Hampton, VA- From February 24 – 26, 2025, Lockheed Martin welcomed students from colleges and universities across the United States to its corporate headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, for the 8th annual Ethics in Engineering Competition. The event, which drew 66 teams of two students and one faculty advisor, challenged participants to find solutions to complex engineering, business, and ethics challenges.
This year’s competition centered around a business ethics case focused on Firefighting Intelligence, providing a unique and engaging challenge for the students. The hypothetical case challenged students to consider how the utilization of advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, can enhance the accuracy of decision-making during wildfire management.
Competitors were challenged with developing a joint firefighting intelligence solution that met customer needs by balancing technology use with human input on critical decisions. This balance enabled emergency responders to prioritize limited firefighting resources, minimize risk to life, property, and land, and remain receptive to future technological advancements.
Teams were tasked with working together to develop innovative solutions, demonstrating their critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
Hampton University competed against Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, University of California – Fullerton, and University of Florida. In the championship round, Texas A&M University won a closely contested championship match against Pennsylvania State University.
Throughout the two-day event, students had the opportunity to engage with Lockheed Martin engineers, participate in workshops, and explore emerging issues in Artificial Intelligence. They also experimented with LM simulators and competed in a paper airplane competition. A keynote address by Ben Miller, Director of Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, on modern firefighting efforts and a live video call with Astronaut, Suni Williams, from the International Space Station were among the highlights of the event.
Many students also had the chance to tour notable facilities, including the Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Lockheed Martin’s Global Vision Center, Global Emergency Operations Center, and Security Intelligence Center.
The Ethics in Engineering Competition is an annual event hosted by Lockheed Martin in partnership with faculty advisors to emphasize the importance of business ethics in the fast-paced world of technology. By participating in case competitions, college students develop ethical decision-making and prepare for challenges they may face in their future careers.
Check out the link to Hampton University’s competition recap video here.
For more information about the event, visit Lockheed Martin’s Ethics Academic Outreach page.
About Hampton University
Hampton University is a Carnegie R2-designated research institution, recognized for its groundbreaking research in atmospheric science, cancer treatment, and cybersecurity. Contributing $530 million annually to the regional and Commonwealth of Virginia economies, Hampton plays a vital role in driving economic development while championing diversity, inclusion, and opportunity. The university was recently named one of the “Best Colleges in America” by Money Magazine and recognized as the “Best Private College” by Coastal Virginia.
Founded in 1868, Hampton University is a close-knit community of learners and educators, representing 44 states and 32 territories, committed to nurturing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and global citizenship. For more information, visit www.hamptonu.edu.
For media inquiries regarding Hampton University, please contact Mahogany Waldon in the Office of University Relations 757-727-5253.
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