DFI International
DFI International was Washington based military research and consulting company. It is now part of the UK based Detica Group plc.
Contents
History
DFI was founded in 1984 by its majority shareholder Barry Blechman. It provided services to the US national security community including the US Department of Homeland Security, several US intelligence agencies, the Department of State, and the US Department of Defense, including the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the US Air Force and US Army.[1]
DFI's services included open source intelligence analysis, counter-terrorism research, IT solution development, security architecture design and planning, advising on budgets and force structures, and studies of force readiness and long-range strategic planning.[2]
Personnel
At the point of its takeover by Detica, DFI had 208 employees, many with direct professional experience with organisations such as the US military, the US intelligence community and the US State Department. The DFI management team was led by General Dennis J Reimer, retired Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
Activities
Terrorism Knowledge Base
DFI contributed to the Terrorism Knowledge Base which was maintained by the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) until 31 March 2008. The database was formed from information held by the RAND Corporation which was combined with research on terrorist organisations produced by DFI, as well as information from other organisations.[3] DFI was paid $1,113,031 by MIPT in 2005 to work on the project.[4]
Lessons Learned Information Sharing
DFI was the lead program developer and integrator for LLIS.gov (Lessons Learned Information Sharing system) and was teamed with the Henry L. Stimson Center, the Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute (CBACI), and the ESP Group.
According to the Department of Homeland Security,Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS) is "a national, online network of best practices and lessons learned designed to help homeland security responders, planners, and healthcare professionals prevent, prepare for, and respond to terrorism."[5]
DFI was paid $8,046,951 by MIPT in 2005 to work on the project.[6]
Takeover
In February 2007 Detica Group plc announced that it had agreed to acquire 100 percent of DFI for approximately US$39.5 million (£20.2 million).[7] The merger was approved in April 2007 and DFI was merged with Detica Inc to form DeticaDFI. A press release from Detica stated that all the members of the senior management team of DFI's government practice would including Barry Blechman, who would serve as a consultant to Detica Inc and as a member of its Board for six-months after completion.[8]
Notes
- ↑ Dentica Press Release, 'Detica Group plc acquisition of DFI International Inc', 1 February 2007
- ↑ Dentica Press Release, 'Detica Group plc acquisition of DFI International Inc', 1 February 2007
- ↑ Intute, MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base (accessed 11 May 2008)
- ↑ MIPT Tax Returns 2005 (PDF), p.18
- ↑ Department of Homeland Security, Learned Information Sharing (accessed 15 May 2008)
- ↑ MIPT Tax Returns 2005 (PDF), p.18
- ↑ Dentica Press Release, 'Detica Group plc acquisition of DFI International Inc', 1 February 2007
- ↑ Dentica Press Release, 'Detica Group plc acquisition of DFI International Inc', 1 February 2007
