The “Xe Services” rebranding campaign evidently wasn’t enough to improve the “optics” of America’s most infamous mercenary corporation, Blackwater.
On Friday, Jim Risen and Mark Mazzetti of the The New York Times reported that Blackwater established a network of front companies to ensure that company founder Erik Prince keeps winning government contracts, even after its brand name has become synonymous with shadiness, brutality and murder.
The NYT kindly linked to a copy of the US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing transcript (pdf). But one key piece of information was missing from the story (and illegible in the source documents): The names of the 30 Blackwater/Xe front companies.
No worries—I got ‘em.
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In the Feb. 24 committee hearing on Blackwater front companies, US Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, lectured Blackwater executive Fred Roitz on its whack-a-mole corporate strategy:
“It is not so simple, Mr. Roitz, as changing your name. If it could be so simple… The way you restore your reputation is not by changing your name. The way you restore your reputation is by changing the way you do business…
“I think you are wasting a lot of money on lawyers changing names. I think you could invest that money in quality control and accountability and probably do much better for your company than just thinking you can do it by changing a name.”
These names may be a little more than a year out of date, since the relevant page in the SASC hearing report is dated Aug. 7, 2009. Nevertheless, they offer a good list of places to start digging. (Only about one-third of these names are currently listed on Blackwater’s lengthy Wikipedia entry.)
Each of the following companies, and their respective officers, may be tied to further contracts with the US government—and, given Blackwater’s history, god-knows-what else.
From the NYT:
While it is not clear how many of those businesses won contracts, at least three had deals with the United States military or the Central Intelligence Agency, according to former government and company officials…
The network of companies — which includes several businesses located in offshore tax havens — allowed Blackwater to obscure its involvement in government work from contracting officials or the public, and to assure a low profile for any of its classified activities…
What new front companies have sprouted in the last year? Where do they own property? What contracts have they won? Where are they operating? Which politicians have they given money to? Piecing those facts together is part of the mission of this site.
Since several of the Blackwater fronts explicitly concern aviation, I started by searching Federal Aviation Administration records for craft registered to any of the following companies. The results of that search—at least, the 79 aircraft most clearly linked to a Blackwater affiliate—follow the list of companies below.
This could be very useful information. Retracing the path of aircraft thought to be used by intelligence agencies and their contractors—through their unique FAA N-numbers—is how investigative reporters like Stephen Grey began to unravel the US practice of “extraordinary rendition” of terrorist suspects.
BLACKWATER FRONTS
Prince Group LLC Michigan LLC President: Erik D. Prince Description of Services: Manager of Xe Services LLC, and the parent company of Total Intelligence Solutions LLC and its affiliated companies
Xe Services LLC (f/k/a EP Investments, L.L.C.) Delaware LLC Member: Erik D. Prince Manager: Prince Group, LLC President: Joseph Yorio Ex. VP/COO: Danielle Esposito Ex. VP/CSO: Fred Roitz Sr. VP/Facility Svcs & Logistics: Todd Shaw CFO: Mike Taylor VP Facility Services: Jim Dehart VP Export Compliance: Karen Jones VP Risk Manager: Bryan Salek VP of Budgets and Analysis: John Altizer VP of WPPS Programs: Tony Valusek Acting General Counsel: David Hammond Secretary: Fred Roitz Description of Services: Provides private sector solutions to US Government and Non-US Government clients
Total Intelligence Solutions LLC Chairman: Erik D. Prince Acting Pres: Victor Esposito Acting COO: Melinda Redman Secretary: Melinda Redman Description of Services: Provides risk management and security services to Fortune 500 and Government clients
Technical Defense, Inc. Chairman: Erik D. Prince Acting Pres: Victor Esposito Acting COO: Melinda Redman Secretary: Melinda Redman Description of Services: Provides information technology security assessments
Terrorism Research Center, Inc. Chairman: Erik D.Prince Acting Pres: Victor Esposito Acting COO: Melinda Redman Secretary: Melinda Redman Description of Services: Provides training services to US and foreign military, intelligence communities, and law enforcement clients
