NEW YORK, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wings Club, recognized as the premier aviation club in the world, will honor Mr. Norman R. Augustine, first President and now retired Chairman & CEO of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, with the 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award. Acknowledging outstanding accomplishments in the field of aviation, The Wings Club will present the Award on Friday, October 21, 2011 at its 69th Annual Dinner-Dance to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Recognized for his singular expertise in science and technology, particularly as it pertains to aerospace and defense, Augustine boasts an exceptional career in the aviation industry.  A 16-year member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, he currently serves on the advisory councils of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.  He is known for his leadership of Lockheed Martin Corporation, the world's largest defense contractor, from becoming the corporation's first president upon its formation in 1995 through his retirement as Chairman in 1998.  Prior to that, he was Chairman & CEO of Martin Marietta Corporation, where he had been employed since 1977.  He has also held positions as Under Secretary of the Army, Assistant Secretary for Research & Development of the Army, Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Vice President of LTV Aerospace, after launching his career at Douglas Aircraft in 1959.

Augustine further served for nine years as Chairman of the American Red Cross.  In addition, he has formerly been Chairman of the NASA/White House Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program, Chairman of the Council of the National Academy of Engineering, President of the Boy Scouts of America and President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has sat on advisory boards and committees of the White House, Senate, NASA, FAA, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Transportation, Homeland Security and NATO, among numerous others, and was a member of the US Commission on National Security/21st Century.

In honor of his outstanding efforts, Augustine has been awarded the Department of Defense's highest civilian decoration, the Distinguished Service Medal, five times and has been presented the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States.  In addition, the highly-decorated Augustine has received the Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Defense Exceptional Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Exceptional Service Medal, the Air Force Academy's Thomas D. White Award, the CIA Director's Award and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Award.  Moreover, he has been recognized with honorary degrees from 25 of the nation's top academic institutions.

Born in Colorado in 1935, Augustine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Aeronautical Engineering.  He is an avid outdoors enthusiast who has stood on both the Earth's poles and trekked extensively around the world, from the Arctic to the Amazon.  His adventures have also included participating in the test dive of a new nuclear submarine.  He is the author of four books and is the father of two with his wife, Margareta.

The Wings Club's Distinguished Achievement Award has been presented annually since 1975. Past recipients include Astronaut Neil Armstrong, Senator John Glenn, former President George H. W. Bush, Brigadier General Charles E. Yeager, Steven Udvar-Hazy and T. Allan McArtor as well as 13 present and former airline CEO's including Fred Smith, Bob Crandall, Herb Kelleher, Gordon Bethune, Sir Colin Marshall, Wolfgang Mayrhuber and Sir Richard Branson.

The Wings Club, founded in 1942, is the premiere aviation club in the world. Dedicated to preserve the history and traditions of aviation, the Club provides a forum for discussion and debate on aeronautical and aviation issues. The Wings Club serves approximately 1,200 members including industry leaders, pilots, professionals in related service organizations and students of aviation.

Recognizing significant achievements that contribute to the advancement of aeronautical and aviation matters, The Wings Club recognizes and honors people with the Distinguished Achievement Award, Distinguished Scholar Awards and Outstanding Aviator Award.  The Club also hosts Aviation Leader Series Luncheons that feature keynote speeches by industry leaders.

For more information on The Wings Club please call 212-867-1770, e-mail wingsclub@aol.com or visit http://www.wingsclub.org.

SOURCE The Wings Club