Maria E. Ruess is the Vice President of Business Development for Integrated Defense Technologies (IDT) under Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors (MS2).  In this position, she is responsible for all aspects of business development for IDT in areas such as Littoral Ships and Systems, Coast Guard and Surveillance Systems, and Defense Systems.  As part of her responsibility, Maria has engaged in disciplined management of the business capture process, management of customer relationships, leveraging understanding of market domain and competition, and bringing complete LM solution portfolio to secure new business. Prior to this role, she served as the director of Business Development for MS2 Undersea Systems, leading the organization in capturing new business and growing existing business in the areas of international submarine Command and Control (C2), coastal systems and rail systems.  Her portfolio also included the Maritime Security and Infrastructure Protection systems business before it was shifted to IDT.  Before her position in Business Development, Maria served as the director of Strategic Planning for Lockheed Martin Corporate Headquarters where she was responsible for analyzing market environments and supporting business ventures. Maria has held various positions of increasing responsibility in business development, program management, engineering, and finance with Lockheed Martin Global Telecom (LMGT), Comsat International, Global One/Sprint International, and MCI.

Maria received a BS in Industrial Engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and an MBA from George Washington University. She taught “Hands-on-Science” at her local school for 9 years. She continuously volunteers in mentoring and round table events with young professionals, with the Hispanic College Fund scholarship recipients, and with the Hispanic Congressional Caucus fellows. Additionally, Maria supports speaking activities and panel participation in forums such as the African American Leadership Forum and the Hispanic Leadership Council (HLC).  Maria is a Board of Directors member for HENAAC, a member of the Society for Women Engineers (SWE), an Executive Committee member of Lockheed Martin’s Hispanic Leadership Council, and a member of Lockheed Martin’s Women’s Success Forum as well as the Hispanic Mentoring and Leadership Association (HMLA).