Q&A with Larry Duncan and Charlotte Orren
A Sponsor & A Scholar
FALL 2017
ThanksUSA spoke with Lockheed Martin VP of Government Relations Larry Duncan, one the first sponsors of the Pathways for Patriots program, along with alumni scholar Charlotte Orren who has directly benefited from the program. After receiving ThanksUSA scholarships totaling $9,000, Charlotte graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and began a career with Lockheed Martin as a Flying Qualities Engineer with the F-35 Flight Test program. The Pathways program is becoming an essential tool for broadening the reach of our scholarship program and helping more military family members achieve their educational and career aspirations. Q: Why did you become involved with the Pathways program? Duncan: Lockheed Martin has been a proud partner of ThanksUSA and its efforts to provide scholarships for military families for many years. With its focus on connecting military spouses and children to STEM fields, the Pathways program is enabling us to expand our reach in STEM education to the military community. Q: Can you share a few of the benefits that you have experienced in your work with ThanksUSA? Duncan: ThanksUSA has made a great impact on the lives of thousands of military families by providing educational opportunities that will help them build a strong foundation for their future prosperity. The program has also helped companies like ours who are looking for talented graduates like Charlotte Orren, a ThanksUSA alumna who is now working for us on the F-35 program. Q: What are the most significant challenges faced today by current and potential STEM field participants? Duncan: Our Nation is facing a shortage of engineers and scientists, which are critical to our economic prosperity. For many students who may want to pursue studies in STEM fields, it is challenging to access the right programs and the cost of higher education can be prohibitive. Q: How does the Pathways program address these challenges? Duncan: The Pathways program helps mitigate the challenges by providing needed financial assistance and providing its scholarship recipients with resources and information about internships and career fields. Q: Why do you consider it important to foster healthy relationships between sponsors and recipients of ThanksUSA scholarships? Duncan: At Lockheed Martin, we believe strong engagement is critical to the success of our partnerships. For the scholarship recipients, it is important for them to be able to see the practical applications of their studies and potential career opportunities in industry. The sponsors are in the best position to showcase what they can do with their education. Q: What is your message to those who may be considering following in Lockheed Martin's footsteps of sponsorship for the Pathways for Patriots program? Duncan: The Pathways program offers an excellent opportunity for military connected spouses and children to pursue their long-term goals and position themselves for successful careers. The benefits extend beyond the scholarship recipients — to our companies and our communities where our military families can make significant contributions. Q: As a woman in the STEM field, what would you say to young girls or other military dependents that may be looking to follow in your footsteps? Orren: Be purposeful and grateful in everything you do. Those who desire a career in STEM, including women, are given numerous support structures and career development avenues nowadays. To women and young girls, my advice would be to seek out mentors, programs, or organizations, such as ThanksUSA, the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Defense, etc. that can help equip you for a STEM career. Despite the fact that men still dominate the field in number, there is much support for women. Q: As a participant in ThanksUSA golf tournaments, share an especially meaningful experience that you recall. Orren: It was my first ThanksUSA golf tournament, the 2013 Intelligent Decisions Lake Nona Invitational. During the ceremony, I was invited to speak about my experience as a military dependent, college student, and how the support of ThanksUSA has impacted my life. After my speech, a veteran named John E. Bircher III immediately came to me, reached out to shake my hand, looked me right in the eye, and said, “I really liked what you had to say.” And what was left in my hand was his coin! I keep his Purple Heart coin displayed on my desk to this day, and it is one of my prized possessions. Q: What would you like to say to ThanksUSA and to those who may be considering contributing to this organization? Orren: Hardly any of the accomplishments I have achieved would have been possible without the support of ThanksUSA. If not for them, I would have needed to consider accruing more debt, transferring schools, and/or changing career paths. Not only does ThanksUSA significantly lighten the financial burden of school but also, they’ve shown me the incredible network of support for military families. I will be forever grateful to ThanksUSA.
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Charlotte Orren, pictured wth Larry Duncan (in blue), at the ThanksUSA Golf Tournament in May 2017
