Martin, based in Baltimore, was primarily an aerospace concern with a recent focus on missiles, namely its Titan program. This program was established in 1955 when the company secured the U.S. Air Force contract to build the country's second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).[2] American-Marietta was headquartered in Chicago and produced paints, dyes, metallurgical products, construction materials, and other goods.[3][4][5][6]
In 1982, Martin Marietta was subject to a hostile takeover bid by the Bendix Corporation, headed by William Agee. Bendix bought the majority of Martin Marietta shares and in effect owned the company. However, Martin Marietta's management used the short time separating ownership and control to sell non-core businesses and launch its own hostile takeover of Bendix (known as the Pac-Man defense).[7][8] Thomas G. Pownall, CEO of Martin Marietta, was successful and the end of this extraordinarily bitter battle saw Martin Marietta survive; Bendix was bought by Allied Corporation.[8][9][10]
1975: Acquires Hoskyns Group (UK IT services company)
1982: Bendix Corporation's attempted takeover ends in its own sale to Allied Corporation; Martin Marietta survives[13][14]
1986: Wins contract to convert Titan IIICBMs into space launch vehicles. The Martin Company built the original ICBMs
1987: Electronics & Missiles Group formed, headquartered in Orlando
1991: Electronics & Missiles Group reorganized into the Electronics, Information & Missiles Group
1993: Acquires GE Aerospace for 3 billion USD, allowing combined marketing of complementary systems, e.g. Martin Marietta's Titan missiles launching GE Aerospace's satellites
^Blevins, Tim (2011). Enterprise & Innovation in the Pikes Peak Region. Colorado Springs, CO: Pikes Peak Library District. p. 189. ISBN978-1-56735-302-0.
^Danilov, Victor J. (2013). Famous Americans: A Directory of Museums, Historic Sites, and Memorials. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 75. ISBN978-0-8108-9186-9.