
Shan Cooper
MARIETTA — Shan Cooper stunned many in the community this week when it was announced she was stepping down as Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the company’s Marietta facility, but Cooper said her decision was motivated by a desire to stay in Cobb County.
“From a personal perspective, I really wanted to be in a position where I was going to be here locally. I love Cobb County, I love the Atlanta area,” Cooper said in an interview with the MDJ on Friday.
As the general manager of the Marietta facility, which has shared a runway with Dobbins Air Reserve Base for more than 60 years, a promotion within Lockheed would have likely required her to move elsewhere, Cooper said.
“There would have been a strong possibility,” she said. “This role is the most senior role here, so if I was going to grow to the next level, it probably would have required a relocation. We just decided as a family — this was a joint decision with my husband, my daughter, my family and my parents and his parents and everybody had a vote — that we really love this area and I love this community and we really wanted to stay here.”
She’s also going to become a grandmother in May when her daughter, Chantel Williams, has her first child, making it even more important for Cooper to stay in Cobb.
MARIETTA — Shan Cooper stunned many in the community this week when it was announced she was stepping down as Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the company’s Marietta facility, but Cooper said her decision was motivated by a desire to stay in Cobb County.
“From a personal perspective, I really wanted to be in a position where I was going to be here locally. I love Cobb County, I love the Atlanta area,” Cooper said in an interview with the MDJ on Friday.
As the general manager of the Marietta facility, which has shared a runway with Dobbins Air Reserve Base for more than 60 years, a promotion within Lockheed would have likely required her to move elsewhere, Cooper said.
“There would have been a strong possibility,” she said. “This role is the most senior role here, so if I was going to grow to the next level, it probably would have required a relocation. We just decided as a family — this was a joint decision with my husband, my daughter, my family and my parents and his parents and everybody had a vote — that we really love this area and I love this community and we really wanted to stay here.”
She’s also going to become a grandmother in May when her daughter, Chantel Williams, has her first child, making it even more important for Cooper to stay in Cobb.