Defense contractors Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. are joining forces in an innovative partnership to develop high-tech simulations to boost STEM--or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics--education in the Baltimore County schools. The Baltimore County partnership includes the local operations of two major military contractors--Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin--as well as researchers at Johns Hopkins University, an institution that also does work for the military. Baltimore County Superintendent Joe A. Hairston brought together the partners, which had independent initiatives in the 105,000-student district's schools, to get a jump on technology that his students and teachers otherwise might not see for decades. Plans are for the two defense contractors to develop virtual-reality simulations or other software tools that bring to the classroom real-world activities involving STEM subjects and that connect company employees to science and engineering students and teachers in the Baltimore County schools.