SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Leidos has increased its investment in the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, bringing the Fortune 500 company’s cumulative support for the Huntsville school to $1.025 million.
Leidos Senior Vice President Larry Barisciano presented an additional $10,000 contribution during an all-school gathering. The unrestricted funding will support the ASCTE Foundation, the nonprofit organization that secures private investment and partnerships for the state residential high school.
Leidos became one of ASCTE’s earliest corporate supporters in 2021, committing $1 million toward construction of the school’s permanent campus. The company later contributed another $15,000 and created internship opportunities where students could gain experience in professional technology environments.
PeggyLee Wright, executive director of the ASCTE Foundation, said the company’s initial commitment helped establish a permanent home for the school, while its continuing support expands educational opportunities for students.
ASCTE serves students from communities across Alabama and concentrates on cybersecurity, engineering and related technical disciplines. Corporate partnerships provide resources beyond the classroom while exposing students to careers connected to Huntsville’s defense, aerospace and technology sectors.
Barisciano said Leidos supported the school from its beginning because of the opportunity to prepare talented young people for future technical challenges. Five years later, he said, the company remains committed to helping students understand where their skills can take them.
The investment arrives as employers face growing demand for workers trained in cybersecurity, software, engineering and digital systems. Building that workforce requires long-term cooperation among schools, government and private industry.
For Huntsville, Leidos’ sustained involvement represents both an educational investment and a workforce-development strategy designed to connect Alabama students with high-demand careers.