Contributing over 50 years to the advancement of aircraft, spacecraft, missile systems, and watercraft technology, Mr. Sakata began his career at Lockheed-California Company. He then extended his career to Lockheed Missiles and Space Company and then to Lockheed Advanced Development Company - "Skunk Works."

He worked closely with USAF, Navy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Central Intelligence Agency on numerous classified and unclassified manned and unmanned systems. He contributed to the early development of the Polaris missile from scale model tests to the unique structural test vehicle (STV) which duplicated the physical characteristics of the Polaris. The first underwater missile launch from the nuclear submarine George Washington was made using the STV.

As prime contractor to NASA Langley Research Center, Mr. Sakata managed a team of Lockheed and multi-company engineers on numerous materials and structures technology studies. Design and structural-material concepts for hypersonic, supersonic cruise, and subsonic commercial aircraft were explored for technology readiness and development.

He led the structural-materials development and systems engineering for Lockheed's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF), the origin of USAF 21st-century air dominance fighter, the F-22 Raptor.

As chief systems engineer, Mr. Sakata and his team resolved the many systems integration challenges of the unmanned reconnaissance vehicle - Darkstar and the predecessor high altitude unmanned reconnaissance systems.

After 44 years of service with Lockheed, Mr. Sakata retired in 1995. He continued his aerospace interest by consulting in systems engineering and program management of unique heavy-lift systems and spaceplanes of tomorrow.