Jeff Babione

Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Class of 1985, BS

Where is your hometown?
Annandale, Virginia

How did what you learned at Virginia Tech impact your career?
My education at Virginia Tech provided me a strong foundation of engineering theory and application that I could build upon.

Why did you choose your profession?
I always knew I wanted to be an engineer, ever since I knew what engineers do. I was always taking things apart, so I could understand how they worked.

Why did you decide to come to Virginia Tech?
My brother was the first of three in my family to go to Virginia Tech, but I went because of the engineering school. I wanted to be an engineer and Virginia Tech is where you go to become an engineer!

Who influenced you during your career and/or time at Virginia Tech?
At Tech it was Dr. Grossman.

What’s one of your favorite memories from Virginia Tech?
The night we upset Memphis State in basketball. They were number one at the time. Also graduation — school was hard, but a lot of fun as well. I was looking forward to getting out and working.

DEGREES
M.B.A., University of Tennessee, 2008
M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Washington, 1991
B.S., Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech 1985

PROFESSIONAL ROLES
Vice President and General Manager, Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs, The Skunk Works (March 2018-present)
Previous positions at Lockheed Martin: Vice President and General Manager of the F-35 Program and of the Integrated Fighter Group (F-16, F-22), Vice President of the F-22 Program, and Chief Engineer of the F-22

ADVISORY BOARDS, COMMITTEES
Virginia Tech Aerospace and Engineering Advisory Board (present)

Class of: 1985
Year Inducted into Academy: 2018