Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is announcing the acquisition of Eagle Technologies, Inc. (ETI). ETI provides both armed and unarmed security officers at both classified and unclassified locations throughout the U.S. PSI is excited about this acquisition of ETI, as we now possess the capabilities to offer a broader range of security support services. PSI is now a full-service security provider.

Based on the strength of a long standing 20 year personal and professional relationship between the President & CEO of both PSI and ETI, we will be able to quickly integrate the two companies into a new identity and move forward with seamless solidarity and transition of services. By pairing together, we believe that the sum of our companies’ capabilities are greater than the individual parts; we will improve already stellar customer service and responsiveness to our clients.

ETI will continue operations as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PSI.

On February 17, 2010, after a month-long mobilization and deployment of 24 Team-PSI trainers to Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, formal initiation of training started with an Opening Ceremony that was attended by representatives of the UN and the international community. Team PSI will train and mentor a Light Infantry Battalion on everything from basic tactical skills to senior leadership. Upon completion of training, the battalion will be a model for the future of the Congolese military. The training is designed to increase the ability of the Congolese army to conduct effective internal security operations as part of the Army’s rapid reaction plan, help preserve the territorial integrity of the DRC and develop an army that is accountable to the Congolese people. Special Operations Command-AFRICOM has oversight of the program and training is being provided by U.S military and Team PSI trainers.

On January 19, 2010, in the first award under the Department of State's AFRICAP IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity) contract program, PSI prevailed and was awarded the contract for Light Infantry Battalion Training in the Congo, competing against four IDIQ contract holders and emerging successful. The contract calls for the full spectrum of training of a 900-person Congolese battalion in Kisangani, Congo. Battalion staff training; special skills training in communications, weapons and medical; infantry basic training; advanced individual skills training; and collective training from fire-team to company operations will culminate in a Battalion Field Training Exercise. PSI is very excited about this award, and look forward to the expanding opportunities in Africa.

PSI is happy to welcome Yeshi Tibebu. Yeshi joined PSI on December 16, 2009 as an Accounting Supervisor.  Yeshi has over 18 years experience in accounting and has held various diverse positions including 10 years as Staff and Senior Accountant, handled Billings, Audit, General Ledger, Payroll and Accounts payable for government contracting, prepared financial statement, personal and corporate taxes for small businesses, local CPA firm, and several years at Foreign Private Insurance Company and Government Agency as an accountant.  Yeshi Graduated from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, in 1995 in Management and Public Administration/Accounting.

PSI is happy to welcome Gail Knight. Gail joined PSI December 14, 2009 as a Senior Procurement Specialist. During her 20+ years Procurement and Strategic Sourcing career, Gail has held senior and executive-level management positions for various organizations and has held the responsibility for the management of procurement and supply chain organizations of up to 115 persons with budgets of up to $600 million. Gail also has expertise in personnel development; group skills and workload analysis; supplier development and relationship management; process and procedure development; and supply base analyses and rationalization.

Adding to her accomplishments, Gail has taught “Negotiations 101” and “Statement of Work Development” courses at Scottsdale Community College and has been an instructor for Continuing Education at the University of Texas-Arlington (courses for both college credit and ISM Certification courses in “Supplier Management”, “The Procurement Process”, and “Strategic Sourcing”).

Gail, a 6 Sigma Green Belt, has a Master of Science degree in Contracts and Acquisition Management from Florida Institute of Technology; a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Clarion University; and she has completed a host of additional training.

Originally from the Manassas, Virginia, area, Knight has lived in Orlando, FL; Battle Creek, MI; Phoenix, AZ; Aurora, IL; and Grapevine, TX, where she owns a home.  Her interests and hobbies include her church, making stained glass art, reading, hiking, camping, golfing, volleyball, and movies.

The Security Technology Information Archive (STIA) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been recognized by the Technology Best Practices Subcommittee of the Interagency Security Committee in a directory of “Best Practices, Tools, and Resources.” The STIA is jointly funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Health, Safety and Security and NNSA’s Office of Field Support. The STIA is a data “clearing house” that provides timely access to information needed to select, install, operate, model, inspect, maintain, and receive credit for deployment of security equipment. The Archive Manager, Jason Morrow, an employee of Protection Strategies Incorporated, has experience in protective force operations and physical security, providing a value-added expertise to people who utilize the services of the STIA.

The Interagency Security Committee (ISC), whose primary membership consists of representatives from 21 federal agencies, was established by Executive Order. The ISC’s mission is to safeguard U.S. civilian facilities from all hazards by developing state-of-the-art security standards in collaboration with public and private homeland security partners. The ISC’s Technology Best Practices Subcommittee evaluates technology solutions, develops guidance on best practices, and maintains a clearinghouse of information for federal security programs. The STIA is a cost-effective resource that aids federal agencies in their facility protection efforts.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is pleased to announce the award of a contract to conduct an independent assessment of Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc located in Erwin, Tennessee. Under this contract, the PSI team will complete a detailed assessment of the NFS physical security protection program using Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is pleased to welcome Monte Mortensen as our new Manager, Vulnerability Assessments, Planning and Policy Division. Mr. Mortensen has over 35 years of experience in the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Safeguards and Security (S&S) Discipline and Leadership. Monte’s extensive experience in Program Planning and Management, Vulnerability and Risk Assessments processes and tools, Physical Security Systems and Protective Force operations will prove invaluable to the continued success of the DOE and NNSA safeguards and security missions.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is pleased to welcome Bill Faistenhammer as our new Program Manager for Africa Peacekeeping Operations. Bill brings a wealth or operational and management experience to the team. He retired from the Army after 30 years of service during which he was involved in several African Peacekeeping Operations both from the operational level and the policy development and inter-agency coordination level. Upon retirement, he spent over three years with MPRI in Afghanistan working security sector reform, in particular with the Afghan National Army. Most recently, he provided direct support to the Economic Community of West African States in the development of strategic planning and logistics management training programs.

