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John Robert Beyster
BornJuly 26, 1924
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedDecember 22, 2014(2014-12-22) (aged 90)
La Jolla, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Occupation(s)Scientist, entrepreneur
SpouseBetty Beyster
Websitewww.beyster.com

John Robert Beyster (July 26, 1924 – December 22, 2014), often styled J. Robert Beyster, was an American scientist and entrepreneur, and the founder of Science Applications International Corporation.[1] He was Chairman of the Board until his retirement in July 2004, and served as chief executive officer (CEO) until November 2003. Beyster's primary areas of interest were national security and nuclear reactor physics.[2] Beyster also founded two nonprofit organizations to assist organizations considering employee ownership: the Beyster Institute and the Foundation for Enterprise Development.

Biography

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Early life and work

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Beyster was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1924,[3] and grew up in Grosse Ile, Michigan. He attended school at Slocum Truax High School in Trenton, Michigan, and was salutatorian of his graduating class. As he was preparing to graduate from high school, the United States entered World War II, and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was sent to college at the University of Michigan, where he was enrolled in the V12 Officer Training Program. He was commissioned as an ensign, and eventually served on a destroyer based in Norfolk, Virginia before leaving the service six months later.[4] Educated at the University of Michigan (COE: BSE, MS, PhD),[5] Beyster worked as a scientist for Westinghouse Atomic Power Division on the company's nuclear submarine program in the 1950s.[6] He soon followed many of his college associates to New Mexico to work as a research physicist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.[7] In 1957 he became the chairman of the Accelerator Physics Department of General Atomics where he remained until it was bought by Gulf Oil in 1968.[8]

Career at SAIC

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In 1969, Beyster raised money to start Science Applications, Inc. (SAI) by investing the proceeds from selling stock he had received from General Atomic, combined with funds raised from early employees of the company.[5] The company was renamed Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as it expanded its operations.

Initially the company's focus was on projects for the U.S. government related to nuclear power and weapons effects study programs. Contrary to traditional business models, SAIC was set up so that ownership of the company and profits belonged to the company's employees. In 2012, SAIC split into two companies, one retaining the original name, and the other (known as Leidos) which performs projects for commercial and government customers related to information technology, systems integration and eSolutions, national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care, and logistics. When Beyster retired as Chairman of SAIC on July 16, 2004, the company had annual revenues of $6.7 billion and more than 43,000 employees.[2]

Other work and contributions

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Beyster founded the Foundation for Enterprise Development in 1986[8] "to help develop successful enterprises in the U.S. and around the world" by focusing on "advancing entrepreneurship and employee ownership through its work with technologists, entrepreneurs, executives, governments, and educators." In 2004, the Foundation launched the Beyster Institute, which is "dedicated to training, education, and consulting in employee ownership and entrepreneurship."[8]

Beyster wrote or co-authored approximately 60 publications and reports, as well as the books The SAIC Solution: How We Built an $8 Billion Employee-Owned Technology Company, published by John Wiley & Sons in 2007,[9] and Names, Numbers, and Network Solutions: The Monetization of the Internet, cowritten with Michael A. Daniels and published in 2013. A fellow of the American Nuclear Society, Beyster served as Chairman of its Reactor Physics Division and Shielding Division. He was a fellow of the American Physical Society, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group to the Director, Strategic Target Planning Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He also served as chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the University of California, San Diego Foundation.[8]

Death

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Beyster died at his home in La Jolla, California on December 22, 2014.[5]

Personal life

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A former naval officer, Beyster enjoyed sailing and was the owner of Solutions, a Hinckley motor yacht. While Beyster was still at SAIC, the company backed and provided design technology to a number of U.S. entries in the America's Cup race.[5]

John Robert Beyster and Betty Beyster married at St. Alban's Church in Austin, Texas in 1955,[10] and have three children.[11]

Awards and distinctions

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The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency designated Beyster an Honorary Program Manager "for his distinguished contributions to the agency over his career." He also received the Engineering Manager of the Year Award in 2000 from the American Society of Engineering Management, the 2001 Spirit of San Diego Award from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Ernst & Young in 2003, and the "Supporter of Entrepreneurialism" award from Arthur Young and Venture magazine.[8]

In 2006, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) recognized Beyster with the Herb Klein Civic Leadership Award "for his outstanding leadership in addressing regional challenges through collaboration with public, private, and civic partners." Beyster is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from CONNECT program of the University of California, San Diego's "for providing 25 years of outstanding service to the community." The Horatio Alger Association for Distinguished Americans selected Beyster to be a 2008 Horatio Alger Award recipient.[8]

In 2008, Beyster was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.[12]

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, the computer science and engineering building at the University of Michigan was rededicated in his and his wife's name as the Bob and Betty Beyster Building (BBB).[13]

In 2019, RV Bob and Betty Beyster, a 42-foot research vessel that bears their names, joined the fleet at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.[14]

The Bob and Betty Beyster garden sits at the entrance to the Sulpizio Center at UCSD Thorton Medical Center on campus across the street from former SAIC headquarters.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Beyster, Dr. J. Robert; Economy, Peter (2007). The SAIC Solution: How We Built an $8 Billion Employee-Owned Technology Company (1st ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. p. xiii. ISBN 978-0-470-09752-6.
  2. ^ a b Ivory, Danielle (December 23, 2014). "J. Robert Beyster, Scientist and Entrepreneur, Is Dead at 90". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  3. ^ Bigelow, Bruce V. (December 23, 2014). "SAIC Founder J. Robert Beyster Dies". Xconomy. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  4. ^ "Eight Bells: Dr. J. Robert Beyster". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. December 22, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Steele, Jeanette; Fikes, Bradley J. (December 23, 2014). "SAIC founder J. Robert Beyster dies". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  6. ^ Heckman, Jory (December 23, 2014). "SAIC, Leidos founder dead at 90". Federal News Network. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  7. ^ "SAIC founder J. Robert Beyster dies at age 90". San Diego Source. San Diego Daily Transcript. December 23, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "The Solutions Man". Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  9. ^ Glass, Jon W. (April 3, 2007). "SAIC creator's book touts employee ownership". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014. Beyster, 82, retired as SAIC's chairman in July 2004. A nuclear physicist by training and a self-described "evangelist" for employee-owned companies, Beyster said he wrote the book to provide entrepreneurs and business executives a model. He wrote it with Peter Economy, an author or co-author of more than 75 business books.
  10. ^ Beyster, J. Robert (May 14, 2009). "Looking for New Life Forms in the Ocean". Dr. Beyster’s Blog. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  11. ^ "About Bob and Betty". Michigan Engineering. University of Michigan. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  12. ^ Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor. These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame. Donning Co. Publishers, 2006. ISBN 978-1-57864-397-4.
  13. ^ "Dedication Ceremony Held for Bob and Betty Beyster Building". Electrical & Computer Engineering University of Michigan. University of Michigan Engineering. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  14. ^ "R/V Bob and Betty Beyster". Scripps Institute of Oceanography. SIO. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Touring UCSD Sulpizio". Beyster Blog. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
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