Apex Management Solutions LLC Delaware LLC Member: XeServices LLC Manager: Xe Services LLC President/Secretary/Treasurer: Pending Description of Services: Provides management services to Samarus-owned companies
Aviation Worldwide Services LLC Florida LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Richard Pere Description of Services: Holding company that owns subordinate operating companies, some aircraft utilized by its subordinates
Air Quest, Inc. Florida Corp. Shareholder: AWS President: Richard Pere VP: Timothy Childrey Secretary: John Hight Treasurer: Richard Pere Description of Services: FAA Part 125 aircraft carrier [check for planes]
Backup Training LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Xe Services LLC President: Richard Gallia Description of Services: Creates instructional videos and DVD’s
EP Aviation LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Managers: Chris Burgess & Robert Tanenholt Description of Services: Owns and leases aircraft [check planes]
Presidential Airways Inc. Florida Corp. Shareholder: AWS President: Richard Pere VP: Timothy Childrey Secretary: John Hight Treasurer: Richard Pere Description of Services: FAA Part 135 aircraft carrier [check planes]
Blackwater Proshop LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Michele Bogo Description of Services: Retail shop for Blackwater, US Training Center and Xe items
EP Management Services LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Managers: Xe Services LLC Description of Services: Provides management and general and administrative services to all Xe companies
Guardian Flight Systems LLC (f/k/a Blackwater Airships LLC) Delaware LLC Member: AWS Manager: Richard Pere Description of Services: Unmanned airships [check planes]
BWT Services LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Xe Services LLC President: Carol Bruce Description of Services: Supports travel all Xe companies
GSD Manufacturing LLC (f/k/a Blackwater Target Systems LLC) Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Xe Servcies LLC Description of Services: Builds target systems
STI Aviation Inc. Florida Corp. Shareholder: AWS President: Richard Pere VP: Timothy Childrey Secretary: John Hight Treasurer: Richard Pere Description of Services: FAA Part 145 repair station [check planes]
E & J Holdings LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Xe Services LLC Description of Services: Real Estate holding company
Samarus CO LTD Cyprus Member: Xe Services LLC Director: Chris Burgess Description of Services: Foreign holding company
Greystone LTD Barbados Chris Burgess, Managing Director Robert Tanenholt, Director Description of Services: Provides training, security services, and aviation-related training and personnel
E & J Leasing LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Xe Services LLC Description of Services: Real Estate leasing company
XPG LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Acting Manager: Victor Esposito Description of Services: Provides classified services
Greystone SRL Barbados Chris Burgess, Manager Robert Tanenholt, Manager Description of Services: Provides training and security services
Paravant LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Hugh Middleton Description of Services: Provides training services
Pelagian Maritime LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Xe Services LLC Description of Services: Holding company/owner of the McArthur ship
Salamis Aviation LLC Bahamas Chris Burgess, President Description of Services: Aviation asset holding company [check planes]
Al-Zulama Company Iraq Chris Burgess, Managing Director Description of Services: Provides security services within the country of Iraq
Raven Development Group LLC Delaware LLC Member: Xe Services LLC Manager: Xe Services LLC Description of Services: Provides construction and facilities maintenance
U.S.Training Center, Inc. (f/k/a Blackwater Lodge and Training Center, Inc.) Delaware Corp President: Jim Sierawski VP: John LaDelfa Secretary: Fred Roitz Treasurer: Adam Burke Description of Services: Provides security, training, and logistics services
Blackwater West LLC Delaware LLC Member: U.S.T.C. Manager: U.S.T.C. Description of Services: Provides same services as USTC for California and surrounding western states
ARES Holdings, Inc. Virginia LLC (49% ownership) Description of Services: Engineering and R&D company
Blackwater Security Consulting LLC Delaware LLC Member: U.S.T.C. Manager: U.S.T.C Description of Services: Provides training and security services
Source: SASC-014704
BLACKWATER AIRCRAFT
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N# Serial Make Model Registered Owner
181DA
790
PILATUS
PC-6/B2-H2
XE AVIATION LLC
314TG
