A talented engineer from Ampthill-based Lockheed Martin UK has been recognised with a prestigious international award.

Alex Godfrey, systems engineer at the Bedfordshire technology business, was presented with the 2016 Young Person’s Achievement Award by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) at a ceremony this week.

The RAeS medals and awards are the most prestigious and long-standing awards in global aerospace, and honour achievement, innovation and excellence from across the world.

The award was to recognise that Alex “is regarded by his colleagues and peers as an exceptional graduate engineer with incredibly high standards of work and a broad spectrum of skills.” It went on to say: “He possesses a passion for civil aerospace, has worked hard to increase business at Lockheed Martin’s Ampthill site and has made valuable contributions to a number of innovative projects.”

Neil Hebron, Engineering and Technology Director at Lockheed Martin UK’s Ampthill site, said: “Alex is an outstanding young engineer and he’s played a very important part in developing our civil space work here in Bedfordshire. He’s made a leading contribution to a number of pioneering projects, including the development of a landing system for Europe’s first reusable spacecraft, Space Rider, which will re-enter the atmosphere at 7.5km a second. He’s also to be commended for his outreach work to inspire students to pursue science and engineering careers.

“We’re very proud of him and delighted his achievements have been recognised with such a prestigious international award.”

The Royal Aeronautical Society has been honouring outstanding achievers in the global aerospace industry since 1909, when Wilbur and Orville Wright came to London to receive the Society’s first gold medal.

Dr Mike Steeden, RAeS Medals and Awards Chairman, said: “We recognise excellence in all disciplines of aerospace. Alex is a worthy recipient of our premier award for emerging talent. The regard in which he is already held by his colleagues and peers marks him out as a young man with exceptional promise and every prospect of a rewarding and successful career in aerospace. He is a credit to himself and those who have supported and encouraged him. We congratulate him on his success.”

Alex received his award at a glittering ceremony at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Mayfair headquarters this week. He said: “Civil space is my passion. Space systems engineers are often doing things for the very first time, like landing on a comet or laying the foundations for manned voyages to Mars, and that’s really exciting.

“I love what I do, and I love taking that enthusiasm to young students and showing them what’s possible. It’s a real honour for that to be recognised by the Royal Aeronautical Society.”          

Photo: Alex Godfrey receives his young person’s achievement award from RAeS President, Professor Chris Atkin.