Willis Moore Hawkins was an aeronautical engineer for Lockheed for more than fifty years. Willis M. Hawkins was born December 1, 1913 in Kansas City, Missouri. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1937, which also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in 1965. Hawkins began a career at the Lockheed Corporation spanning over 50 years. Hired as a senior detail engineering draftsman in Lockheed's engineering department in Burbank, California, he advanced through a number of key engineering positions.  Hawkins served as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Development for nearly three years beginning in 1963 before resuming his duties as Vice President-Science and Engineering. He then advanced to Senior Vice-President of Science and Engineering in 1969, served as a member of the Board of Directors from 1972 through May, 1980, and after taking an early retirement in 1974, assumed the duties of Senior Vice President of the corporation and as President of the Lockheed-California Co. form late 1976 until April, 1979.

Willis Hawkins received an honorary doctor of engineering degree from the University of Michigan in 1963, and an honorary doctor of science degree from Illinois College in 1966. He received the U.S. Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1961, Distinguished Civilian Service Awards in 1965 and 1966 for his contributions to the Army's research and development programs and his direction of the U.S./German main battle tank development, and was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Reagan in 1988.