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30
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/764 Network.md
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@ -12,10 +12,21 @@ tags:
- OnlineExtremism
- TheCom
created: 2026-05-21
updated: 2026-05-21
updated: 2026-10-04
summary: "764 is a decentralized online child exploitation and coercion network founded around 2020, classified by the FBI as a Tier One terrorist threat with more than 350 active investigations as of 2026, operating within the broader Com ecosystem."
start: 2020
location: "United States (online)"
relations:
- type: named_in
with: "[[Athens High School Terrorism Case]]"
start: 2025-11
role: "named in an Alabama indictment, as reported, as one of the groups with which Carson Albert Butler allegedly conspired; indictment reported December 5, 2025"
fn: 12
- type: referenced_in
with: "[[Benson Polytechnic High School Incident]]"
start: 2026-10-02
role: "references to 764 stated in open court by a Multnomah County deputy district attorney as found by the FBI on a 15-year-old defendant's devices; not part of the Portland Police Bureau charge release"
fn: 14
---
[[764 Network|764]] is a decentralized, transnational network of online groups that engages in the sexual exploitation of minors, production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), sextortion, coerced self-harm, and the glorification and incitement of real-world violence. The [[U.S. Department of Justice]] (DOJ) classifies 764 and its affiliated groups under the umbrella term "Nihilistic Violent Extremists" (NVEs), defined as individuals who engage in criminal conduct in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals rooted in a hatred of society and a desire to bring about its collapse through chaos and destruction.[^1] As of early 2026, the [[FBI]] was conducting more than 350 active investigations tied to 764 and similar networks, with DOJ career officials describing it as "as serious a threat as you can imagine."[^2]
@ -50,7 +61,7 @@ Operational security within 764 is deliberate: members rotate identities, mainta
### Platforms and Recruitment Infrastructure
764 operates primarily across [[Discord]], [[Telegram]], [[Roblox]], and various rotating platforms. Recruiters target online spaces frequented by vulnerable minors, including LGBTQ+ youth, teenagers struggling with mental health issues, and individuals in grief or crisis. The grooming process employs "love bombing" (overwhelming a target with affection and acceptance before obtaining compromising material), followed by escalating blackmail once CSAM is secured.[^1]
764 operates primarily across Discord, [[Telegram]], [[Roblox]], and various rotating platforms. Recruiters target online spaces frequented by vulnerable minors, including LGBTQ+ youth, teenagers struggling with mental health issues, and individuals in grief or crisis. The grooming process employs "love bombing" (overwhelming a target with affection and acceptance before obtaining compromising material), followed by escalating blackmail once CSAM is secured.[^1]
The network circulated multiple operational guides: a "Sextortion Handbook" specifying grooming and blackmail techniques, a "Suicide Guide," and a "Dox Guide" for threatening and locating victims. [[Baron Cain Martin]] ("Convict"), the Arizona leader subsequently charged with federal terrorism offenses, wrote and distributed a detailed grooming guide advising 764 members to prioritize victims already struggling with mental health, on the grounds that vulnerability is the primary targeting criterion.[^9]
@ -62,14 +73,20 @@ After Cadenhead's 2021 arrest and the disruption of 764's original leadership, t
The United States government had charged at least 37 people with ties to 764 or affiliated networks as of mid-2026, with more than 350 FBI investigations ongoing.[^2] The most significant cases include:
[[Baron Cain Martin]] ("Convict"), 21, of [[Tucson, Arizona]]: A 29-count superseding indictment returned in the District of Arizona in October 2025 charged Martin with participating in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists (the first such charge applied to a 764 member), conspiring to kill or maim persons in a foreign country, five counts of producing CSAM, eleven counts of distributing CSAM, three counts of coercing minors into sexual activity, three counts of cyberstalking, animal crushing, and wire fraud conspiracy. Martin was arrested December 11, 2024 and has been in federal custody since. He allegedly victimized at least nine people, eight of them minors between the ages of 11 and 15. Attorney General [[Pamela Bondi]] and FBI Director [[Kash Patel]] both addressed the case at announcement.[^9]
