Dr. J. Robert Beyster (1924 - 2014) was an American scientist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), a company that later spun off a separate entity called Leidos. Dr. Beyster was known for his contributions to the fields of national security and employee ownership.
Dr. John Robert Beyster was born on July 26, 1924, in Detroit, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before pursuing his education. Beyster earned his Bachelor's degree in Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Michigan, followed by a Master's degree in Engineering Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics, both from the University of Michigan as well.
Before founding SAIC, Dr. Beyster worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the General Atomic division of General Dynamics Corporation. In 1969, he founded Science Applications Incorporated (SAI), which later became Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), with a focus on providing scientific and technical services to government and commercial clients.
Under Dr. Beyster's leadership, SAIC grew from a small team of scientists to a multi-billion-dollar corporation with tens of thousands of employees. SAIC specialized in areas such as national security, energy, environment, healthcare, and information technology.
One of Dr. Beyster's most significant contributions was his commitment to employee ownership. He believed that giving employees an ownership stake in the company would lead to greater innovation, productivity, and loyalty. Consequently, SAIC was structured as an employee-owned company, with a significant portion of its shares held by employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
In 2013, SAIC split into two separate companies, with one retaining the name SAIC and the other named Leidos, which focuses on providing technology, engineering, and science solutions in the areas of defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets.
Dr. J. Robert Beyster retired from SAIC in 2004 but remained active in the business community, focusing on promoting employee ownership and entrepreneurship. He passed away on December 22, 2014. His work in science, technology, and employee ownership has left a lasting impact on the industry and inspired countless professionals and entrepreneurs.
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