice President, Yvonne Hodge served as Vice President of Business Innovation Transformation & Enterprise Excellence for Lockheed Martin’s Space business area. She also held leadership roles as Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Space and Vice President of Technical Operations for Enterprise Business Services.
Her career at Lockheed Martin was marked by large-scale IT modernization efforts, enterprise system upgrades, and operational efficiency programs that supported the company’s global mission.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Hodge spent 24 years at AT&T, where she held numerous managerial and executive positions, including Vice President of Operations for Business Customers. Her work at AT&T focused on service delivery optimization, customer operations, and enterprise technology leadership.
Education and Academic Excellence
Yvonne Hodge earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, cum laude, from Montclair State University. Her academic background in mathematics laid the foundation for her expertise in data-driven decision-making, systems integration, and technological innovation.
Throughout her career, Hodge emphasized the importance of continuous learning, analytical problem-solving, and strategic planning in leadership development.
Recognition and Industry Impact
Hodge received several professional honors, including the 2012 Black Engineer of the Year Award, where she was given special recognition for career achievement. This award highlighted her influence as a leader in engineering, technology, and business transformation.
She was also a strong advocate for STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), championing initiatives that encouraged diversity, inclusion, and workforce development in technical fields.
Her leadership helped shape enterprise transformation strategies that aligned with Lockheed Martin’s mission to deliver advanced technology systems and services to global defense and security partners.
Role at Lockheed Martin Headquarters
Lockheed Martin Corporation is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, where Hodge carried out her executive responsibilities. The company employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced aerospace and defense technologies.
As Senior Vice President, Hodge worked closely with corporate leadership, reporting directly to CEO Jim Taiclet following his appointment. Her responsibilities spanned digital modernization, enterprise IT governance, and organizational transformation initiatives across the corporation’s global operations.
Legacy of Enterprise Transformation
Yvonne Hodge’s professional legacy is defined by her commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and strategic transformation. She played a critical role in guiding Lockheed Martin’s digital evolution, ensuring that the company’s internal systems, processes, and culture remained aligned with the demands of modern aerospace and defense operations.
Her work helped improve efficiency, data integration, cybersecurity readiness, and enterprise-wide collaboration across Lockheed Martin’s business units.
Colleagues and industry professionals recognized her as a results-driven executive who combined technical expertise with people-focused leadership.
Passing and Public Response
As of this report, official details regarding the cause of Yvonne Hodge’s death have not been publicly released. Her passing on January 8, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland, has prompted an outpouring of tributes from professionals across the aerospace, technology, and defense sectors.
Many have acknowledged her contributions to enterprise transformation, leadership development, and the advancement of women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
Honoring Yvonne Hodge’s Life and Career
Yvonne Hodge’s career reflected a lifelong commitment to innovation, excellence, and service. From her early years at AT&T to her executive leadership at Lockheed Martin, she remained focused on driving meaningful organizational change through technology and collaboration.
Her influence will continue to be felt through the enterprise systems she helped modernize, the teams she mentored, and the strategic frameworks she helped establish.
The aerospace and defense community honors Yvonne Hodge not only as a senior executive, but as a transformational leader whose work empowered people, strengthened organizations, and advanced technological progress.