Baron Cain Martin ("Convict"), 21, of [[Tucson, Arizona]]: A 29-count superseding indictment returned in the District of Arizona in October 2025 charged Martin with participating in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists (the first such charge applied to a 764 member), conspiring to kill or maim persons in a foreign country, five counts of producing CSAM, eleven counts of distributing CSAM, three counts of coercing minors into sexual activity, three counts of cyberstalking, animal crushing, and wire fraud conspiracy. Martin was arrested December 11, 2024 and has been in federal custody since. He allegedly victimized at least nine people, eight of them minors between the ages of 11 and 15. Attorney General [[Pamela Bondi]] and FBI Director [[Kash Patel]] both addressed the case at announcement.[^9]
[[Leonidas Varagiannis]] ("War"), 21, a U.S. citizen residing in [[Thessaloniki, Greece]], and [[Prasan Nepal]] ("Trippy"), 20, of [[North Carolina]]: Charged in the District of Columbia with operating the "764 Inferno" inner cell as a global child exploitation enterprise. Varagiannis was arrested in Greece in April 2025; Nepal was arrested in North Carolina on April 22, 2025. Nepal had been involved with 764 since late 2020, near the network's inception; Varagiannis joined in late 2023. The alleged conspiracy included coercing victims to cut 764 members' names into their bodies, self-immolation, animal abuse, sexual exploitation of siblings, and threats of murder. Victims were as young as 13.[^8]
Leonidas Varagiannis ("War"), 21, a U.S. citizen residing in [[Thessaloniki, Greece]], and Prasan Nepal ("Trippy"), 20, of [[North Carolina]]: Charged in the District of Columbia with operating the "764 Inferno" inner cell as a global child exploitation enterprise. Varagiannis was arrested in Greece in April 2025; Nepal was arrested in North Carolina on April 22, 2025. Nepal had been involved with 764 since late 2020, near the network's inception; Varagiannis joined in late 2023. The alleged conspiracy included coercing victims to cut 764 members' names into their bodies, self-immolation, animal abuse, sexual exploitation of siblings, and threats of murder. Victims were as young as 13.[^8]
[[Tony Christopher Long]] ("Inactive," "Inactivee0," "inactivecvx"), 19, of [[Porterville, California]]: A six-count indictment in the Eastern District of California charged Long with animal crushing (two counts), sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of CSAM, cyberstalking, and interstate threats. Long faces a maximum of 69 years in prison and was in state custody on related charges at the time of the federal indictment.[^10]
Additional cases: A former [[U.S. Navy]] petty officer and four others were charged in December 2025 with founding an online extortion group that prosecutors said helped spawn 764. As of April 2026, [[Project Compass]], an operation coordinated by [[Europol]] with participation from 28 countries including all [[Five Eyes]] members, had resulted in the arrest of 30 perpetrators, the partial or full identification of 179 suspects, and the rescue of four victims.[^11]
### State Prosecutions and Court Statements, 2025-2026
On December 4, 2025, police in [[Athens, Alabama]] stated that a [[Limestone County, Alabama|Limestone County]] grand jury had indicted [[Carson Albert Butler]], 18 at the indictment and 17 at the time of the alleged offenses, on terrorism, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder. The indictment alleges that Butler conspired with extremist groups including 764, MKU ([[Maniac Murder Cult]]) and [[No Lives Matter]] to target several students and staff at [[Athens High School]]. Limestone County District Attorney [[Brian Jones]] said he indicted Butler "under the code section where we can charge anyone 16 and older as an adult." The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] had informed Athens police of the alleged threats in June 2025.[^12] See [[Athens High School Terrorism Case]].
On October 2, 2026, the [[Multnomah County District Attorney's Office]] in [[Portland, Oregon]] charged a 15-year-old [[Benson Polytechnic High School]] student with 19 counts, including [[Oregon Domestic Terrorism Statute|domestic terrorism]] in the first and second degrees and 12 counts of attempted murder or attempted aggravated murder, over a September 8 chemical release in the school cafeteria. The [[Portland Police Bureau]] release listing the charges does not mention 764.[^13] At the initial appearance, [[OPB]] reported, Deputy District Attorney [[Eric Zimmerman]] said that officials of the FBI had found "numerous references" on the defendant's devices to 764 that morning; [[KPTV]] reported that he described "extensive references to '764'" in seized papers, hard drives and computers, with the FBI review ongoing.[^14][^15] [[KATU]]'s report of the hearing stated that "the references described in court do not, by themselves, establish that the teenager was a member of 764."[^16] The Portland Police Bureau did not identify the defendant because of his age, and his attorneys denied all allegations.[^14][^13] See [[Benson Polytechnic High School Incident]].
