Leidos invests in Rocket City technology
The Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Photo: Getty Images
Leidos donated $1 million to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) in Huntsville, Alabama. It's one of the only public high schools in the U.S. that includes cyber technology and engineering in all academic disciplines.
Why you should know: Known as the “Rocket City,” Huntsville is one of the most educated cities in America and has a deep-rooted history with the U.S. Space program. The city is home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal, which will soon become headquarters for U.S. Space Command, as well as Dynetics, a Leidos subsidiary that specializes in weapons development and space exploration.
The data says: With roughly 4,000 aerospace engineers, nearly 16% of Huntsville workers are employed in STEM-related fields, the third-highest percentage of any city in the country.
STEM-related jobs are the fastest-growing category in the job market.
- Since 1990, STEM occupations have grown 79% and are estimated to grow an additional 8.8% over the next decade.
However, many of these jobs remain unfilled due a shortage of qualified applicants.
- In Alabama alone, 850,000 STEM jobs will need to be filled by 2026, but only 20% of high school graduates are ready for STEM-related college majors, according to the National Science & Technology Council.
From the source: "This donation is part of our commitment to the ongoing need for a 21st century workforce of skilled science and engineering professionals,” said Leidos Chairman and CEO Roger Krone.
The Leidos donation will go toward the construction of a new state-of-the-art academic and residential facility on campus.
Please contact the Leidos media relations team for more.
