A Kaleidoscope of Innovation: The Story of Leidos

The award-winning book A Kaleidoscope of Innovation: The Story of Leidos tells the story of a science and technology company that was founded in La Jolla, California, by nuclear physicist Dr. J. Robert Beyster in 1969 as Science Applications Incorporated. In 1983, Beyster renamed the company Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as it continued to expand its capabilities as one of the leading U.S. government contractors in the nation. Throughout its existence, SAIC specialized in developing solutions to challenging problems within the civil, healthcare, and defense and intelligence sectors. 

At the turn of the century, and after Beyster’s retirement in 2003, SAIC would evolve once again as it transitioned from an employee-owned company to a public company in 2006. In 2013, the company’s leadership made the decision to spin off SAIC and its service entities so the former SAIC, as it would temporarily be known, could focus on the development and implementation of its technologies. The former SAIC, which would retain all of its legacy history since the company’s founding, would be named Leidos, a name taken from the middle of the word kaleidoscope. In 2016, Leidos would evolve once again with its merger of Lockheed Martin’s IS&GS business, which more than doubled the size of the company. 

Today, Leidos is one of the leading solutions providers for technically challenging problems of national and global importance. The company’s mission is and has always been to make the world safer, healthier, and more efficient.

This enhanced eBook features video and audio quotes from executives, retirees, and key stakeholders who were interviewed during the research for this book.