American Science and Engineering, Inc. Named to Boston Globe 100.

Company Makes Globe 100 List for Fourth Year in a Row

BILLERICA, Mass. -- American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI) (AS&E([R])), a leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection solutions, today announced the Company has been named to The Boston Globe's "Globe 100" list of top performing public companies in Massachusetts.

Based on a composite score derived from financial data for the four quarters ending December 31, 2008, AS&E was ranked 39th among Massachusetts-based companies whose stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange. It is the fourth time in a row that AS&E has been included in the Globe 100. AS&E was also listed 24th in this year's "Growth 50" list and 31st in the "Return on Equity" list.

"It is a great honor to be recognized again by The Boston Globe as one of the state's highest achieving companies and to be listed among such distinguished industry leaders," said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E's President and CEO. "We continue to move up in our rankings each year, and are pleased in our fourth year on the list to have also announced just last week outstanding financial and operational results for fiscal year 2009 that include double digit revenue, net income and EPS growth, and the highest revenue in Company history."

"These companies represent the resiliency of Massachusetts business, navigating difficult waters and surviving the ebbs and flows of an unstable economy and stock market," said Shirley Leung, business editor of the Boston Globe.

Now in its 21st year, The Globe 100 ranks Massachusetts-based public companies based on financial data from the four quarters ending closest to December 31, 2008, and for corresponding quarters a year earlier. To qualify for the Globe 100, a company must have been public for the entire 2008 calendar year and have reported a positive net income for both 2007 and 2008. To view the 2009 Globe 100, click here: http://www.boston.com/business/globe/globe100/globe_100_2009/globe100/

About the Globe 100 ranking methodology

The Globe 100 ranks Massachusetts-based public companies based on financial data from the four quarters ending closest to December 31, 2008, and for corresponding quarters a year earlier. To be eligible, the company must be traded publicly for the entire 2008 calendar year on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or the American Stock Exchange and report revenue and profit for both 2007 and 2008. Companies are ranked on four criteria: return on average equity, one-year percentage change in revenue, one-year percentage change in profit margin and 2008 revenue.

About The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe is wholly owned by The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2008 revenues of $2.9 billion, which includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

About AS&E([R])

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection systems. With over 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company's product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E's complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. AS&E systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and trade fraud, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, and illegal immigration and people smuggling. AS&E customers include leading government agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), HM Revenue & Customs (U.K.), Hong Kong Customs, and Abu Dhabi Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com.

Safe Harbor Statement. The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws. AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any source component incorporated into AS&E's products; litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time.