THE LATEST: Babione's division at Lockheed Martin Corp. in December broke ground on a 208,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, scheduled for completion in 2021.



BACKGROUND: A veteran of more than 25 years at Lockheed Martin, Babione helps oversee Advanced Development Programs, also known as Skunk Works. His team is working on the T5 compact fusion reactor, which is expected to produce cheap and clean energy. Babione previously served as vice president and general manager of Lockheed's F-35 program. He began his career in 1985 with Boeing Co. and joined Lockheed Martin in 1993 as a structure and systems engineer. Babione holds a bachelor&s degree in aerospace and ocean engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a master&s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Washington, and an MBA from the University of Tennessee.



YEARS ON THE LA500: 3