Leidos names first chief AI officer

Leidos has named Ron Keesing its first chief AI officer, the Reston Fortune 500 contractor announced Tuesday. 

Keesing, who joined Leidos in 2004, has more than two decades of experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics. His roles have included serving as founding director of the Leidos AI Accelerator and as senior vice president of technology integration, responsible for “driving mission-critical AI as a core discriminator of the company’s data-driven solutions.”

In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in symbolic systems and a master’s degree in biological sciences from Stanford University, Keesing has a MBA from the University of Maryland, according to his LinkedIn page. 

“Ron Keesing’s appointment as chief AI officer marks a pivotal moment for Leidos,” Leidos CEO Tom Bell said in a statement. “As we navigate a landscape shaped by rapid technological advancements, his leadership will be instrumental in ensuring that AI remains at the forefront of our solutions. At Leidos, we don’t view AI as a replacement for human ingenuity but rather as a trusted partner that enhances our capabilities to deliver unparalleled support for critical customer missions.”

Leidos’ approach to AI, Keesing explained in the news release, is rooted in “anticipating technological trends and leveraging AI’s potential to solve complex challenges across our customers’ missions.”

Also on Tuesday, Leidos announced second quarter results, including revenues of $4.1 billion, up 8% year-over-year.  

On Monday, Leidos reported the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency has awarded the company an $823 million task order to provide operations and sustainment for the Department of Defense Network program (DoDNet).

Leidos provides technology, engineering and science services to defense, intelligence, civil and health market customers. It has about 47,000 employees and reported approximately $15.4 billion in 2023 revenue.