Industry News : Jobs Outlook
Air base expansion plans reflect long-term investment in Afghanistan
Three $100 million air base expansions in southern and northern Afghanistan illustrate Pentagon plans to continue building multimillion-dollar facilities in that country to support increased U.S. military operations well into the future.
Friday, August 27, 2010

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US Backs Afghan Plan to Dump Contractors
The U.S. military supports the Afghan government's plan to dissolve private security companies and is tightening oversight of its own armed contractors in the interim, an official said Monday.
Monday, August 16, 2010

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U.S. Contractor Use in Iraq Expected To Rise
As the U.S. military pulls troops and equipment out of Iraq, the State Department will have to rely increasingly on contractors to perform such services as flying rescue helicopters and disarming roadside bombs, a congressional commission warned.
Saturday, July 17, 2010

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Notes on Private Security Contractors in Iraq from Commission on Wartime Contracting hearings
Includes comments from Monday's hearing "Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Where Are We Going?" at the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Information is from the Commission Co-Chairs, and Charlene Lamb of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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Contractor information in recent SIGIR report to Congress
On April 30, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction presented its Quarterly Report to the United States Congress. I have extracted useful information about contractors contained in the report.
Saturday, May 1, 2010

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US Afghan commander: 'We have too many contractors'
The US commander in Afghanistan said Friday that the military is wasting money by employing too many private contractors to do jobs better done by soldiers or local Afghans.
Saturday, April 17, 2010

Industry News : Jobs Outlook
ITT exec optimistic about defense contracting work
As a veteran of more than 20 years in the defense contracting industry, Janet Oliver has seen her share of increases and cuts in military budgets, and thus changes in the fortunes of her industry. In October, Oliver became vice president of business development for ITT Systems.
Sunday, March 14, 2010

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DoD takes over Afghan Police training after IG cites State Dept. failures
The Defense Department is taking over training of the Afghan National Police because State Department-hired trainers failed to keep pace with the growing instability in Afghanistan or address the security needs of the civilian population, according to a joint State and DOD Inspector General report released late last week.
Friday, February 26, 2010

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Up to 56,000 more contractors likely for Afghanistan, congressional agency says
The surge of 30,000 U.S. troops into Afghanistan could be accompanied by a surge of up to 56,000 contractors, vastly expanding the presence of personnel from the U.S. private sector in a war zone, according to a study by the Congressional Research Service.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009

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U.S. Adding Contractors at Fast Pace
Even before the Obama administration decided to send tens of thousands of additional U.S. forces to Afghanistan, battlefield contractors there had seen a surge of their own. Contractors already outnumber U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and their numbers have been rising all year, as the Obama administration increases troop levels.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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Interview with KBR’s Bill Bodie
Defense contractors are seeing change on a variety of fronts. Topping the list is a shift from combat support in the Middle East to longer-term sustainment solutions. That’s no easy task given the current slew of challenges: an increase in oversight and fixed price competitions, plus a decrease in smaller contract values. For an inside look at how one defense contractor is shaping its military footprint to stay relevant, ExecutiveBiz recently spoke with Bill Bodie, interim president of Government and Infrastructure for KBR.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

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With U.S. Forces in Iraq Beginning to Leave, Need for Private Guards Grows
As the United States withdraws its combat forces from Iraq, the government is hiring more private guards to protect U.S. installations at a cost that could near $1 billion, according to the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. On Sept. 1, the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) awarded contracts expected to be worth $485 million over the next two years to five firms to provide security and patrol services to U.S. bases in Iraq.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009

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Iraq: Security contractors fall on harder times
The private security business in Iraq is in a vice-like crush. The goldrush that began with the conflict in 2003 is drying up. Contracts are not as lucrative, the trend is towards employing Iraqis instead of Westerners.
Monday, September 7, 2009

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Afghanistan Contractors Outnumber Troops
Even as U.S. troops surge to new highs in Afghanistan they are outnumbered by military contractors working alongside them, according to a Defense Department census due to be distributed to Congress -- illustrating how hard it is for the U.S. to wean itself from the large numbers of war-zone contractors that proved controversial in Iraq.
Saturday, August 22, 2009

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US eyes private guards for bases in Afghanistan
U.S. military authorities in Afghanistan may hire a private contractor company to provide around-the-clock security at dozens of bases and protect vehicle convoys moving throughout the country.
Sunday, July 26, 2009

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U.S. security firms vie for Mexican drug war work
As Mexico battles to keep a lid on raging drug war violence, U.S. companies are fighting over millions of dollars in contracts for military equipment and training under a long-promised U.S aid package. Private U.S. security firms will get the bulk of a $1.4 billion package pledged by the United States in 2007. Only a fraction of the aid has been delivered so far.
Saturday, July 18, 2009

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U.S. troop influx in Afghanistan brings infrastructure boom
As the influx of additional American troops into southern Afghanistan gets under way, officials are expanding bases and building new ones in an effort to provide infrastructure and support.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

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Dems Target War Zone Support Contracts
Alarmed by the increasing use of contractors to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Democrats in the House of Representatives are demanding that the military shift more of the lucrative work handled by U.S. companies to the Iraqis and Afghanis.
Saturday, May 9, 2009

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CIA is dropping contract help
CIA Director Leon Panetta yesterday told employees of the spy agency that private contractors will no longer be permitted to interrogate suspected terrorists and that the agency will close down what remains of its secret network of detention centers.
Friday, April 10, 2009

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Pentagon to hire thousands of employees, cut contractors
Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday recommended major changes in the Pentagon's procurement priorities and acquisition practices, and said the department would scale back significantly the role of contractors in support services.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009