### Scale of Harm and DOJ Threat Assessment
In the first nine months of 2025, law enforcement received more than 2,000 abuse reports tied to 764, double the rate of the prior year.[^2] Victims have ranged in age from as young as nine years old.
@ -93,3 +110,8 @@ As of May 2026, the most direct connection between the 764 ecosystem and lethal
[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice, OPA. "Arizona Leader of Violent Extremist Network '764' Charged with Running a Child Exploitation Enterprise, Supporting Terrorists, Producing and Distributing Child Pornography, and Other Crimes." Press Release, October 31, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/arizona-leader-violent-extremist-network-764-charged-running-child-exploitation-enterprise
[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, OPA. "Member of Violent Extremist Network '764' Charged with Animal Crushing, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Cyberstalking and Interstate Threats." Press Release, October 27, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-violent-extremist-network-764-charged-animal-crushing-sexual-exploitation-minor
[^11]: CyberScoop. "Project Compass is Europol's new playbook for taking on The Com." https://cyberscoop.com/project-compass-the-com-europol/
[^12]: Wesley Tomlinson, "Indictment: Teen committed terrorism, attempted murder targeting Athens High staff, students," The Decatur Daily, December 5, 2025, https://www.decaturdaily.com/news/limestone_county/indictment-teen-committed-terrorism-attempted-murder-targeting-athens-high-staff-students/article_f6921221-e422-4cb9-a33d-acc4b3430aa4.html
[^13]: Portland Police Bureau, "UPDATE: Teen Criminally Charged with Attempted Murder, Terrorism Following September Incident at Benson HS," October 2, 2026, https://www.portland.gov/police/news/2026/9/8/update-teen-criminally-charged-attempted-murder-terrorism-following-september
[^14]: Joni Auden Land, "Benson High School student faces domestic terrorism charges in chemical spill incident," OPB, October 2, 2026, https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/02/benson-high-school-student-chemical-charges-oregon/
[^15]: "Portland teen faces domestic terrorism charge," KPTV, October 2, 2026, https://www.kptv.com/2026/10/02/portland-teen-faces-domestic-terrorism-charge/
[^16]: Victor Park, "Benson High School case raises alarm over '764' online network targeting children," KATU, October 2026, https://katu.com/news/local/portland-benson-high-school-case-raises-alarm-over-764-online-network-targeting-children-social-media-fbi-portland-police-bureau-multnomah-county-portland-fire-rescue

36
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.md
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@ -9,8 +9,26 @@ category: "U.S. Government"
summary: "The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is the official office within the United States Department of Defense tasked with investigating Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)."
start: 2022
location: "Arlington, Virginia"
relations:
- type: funded
with: "[[2024 AUI UAP Workshop]]"
start: 2025-08-05
end: 2025-08-06
role: "named sponsor of the August 5-6, 2025 workshop 'Narrative Data, Infrastructures, and Analysis' held at Associated Universities, Inc. (paper 26-P-0344)"
fn: 2
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Associated Universities, Inc.]]"
