The J. Robert Beyster Collection documents the career and business records of Dr. J. Robert Beyster (1924-2014), the founder, former chairman and chief executive officer of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the San Diego based employee-owned research and development firm launched in 1969.
J. Robert Beyster Collection, approximately 1940-2016 (MSS 658)
OFF-SITE STORAGE: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW TWO TO THREE (2-3) WEEKS FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Extent: 121 Linear feet (292 archives boxes, 2 cartons, 1 card file box, 4 art bin items, 2 flat boxes), + 73.139 GB of digital files
Digital Content
A selection of reformatted photographs and texts, and exclusively digital content, is available through the UC San Diego Library Digital Collections website and linked in the finding aid, below.
John Robert Beyster (1924-2014) was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from high school in 1942, and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following an aptitude assessment, Beyster was selected to continue his education in math and physics at the University of Michigan. After a brief period in the service, Beyster returned to the University of Michigan for his MS and PhD in nuclear physics.
Dr. Beyster initially worked at Westinghouse's Atomic Power Division, but soon moved to the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico to work as a research physicist. In 1955 he married Betty Beyster in Austin, Texas, and in 1957 they moved to San Diego, where Dr. Beyster led the Accelerator Physics Department at General Atomics. He remained at General Atomics for nearly twelve years, engineering a linear accelerator.
Seeking new opportunities to further his technical interests and entrepreneurial ambition, Beyster launched Science Applications, Inc. in 1969 (later renamed Science Applications International Corporation, or SAIC). The firm's initial emphasis was on nuclear power, research, and weapons effects study programs, primarily under government contracts. Diversifying rapidly under his leadership, SAIC grew to provide high-technology services and products to government and commercial customers in areas of national and international security, systems integration, information technology, transportation, telecommunications, health systems, energy, and environmental systems and engineering. From its earliest days, the privately-held SAIC was designed on model of employee ownership, whereby employees of the company shared profits, were the sole owners of stock, and had responsibility for business development. SAIC focused on recruiting and retaining high-level technical staff and entrepreneurs to expand into new business areas and push innovation. Dr. Beyster remained at the helm of SAIC as the chairman and chief executive officer until his retirement on July 16, 2004.
Dr. Beyster's belief in employee-ownership business models inspired him to found the Foundation for Enterprise Development (FED) in 1986. Through research fellowships, educational opportunities, business literature, conferences, and other means, the FED sought to promote the "sustainability and growth of U.S.- based science and technology companies through research, education, and services that advance innovation, entrepreneurship and broad-based ownership." In 2002, the FED founded the Beyster Institute to further promote the visionary ideas of Dr. Beyster and his commitment to innovation in business management, entrepreneurship, and employee ownership. In 2004, the Beyster Institute joined the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego, where it continues to promote the understanding and practice of employee ownership as an effective and responsible business model through education initiatives and consulting.
Dr. Beyster produced over 60 publications and technical reports, many of which are included in the collection, and authored The SAIC Solution: How We Built an $8 Billion Employee-Owned Technology Company (2007). Dr. Beyster was a noted expert on national security issues and reactor physics, and served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group to the Director, Strategic Target Planning Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in addition to other consulting roles. Dr. Beyster was a fellow of the American Nuclear and American Physical Societies, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and Chairman Emeritus of the UC San Diego Foundation's Board of Directors. He was recognized throughout his career, particularly later in his life, with numerous awards and distinctions of honor bestowed by both the business and government communities.
J. Robert Beyster passed away at his home in La Jolla, California in December 2014.
The J. Robert Beyster Collection documents the career and business records of Dr. J. Robert Beyster (1924-2014), the founder, former chairman and chief executive officer of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the San Diego based employee-owned research and development firm launched in 1969. The first part of the collection includes photographs, recognition and achievements, writings, transcripts of speeches, and other materials from Dr. Beyster's life, including his early days prior to the founding of SAIC, his business career, and post-retirement period. The second, more voluminous part of the collection consists of the business records of SAIC. The records document the company's development and growth, its management structure, major contracts and awards, technological innovations, Dr. Beyster's memoranda and notebooks, and SAIC's culture and commitment to the values of employee ownership over three decades of operations.
Dr. Beyster's Papers are arranged in six series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL, 2) HONORS AND RECOGNITION, 3) EARLY YEARS, 4) WRITINGS, 5) SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS, and 6) PHOTOGRAPHS AND PORTRAITS.
The SAIC Records are arranged in fourteen series: 7) BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 8) COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES, 9) MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION, 10) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (IR AND D), 11) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, 12) GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, 13) INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS, 14) SUBSIDIARIES AND ACQUISITIONS, 15) NOTEBOOKS, 16) EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP, 17) SAIC PUBLICATIONS, 18) PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, 19) AMERICA'S CUP, and 20) AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS.