Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Wins Coolest Thing Made in Georgia Competition
August 20, 2025
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
COLUMBUS – Today, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced that the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is the inaugural winner of the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia. The announcement was made during the Georgia Chamber’s 2025 Congressional Luncheon. A recording of the award presentation, as well as the entire Congressional Luncheon, will be available on the Georgia Chamber’s YouTube channel shortly.
Built at Lockheed Martin’s world-class facility in Marietta and flown by the Georgia Air National Guard, the C-130J Super Hercules is a next-generation tactical airlifter trusted by 28 operators in 23 nations.
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules earned the title of the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Georgia following a statewide public vote in a 64-entry, knockout-style competition. The Georgia Chamber launched the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia Competition to celebrate Georgia’s outstanding innovators. Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL was the other finalist. Synovus proudly served as presenting sponsor of the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Georgia Competition.
Rod McLean, Vice President and General Manager of Air Mobility and Maritime Missions from Lockheed Martin said:
“We’re proud the C-130J has been voted the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia. The Super Hercules’ rugged versatility and ability to go where most airplanes can’t or wouldn’t dare is certainly something that is cool as is its 54 world aviation records and ability to support 20 different missions. The C-130 is a testament to American manufacturing excellence, Georgia’s global leadership in aerospace, and unparalleled community support. In addition, we are honored to provide a capability that our brave operators and maintainers across the globe have effectively utilized to accomplish a variety of challenging missions from the Arctic to the Himalayas. As our 70-plus years of continuous production reflects, the C-130 is truly built to deliver and built to last.”
Ed Elkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Norfolk Southern and the 2025 Chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce said:
“Congratulations to Lockheed Martin and the C-130J Super Hercules—named the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Georgia! This globally recognized aircraft, proudly built in Georgia, showcases the innovation and engineering excellence that our state contributes to the rest of the world. This kind of manufacturing icon and the ingenuity that goes into building it is exactly what the Georgia Chamber set out to celebrate with this initiative.”
Kevin Blair, Synovus Chairman, CEO and President said:
“Congratulations to the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules! The Coolest Thing Made in Georgia is more than a title. It's a celebration of the people whose ingenuity and determination shape the state's future. This year's winner showcases that Georgia's strength exists in the ability to turn vision into opportunity that creates jobs, fuels the economy and inspires pride."
Chris Clark, President & CEO of the Georgia Chamber said:
“The Georgia Chamber launched the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia to celebrate the talent and ingenuity that is found across our state. The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules exemplifies that spirit, combining a decades-long presence in Marietta with capabilities unmatched now or in aviation history. We congratulate Lockheed Martin on being the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia for 2025 and look forward to working with them to inspire the next generation of creators and solidify Georgia’s place as a leader in enterprise and innovation.”
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Founded in 1911 and incorporated in 1915, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in Georgia, working to protect free enterprise and secure our long-term economic prosperity. The Georgia Chamber represents tens of thousands of members in every corner of the state, with offices in Atlanta, Brunswick, and Tifton. In 2025 the Georgia Chamber launched Georgia|2050, a strategic plan to ensure Georgia remains a beacon of economic opportunity for the next 25 years. For more information visit gachamber.com.