MZM Inc.

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MZM Inc. is a "high-tech national security firm based in Washington, D.C.," Brooke Williams of the Center for Public Integrity wrote.

"Mitchell J. Wade started MZM in 1993 and stepped down in June [2005] after news reports suggested he did financial favors for Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) while the lawmaker pushed funding in Congress for programs on classified military intelligence programs on which MZM worked." [1]

Athena Innovative Solutions, Inc.
On September 30, 2005, Veritas Capital, "a leading private equity firm focused on the defense and federal sectors," announced that it had "completed the previously announced agreement to purchase selected assets of MZM, Inc."

The "newly created subsidiary" is Athena Innovative Solutions, Inc. "Under the leadership and control of Veritas, Athena will continue to provide a broad array of services to the national security community. Veritas and Athena will retain MZM Inc.'s employees ... James C. King will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Athena." [2]

Also see Renae Merle, "MZM's Trump Cards: Contracts, Clearances. Veritas Buyout Shows Value of the Two," Washington Post, August 19, 2005.


About

MZM Inc. "provides intelligence gathering, technology and homeland security analysis and consulting for both international and domestic governments and private-sector clients. The firm also provides consulting on political and public message strategies. Its government clients include Congress, the White House, the Defense Department, the U.S. intelligence community, the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force and state and local governments, according to the company's Web site. MZM refused to provide any information, however, about its corporate structure, including names of other principals," Williams stated. "In addition to its D.C. headquarters, MZM has field offices in Miami, Tampa, San Antonio, San Diego and Suffolk, Va. The company employs about 70 people."

Government Ties

According to the Center for Public Integrity research (as stated):

  • Joseph Romano, executive vice president, "is the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency's Technology Assessment Group."
  • James C. King, senior vice president.
  • Susan Hogan, executive vice president, "National Security Liaison, worked for eight years on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she handled classified defense spending."
  • Wayne M. Hall, "vice president for homeland security and future conflict, is a retired military general. He commanded a military intelligence battalion during the 1991 Gulf War."

Influence Peddling

Randy "Duke" Cunningham

Former eight-term Republican congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham "sold his home in November 2003 to Mitchell J. Wade, a campaign contributor and close friend." [3]

"Wade paid $1.7 million for the 3,826-square-foot house in wealthy, seaside Del Mar, just north of San Diego. He put it back on the market soon after and eventually took a $700,000 loss when he resold it in October 2004. During that span, home prices in San Diego County rose an average of nearly 25 percent.
"Meanwhile, Wade's little-known company, Washington, D.C.-based MZM Inc., was increasing its federal contracting business. In 2004, MZM tripled its revenue and nearly quadrupled its staff, according to the company's Web site." [4]

"Without citing details, prosecutors said in the documents [filed August 25, 2005,] that Cunningham sold the house in return for his influence in Congress, where he serves on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending." [5]

Related Links

Virgil Goode

The Roanoke Times reported June 2, 2005, that:

  • U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Virginia) "was instrumental in MZM’s decision to locate an office in Martinsville, according to a press release from Gov. Mark Warner."
  • "MZM was the top campaign contributor to Goode in 2004, according to Web site opensecrets.org. ... Actually, MZM was the top campaign contributor to Virgil Goode in the 2003-2004 election cycle, which includes the year 2003 as well as 2004."

Related Links

Katherine Harris

Not only did MZM's PAC donate "$17,000 to Cunningham from 2000 to 2004," but during same period, MZM PAC gave Katherine Harris (R-Florida) $10,000. [6]

Open Secrets reported that Harris's top contributor, MZM Inc., donated $50,000, more than her 2nd, 3rd, and 4th highest contributors combined. [7]

Related Links

William Scott Rich III

"Two months after MZM Inc. was given its first order in October 2002 to perform services for the Army's National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), the company hired" William Scott Rich III, "the son of the center's senior civilian official, Executive Director William S. Rich, Jr., according to present and former intelligence center employees," Walter Pincus reported in the July 17, 2005, Washington Post.

"William Scott Rich III became involved in the FIRES program soon after he was hired in December 2002, and MZM received multimillion-dollar orders to continue work on FIRES and other programs," Pincus wrote.

Contact Details

Former

MZM Inc.
1523 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202 518-5240
Fax: 202 518-5241
http://www.mzminc.com

Current

Athena Innovative Solutions, Inc.
1523 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202 518-5240 phone
Fax: 202 518-5241 fax
http://www.mzminc.com

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