On October 3, 2009, PSI was notified by the Department of Defense, Joint Contracting Command – Iraq / Afghanistan (JCC-I/A) that PSI had been awarded the first Task Order under the TWISS II program. The RFP was competed among the five (5) prime contract awardees under the recently awarded Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) TWISS II contract. PSI, the only non-incumbent contractor under the TWISS program, was selected to provide a 120 person static security force for Forward Operation Base (FOB) SCANIA. PSI was charged with having a fully operational security force in place in a compressed timeframe of less than 21 days from contract award. PSI met this challenge by recruiting, hiring, staffing, and mobilizing the necessary personnel and acquiring equipment from across three continents to arrive at FOB SCANIA ahead of schedule on October 20, 2009. PSI used in-house resources to provide Personal Security Detail (PSD) escorts from Baghdad to the FOB for our convoy of security vehicles, cargo trucks containing equipment, and our trained security forces. On October 23, 2009, PSI was operational and standing duty at FOB SCANIA, Iraq.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) was selected for its expertise and background in the DOE’s Safeguards and Security Program. Specific tasks include producing a gap analysis of the existing program documentation and its objectives. These are followed by recommendations and a “Roadmap” for corrective actions. This product will enable the DM to focus and to correct systems that may not be in full compliance with DOE Performance Assurance and Contractor Assurance System manuals.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) was recently awarded a task under the DOE Office of Health, Safety, and Security (HSS) Contract, Office of Security Operations, to update the formal operating procedures for the Directorate; develop a career training plan for the Executive Protection agents, complete a job hazard analysis, and as a long term objective develop an automated investigation system that enhances the Agent’s ability to conduct required investigations in a timely manner.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is pleased to be recognized by the Department of State (DOS) as a best-in-class provider of logistics and training support services on a global basis. On September 11, 2009, PSI was awarded one of four Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contracts under the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Peacekeeping Program (AFRICAP). Each individual contract has a ceiling value of 375 million dollars. The purpose of the contracts is to establish an ordering mechanism to provide training and advisory services, equipment procurement, logistical support services, and construction services to African countries.

DOS has a number of programs and initiatives throughout Africa. There are currently programs in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). Contractors selected to support these operations under the AFRICAP Program possess the following capabilities: construction work, experience working in a third world environment, stability operations support experience, military training, logistics support, equipment procurement institution building, strong financial management processes, proven adherence to timelines, strong HQ support for field, thorough vetting of employees in the field, solid program management, and medical support.

Through a government solicited full and open competitive bid, Protection Strategies Incorporated was awarded a prime contract from the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan (JCC-IA) to provide Theater Wide Internal Security Services. Protection Strategies Incorporated will provide labor, weapons, equipment, and other essential requirements to supplement and augment security operations at various sites throughout the Iraqi and Afghanistan Theater. PSI personnel will supplement internal operations at entry control points, man perimeter towers, secure selected facilities, provide armed escorts for local national laborers, maintain a liaison cell at selected headquarter sites such as Area Defense Operations Centers (ADOCs) and the Base Defense Operations Centers (BDOCs) and any other internal security services. Responsibilities include enforcement of the respective Force Protection Commander’s security rules and regulations regarding authorized access to Camp and/or Forward Operating Base (FOB), including internal check points and performing the selected necessary security functions as assigned at the selected site(s).

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Bruce H. Rogers from PSI Vice President, West Coast Operations to Chief Operating Officer (COO). As PSI’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Rogers will manage the day-to-day operations to insure the quality, development, design, process and operations of the corporate systems to continue the guaranteed timely delivery of critical services provided by PSI.

In addition, Mr. Rogers will bring both the strategic and tactical development to the role, as well as the overall management planning of the corporation which will provide corporate program oversight to all of PSI’s national security contracts. Mr. Rogers brings over 35 years of security and management experience in the government and private industry to his new position. He holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Administration of Justice. Bruce’s knowledge, experience and client relationships are invaluable to the success of PSI.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is pleased to welcome Matthew Pincock as our Senior Engineer, Security Systems – Assessments & Deployments. Mr. Pincock has 25 years of experience developing an expertise in the areas of Project Engineering, Analog Electronics Design, Vulnerability Assessments, Security Plan & Systems Validation and Verification, Digital Electronics Design, and Fault Tolerant Systems. Mr. Pincock will continue using his background while working with the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Health, Safety and Security (HSS) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) performing is areas such as Site Assistance Visits and in development and validation of Vulnerability Assessment (VA) processes, tools, policy, and training. PSI looks forward to working with Matt and bringing his expertise to our DOE contracts.

Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) is pleased to welcome Benjamin Laywell as our new Director of Special Projects. Mr. Laywell has 25 years of experience in the Department of Energy (DOE) Safeguards and Security (S&S) Discipline and Leadership. His experience and professional development include Program Planning and Management, Performance Assurance, Protection Program Operations, Information Security, Cyber Security, Personnel Security, Continuity of Operations, and Emergency Management. His areas of expertise include protective force (PF) operations, leadership, training, emergency response, facilities, equipment and weapons, performance testing and evaluations. Mr. Laywell’s experience coupled with his dedication will add tremendous value to PSI as well as the DOE.