SAIC’s Rumored Move to Washington
5 Comments Published by Dr. Beyster September 23rd, 2009 in Entrepreneurship, SAIC.This week I was interviewed by a reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune. He wanted to know my opinion on the rumored move of SAIC’s headquarters from La Jolla to McLean, Virginia. I told him that even if the corporate headquarters moves, I believe SAIC’s presence in San Diego will remain strong. I wonder what you think about such a move.
I recently had lunch with my favorite lawyer John Tischler and a friend of his — Brandon Webb — an ex-Navy SEAL. Brandon is founder and CEO of Wind Zero. It’s amazing to me how bright, young entrepreneurs — many with military backgrounds — start entrepreneurial companies and make a success of them. Brandon couldn’t be more than 35 years old, but he’s already well on his way to rounding up the funding he needs. I gave him some advice on employee ownership, hoping to gain a convert.
Dr Beyster,
The more I research and follow SAIC as well as surveying the enormous talent pool that the company has assembled, I’m not surprised that the San Diego based reporter would make such an inquiry.
Certainly, San Diego will survive, with or without SAIC, but all the better should SAIC remain. It goes without saying that your Foundation will probably remain.
Moreover, San Diego is indeed in an inevitable position. Many towns would DIE without corporate operation-based HQs (can you say, Bentonville Ark). In my town, Killeen Tx, adjacent to Fort Hood {US Army}, our City Fathers & Mothers learned (the Hard Way) of the disaster of municipal & economic non-diversification dating back to the year 1990-1992.
The short version of a long story is simply that this texas metropolis was a ghost-town. The Military departed, en masse, to Iraq-Desert-Storm-I under the executive order of (President) George H Bush. Civic and business leaders began to diversify their economic mix to lessen their dependence on the military-industrial complex.
Fast-forward to Year 2009: Killeen-Fort Hood has; 1) A robust local economy, 2) Unemployment less than 7%, 3) Low Crime per capita, and 4) Fort Hood Prospering thanks to Base realignment (BRAC). In summary, whether SAIC stays or goes, San Diego will be just fine. -Andre Milteer, Central Texas
Bob:
The decision to relocate SAIC’s headquarters to Virginia would seem to conclude one more chapter in the 40 history of a great company. I trust that this decision will prove beneficial to the long term well-being of the company, as well as to all of the employees in CA, VA, and the many other locations dedicated to serving their customer-base.
With that said, I am glad my SAIC tenure was with a California company. Maybe mostly for selfish reasons, but there was an intrinsic pride as well as bragger self-attitude that came with being an employee of a highly respected company, and with corporate HQ at 1200 Prospect, La Jolla, CA. Although working at northern Virginia locations, how cool to tell friends about SAI, the young and energetic company headquartered in a most glorious spot of southern CA. And those winter trips to La Jolla —- leaving Dulles on a cold and blustery February, only to savor the warm breezes of San Diego a mere 5 hours later. Driving off I-5 onto Ardath, and seeing the sun set over the Pacific. Incredible.
I trust this decision is made with the best interest of the company and its employees in mind. I hope it serves the company well, exceeding even current expectations. But I am sure glad I had the opportunity to work for a company founded and managed in San Diego. There are thousands of former as well as current employees that will always remembered as a San Diego company — a great company founded and guided to maturity in a great city.
Gil: Thanks for the nice blog posting. The move of SAIC’s headquarters to DC was probably a long-overdue occurrence. Most of SAIC’s employees are in the East, with the majority — I believe about 17,000 out of a total of 45,000 — located in the DC area. The company needs the flexibility to be able to respond quickly to its government customers. I think these moves will provide SAIC with the opportunity to move faster in making major decisions than may have been possible heretofore. Betty and I have been trying to get together again with Matt Binninger. He must have a very busy schedule since we have not yet been able to do it. — Bob
Hopefully the mentality will change to something more modern and productive.
All too often a company remains in the dark ages when the zip code changes.
Damian: I believe Walt Havenstein is a good choice for SAIC’s CEO, and that the company and employees will be all right. — Bob