Lockheed Martin Plant Marks 70 Years of C-130 Production

Company leaders and employees recently gathered at the Lockheed Martin manufacturing plant at Dobbins Air Reserve Base to celebrate 70 years of C-130 Hercules production—the longest-running military aircraft production line in history.

During the ceremony, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Greg Ulmer and other company leaders honored four employees who have worked at the plant for over 60 years, highlighting the aircraft’s enduring impact on Cobb County and the metro Atlanta economy.

History of the C-130

Since its first flight on August 23, 1954, the C-130 Hercules has played a vital role in military and humanitarian missions worldwide, from dropping bombs and conducting reconnaissance to delivering aid and medical transport. Lockheed Martin reports that over 5,500 employees work at the Marietta plant, which contributes a $4.4 billion economic impact to the county and the state. The C-130 program has produced over 2,700 aircraft for more than 60 nations, and the Marietta facility continues to manufacture the C-130J Super Hercules, ensuring the legacy of this iconic aircraft.

The C-130 has been deployed in numerous operations, including humanitarian efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, and by the Air Force Reserve Command’s Hurricane Hunters, who gather critical data from within hurricanes. Rod McLean, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the Marietta site, noted that the anniversary “just signifies how Lockheed Martin is one of the key cornerstones of Cobb County and the metro Atlanta region’s economy.”

In Harm’s Way

Dobbins Air Reserve Base and Lockheed Martin are widely recognized as economic engines for Cobb County, employing thousands. However, these operations were put at risk after Cobb Chair Lisa Cupid led a vote to allow housing development near the accident potential zone surrounding the base. The controversy began in May 2021 when a rezoning request by Venture Properties for 38 condominiums on Leland Drive was approved by Cobb’s three Democratic commissioners—Chair Lisa Cupid, Monique Sheffield, and Jerica Richardson—despite the Cobb County Planning Commission’s recommendation to deny the rezoning.

Department of Defense guidelines prohibit residential development within the accident potential zone around Dobbins’ runway, but Cupid and her fellow commissioners ignored these guidelines. The business community and others quickly criticized Cupid’s decision, fearing it could jeopardize the base during future Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) reviews.

After significant backlash from the Cobb Chamber, business leaders, concerned citizens, fellow Commissioners, and other stakeholders, Cupid eventually reversed course and pursued a land swap to address the issue.