Marillyn A. Hewson, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., and her husband, James, have made a gift of $15 million to the University of Alabama to benefit the Culverhouse College of Business.

The gift is the largest one-time financial contribution in the university’s history.

This contribution follows the $5 million commitment the Hewsons made to the college last year to support the Marillyn Hewson Faculty Fellows Program in Data Analytics and Cyber Security, a high-tech lab and an endowed undergraduate scholarship and graduate assistantship.

The Hewsons are graduates of the university. Marillyn is a two-time graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in economics. She is a member of the Culverhouse College of Business Board of Visitors, as well as a member of UA’s President’s Cabinet. James holds a bachelor’s degree in communications.

“I am deeply thankful for the strong business education I received at the University of Alabama,” said Marillyn Hewson. “That education helped prepare me for many of the challenges and opportunities I’ve encountered throughout my career – from the day I joined the company as an industrial engineer to my current role as CEO.”

Marillyn Hewson and her family in New York City, where she received the 2018 Chief Executive of the Year honor from Chief Executive magazine. Pictured, from left, are Will Hewson, Marillyn Hewson, James Hewson and David Hewson. (Ben Hider)

The gift announcement came the same day Marillyn Hewson was honored in New York City as the 2018 Chief Executive of the Year by Chief Executive magazine.

“This is a remarkable gift from a truly incredible, successful and compassionate couple,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “Their commitment to, and ongoing support of, our Culverhouse College of Business reflects a confidence in the important teaching, research and service we do every day.”

Details of the gift will be announced later this fall. It is subject to the approval of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama System.

In addition to leading Lockheed Martin, Marillyn Hewson has served on numerous boards and currently sits on the board of directors of DowDuPont, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, the Board of Governors of the USO, the board of directors of Catalyst, and the executive committees of the Aerospace Industries Association and The Business Roundtable.

Hewson was recognized as No. 3 on Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” in 2017, a top 10 “Business Person of the Year” by Fortune and one of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes.

This story originally appeared on the University of Alabama’s website.