ABSTRACT
Clarence (Kelly) Johnson remains a major inspiration for those striving to take a small team, get them on step, and develop a highly innovative system. He led the famous Lockheed “Skunk Works,” which developed the fi rst U.S. production jet fi ghter, the T-33. He also led the development of the U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance airplanes, as well as many other aircraft. He was noted for assembling a small number of professionals, with all the specialties needed to develop a breakthrough airplane located in one environment (colocation), and leading the daily activities to achieve a single, often diffi cult, but easy-to-describe goal (Turnaround Commitment).
