MVM, Inc.

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MVM, Inc. is a comprehensive security and staffing company that furnishes a wide variety of project-based services throughout the U.S. and abroad with clients that include multi-national corporations, U.S. and foreign Government agencies, and private institutions. Since its inception in 1979, MVM has grown from a small firm specializing in executive protection to a full-service provider of highly skilled, well-trained security professionals and project-based support personnel. MVM supplies police trainers, and security personnel for Iraq.

Overview

From the company's website:

MVM has more than 3,200 employees that provide services ranging from a security guard providing access control to a project manager for a distribution effort. We partner with our clients to create solutions to their unique requirements using a dedicated group of experienced managers and trained on-site staff. We have the talent, the resources, and the experience to get the job done right.[1]

In an article reporting about a policeman taking a well-paid job training police in Iraq one finds:

MVM is a global security company formed 24 years ago by former Secret Service agents. It has more than 4,300 employees and security contracts with government agencies around the world, including with the U.S. State Department. The company reported $165 million in revenue in 2003.
It's one of many private companies benefitting from government contracts in Iraq as the United States leans on the private sector to provide security services that include guarding convoys, training Iraqi police and protecting embassies. Their experienced soldiers can earn upward of $500 a day, compared with $1,200 a month earned by entry-level Army soldiers.
—Glenda Anderson, "Lucrative security job draws officer to Iraq", The Press Democrat, February 26, 2005.

In 2004, MVM sold their only sector that dealt with the private sector to U.S. Security Associates, and has been concentrating all their attention to government conracts. [2]

MVM is a member of the Private Security Company Association of Iraq.

Contracts

  • MVM previously received a contract from the State Department to provide protection for about 80 US embassies worldwide, including the Moscow embassy. [3]
  • In 1994, MVM was given a contract to protect and assist Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in his return to Haiti. The contract was worth between $850,000 and $1.95 million. [5]
  • MVM has contracts with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement "to provide detention and transportation services to detainees for the United States territory of Puerto Rico. The relationship with ICE and MVM has spanned over 15 years with contracts supporting detention services during Operation Refuge, St. Elizabeth, and the ICE Headquarters. These programs helped detainees relocate and assisted ICE in a growing crisis. Similarly, MVM also has transportation experience with the United States Marshals in New York and in Miami delivering detainees to courthouses and hospital rooms." [6]
  • From 1994 to 1999, MVM reaped a total of $10,232,777.67 from the Washington DC Public School System "to provide security personnel and the uniforms, materials, and equipment needed to ensure maximum security at all DC Public Schools and administrative buildings". [7] This contract expired in 2001 but was continued with MVM and another company via short-term contract extensions for an indeterminate period. [8]

Controversy

Loss of CIA contract

In August 2008, MVM lost the majority of its "Panther" contract with the Central Intelligence Agency. The contract involved protecting CIA officers in Iraq. MVM lost the contract for failing to provide enough armed guards, equipment problems and reportedly fabricating "an after-action report about a November 2004 shooting incident to cover up their errors," reported the Wall Street Journal. [1]

Previously, it was indicated that MVM would continue to guard CIA facilities and "provide a handful of mobile guards at two sites whose locations are classified, but which aren't in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan." The CIA gave the bulk of the Panther contract -- the "more profitable work" of protecting CIA officers -- to the Nevada firm SOC Inc. Problems were also reported with MVM's "Scorpion" contract with the National Security Agency to protect NSA employees overseas. [1]

Lawsuit by former employee

A former employee of MVM filed suit against the company for wrongful termination in November of 2005. David A. Boone has claimed his $300K a year contract to provide bodyguard service in Iraq was discontinued after he "reported unprofessional conduct among fellow workers and the use of illegal weapons during top-secret assignments," the Rocky Mountain News reported on December, 15, 2005.

Recruitment

MVM is one of several companies that has recruited soldiers or mercenaries from Latin America, specifically from Peru via a "strategic partnership" with Indiana-based 3D Global Solutions. [9]

Board of Directors & Personnel

Current Members of the Board of Directors

Previously Reported Members of the Board

In addition to Mr. Marquez, the following individuals previously served on the Board and their current status is unknown:

Current Senior Management

Previously Reported Senior Management

In addition to Mssrs. Westrate, McKinney, and Gaba, the following men were previously reported to serve in senior management but their current status is not known:

Previously Reported Senior Directors

Contact

MVM, Inc.

44620 Guilford Dr., Suite 150 Ashburn, VA 20147 (571) 223-4500 (571) 223-4474

Prior Contact Information (retained to aid in research)

1593 Spring Hill Rd. Suite 700
Vienna, VA 22182
(703) 790-3138
(703) 790-9526 Main fax
(703) 827-0780 Operations fax
MVM, Inc.
8301 GREENSBORO DR,
MC LEAN, VA, 22102
website: [10]

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Siobhan Gorman and August Cole, "CIA Curtails Contract With U.S. Security Firm in Iraq," Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), August 28, 2008.

External resources

External articles