Leidos' story begins in 1969 when Dr. J. Robert Beyster, a visionary scientist, founded Science Applications Incorporated (SAI) in La Jolla, San Diego, California. With a modest investment and a powerful idea, Dr. Beyster embarked on a journey to apply scientific expertise to solve complex problems. The company's early days were marked by a focus on research and engineering, tackling challenges for various government and commercial clients. One of its initial significant projects involved studying radiation-based cancer therapy for the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which laid the groundwork for Leidos' future health business. SAI soon expanded its reach, opening an office in Albuquerque to support the Air Force Weapons Laboratory's work on electromagnetic phenomena, a precursor to the company's Physical Science Group.
Throughout the 1980s, the company, then known as Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), strategically shifted its focus towards national security and defense, solidifying its position as a key government services provider. This era set the stage for substantial growth and diversification. The 1990s saw SAIC continue to expand its offerings and international presence, securing its first major global contract with the Kuwaiti Defense Forces. A pivotal moment arrived in 2013 when SAIC underwent a significant transformation, splitting into two independent, publicly traded companies: a new company retaining the SAIC name and the original company, which was rebranded as Leidos (a name derived from 'kaleidoscope'). Leidos, as the legal successor to the original SAIC, inherited its pre-2013 stock price and corporate filing history and established its new headquarters in Reston, Virginia. This strategic move allowed Leidos to sharpen its focus on national security, health, and engineering solutions. Another major milestone occurred in August 2016 when Leidos merged with Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) business, a landmark transaction that created the defense industry's largest IT services provider and significantly expanded Leidos' capabilities and market share. Today, Leidos stands as a Fortune 500® global science and technology leader, employing approximately 47,000 people worldwide and generating billions in annual revenue, committed to making the world safer, healthier, and more efficient through innovation and technology.
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