31400082
EMBRAER-EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE
EMB-314B1
XE AVIATION LLC
81WS
TT-480A
SWEARINGEN
SA227-TT
XE AVIATION LLC
989BW
208B1058
CESSNA
208B
BLACKWATER LODGE AND TRAINING CENTER S-CORP
6542B
400-001
BLACKWATER AIRSHIPS LLC
POLAR 400
BLACKWATER AIRSHIPS LLC
10241
1472
AEROSPATIALE
SA330J PUMA
EP AVIATION LLC
10248
1502
AEROSPATIALE
SA330J PUMA
EP AVIATION LLC
103WF
61766
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
107X
33113
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
108X
33115
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
116AZ
61242
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
1202T
33112
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
1269J
012
CASA
CN235
EP AVIATION LLC
126PA
33168
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
150RN
086
BOEING / DEHAVILLAND
DHC-8-103
EP AVIATION LLC
2148K
36001
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
21498
36003
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
2149S
36002
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
2258F
33073
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
22608
33075
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
2261D
33076
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
2357G
309
CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA
C-212-CD
EP AVIATION LLC
261F
61771
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
2696S
235-007
CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA
CN-235
EP AVIATION LLC
2783R
1592
S.N.I.A.S
SA330J
EP AVIATION LLC
28014
28118
BELL
214ST
EP AVIATION LLC
2851T
1499
S.N.I.A.S
SA330J
EP AVIATION LLC
308RD
265
BOEING OF CANADA/DEHAV DIV
DHC-8-102
EP AVIATION LLC
33008
36004
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
330KW
1418
S.N.I.A.S
SA330J
EP AVIATION LLC
3540R
28110
BELL
214ST
EP AVIATION LLC
364FH
61718
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
380SA
1422
AEROSPATIALE
SA330J
EP AVIATION LLC
3893L
33006
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
3893N
33010
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
3897N
28106
BELL
214ST
EP AVIATION LLC
390SA
1450
AEROSPATIALE
SA330J
EP AVIATION LLC
391AL
28103
BELL
214ST
EP AVIATION LLC
408FS
61361
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
408HH
61716
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
410GH
61749
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
4399T
393
C A S A
C-212-DF
EP AVIATION LLC
5205C
0015F
HUGHES
369F
EP AVIATION LLC
530JC
0080FF
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO
369FF
EP AVIATION LLC
5748M
28102
BELL
214ST
EP AVIATION LLC
59806
28140
BELL
214ST
EP AVIATION LLC
605R
1358
AEROSPATIALE
SA330J
EP AVIATION LLC
612RM
61744
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
61NH
61474
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
6369C
379
C A S A
C-212-DF
EP AVIATION LLC
6559Z
36019
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
6973C
1434
S.N.I.A.S
SA330J
EP AVIATION LLC
7128R
36007
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
725JH
61775
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
801LR
047
DEHAVILLAND
DHC-8-103
EP AVIATION LLC
8045T
28101
BELL
214ST
EP AVIATION LLC
810LR
003
DEHAVILLAND
DHC-8-103
EP AVIATION LLC
905AL
61717
SIKORSKY
S-61N
EP AVIATION LLC
955BW
DC821B
FAIRCHILD
SA227-DC (C26B)
EP AVIATION LLC
956BW
DC864B
FAIRCHILD
SA227-DC
EP AVIATION LLC
961BW
248
CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA
C-212-CC
EP AVIATION LLC
962BW
290
CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA
CASA-212-200
EP AVIATION LLC
963BW
320
CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA
C-212-CC
EP AVIATION LLC
966BW
289
CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA
CASA-212-200
EP AVIATION LLC
967BW
304
C A S A
C-212-CD
EP AVIATION LLC
969BW
262
CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA
CASA-212-200
EP AVIATION LLC
971BW
0066FF
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO
369FF
EP AVIATION LLC
972BW
0105FF
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO
369FF
EP AVIATION LLC
975BW
0103FF
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO
369FF
EP AVIATION LLC
979BW
33111
BELL
412
EP AVIATION LLC
982BW
C010
CASA
CN-235-10
EP AVIATION LLC
970BW
0006F
HUGHES HELICOPTERS INC
369FF
AVIATION WORLDWIDE SERVICES LLC
974BW
0139FF
MD HELICOPTER INC
369FF
AVIATION WORLDWIDE SERVICES LLC
18MX
117
DASSAULT-BREGUET
FALCON 10
AIR QUEST LLC
350RP
42046
LANCAIR COMPANY
LC42-550FG
AIR QUEST AVIATION LLC
425E
425-0096
CESSNA
425
AIR QUEST AVIATION LLC
6556G
15072056
CESSNA
150L
AIR QUEST AVIATION LP
970BW
0006F
HUGHES HELICOPTERS INC
369FF
AVIATION WORLDWIDE SERVICES LLC
974BW
0139FF
MD HELICOPTER INC
369FF
AVIATION WORLDWIDE SERVICES LLC
Source: FAA