start: 2025
role: "the invitation letter to the 2025 workshop describes 'a new collaboration between the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), and Florida State University (FSU)'"
fn: 2
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Florida State University]]"
start: 2025
role: "same collaboration; Gretchen Stahlman of the FSU School of Information signed the invitation letter on behalf of the organizing committee"
fn: 2
updated: 2026-10-04
---
The [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] (AARO) is the official office within the United States [[Department of Defense]] tasked with investigating [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP). It was established by Congress in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and is the successor to the [[UAP Task Force]].[^1]
The [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] (AARO) is the official office within the [[United States]] [[Department of Defense]] tasked with investigating [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP). It was established by Congress in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and is the successor to the [[UAP Task Force]].[^1]
### Establishment and Mandate
@ -18,5 +36,21 @@ The creation of AARO was a direct result of the legislative efforts of [[Christo
AARO is required to provide regular briefings to Congress and to produce an annual public report on its findings. The establishment of a permanent, congressionally-mandated UAP office with a direct line of reporting to lawmakers is a significant step forward in the effort to bring transparency and scientific rigor to the study of UAP.[^1]
### Academic Workshops
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office is named as sponsor of a two-day workshop held August 5 and 6, 2025 at the headquarters of [[Associated Universities, Inc.]] (AUI) in [[Vienna, Virginia]]. The sponsoring office's own paper, "2025 UAP Workshop: Narrative Data, Infrastructures, and Analysis. Workshop Synthesis and Recommendations," carries the line "Workshop sponsored by: All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)" and the document number 26-P-0344. Its executive summary states that the workshop "brought together 40 participants from government, academia, and independent research organizations," and the text adds that "Outside participation was limited due to budget constraints and institutional capacity."[^2]
The invitation letter reproduced in the paper's Appendix A, signed by [[Gretchen Stahlman]] of [[Florida State University]] and [[Tim Spuck]] of AUI on behalf of the organizing committee, states that the event "builds upon a previous NSF-funded workshop held in 2024" and that "A new collaboration between the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), and Florida State University (FSU) has convened to host the upcoming event." The 2024 workshop was held May 15 to 17, 2024 at AUI under [[National Science Foundation]] award 2301922, via a $25,000 supplement (see [[2024 AUI UAP Workshop]]). The 2025 letter anticipated "25-30 experts," and the final count was 40. It offered lodging and most meals and stated that the organizers were "unable to compensate you for travel costs."[^2]
The paper's recommended next steps are standardized metadata templates for UAP reports, a hybrid of qualitative expertise and AI tools with human oversight, triage of reports by credibility and corroboration, preservation and digitization of historical reports, enhancement of public reporting portals, and further convenings to build a "community of practice." Its guidelines for conduct state that the workshop would "NOT be focused on what UAP are or their origins," and name tags could list a first name with no institutional affiliation.[^2]
The [[Society for UAP Studies]] published a report by [[Greg Bishop]] dated September 2, 2025 stating that AARO and AUI "convened a symposium at the AUI headquarters in Vienna, Virginia," and that "AARO director Kosloski emphasized that the mission of his office is to study UAP as a potential deficit in 'domain awareness.'" The report identifies the director as Acting Director Dr. [[Jon Kosloski|Jon T. Kosloski]].[^3]
On April 29, 2026 AUI's podcast "[[Beyond the Breakthrough]]" (episode "Making Sense of the Unknown," with Spuck and Stahlman) stated in its notes: "The 2025 workshop, 'Narrative Data, Infrastructures, and Analysis' was supported by the U.S. All-domain Anomaly Office."[^4]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024.
[^2]: All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, "2025 UAP Workshop: Narrative Data, Infrastructures, and Analysis. Workshop Synthesis and Recommendations," 26-P-0344, August 5-6, 2025, https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/Information%20Papers/2025_UAP_Workshop_Paper.pdf (archived PDF: https://web.archive.org/web/20260927135859/https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/Information%20Papers/2025_UAP_Workshop_Paper.pdf).
[^3]: Greg Bishop, "AARO and AUI Engage Academia in UAP Symposium," Society for UAP Studies, September 2, 2025, https://www.societyforuapstudies.org/post/aaro-and-aui-engage-academia-in-uap-symposium.
[^4]: "Making Sense of the Unknown," Beyond the Breakthrough (Associated Universities, Inc. podcast), April 29, 2026, https://beyondthebreakthrough.podbean.com/e/uap-data/.

9
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Maniac Murder Cult.md
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@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ tags:
start: 2017
location: "Dnipro, Ukraine (online, global)"
created: 2026-05-21
updated: 2026-05-21
updated: 2026-10-04
summary: "Maniac Murder Cult (MKY) is a Ukrainian neo-Nazi accelerationist network whose 'Murder Points' system rewards escalating real-world violence, proscribed by the UK and Canada in 2025, with leader Michail Chkhikvishvili sentenced to 15 years in U.S. federal prison in 2026."
---
@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Though Ukrainian in origin, MKY expanded internationally through Telegram recrui
[[Romania]] (2022): A 17-year-old member livestreamed the murder of an elderly woman as an MKY initiation ritual and separately injured an 82-year-old man. Romanian courts convicted the perpetrator in August 2023 to 14 years imprisonment.
[[Turkey]] (August 2024): An 18-year-old neo-Nazi livestreamed stabbing multiple people near a mosque in [[Eskisehir]]. The attack has been attributed to MKY by researchers; it is also cited in the Canadian sentencing proceedings of [[Terrorgram Collective]] co-founder [[Matthew Althorpe]] as a Terrorgram-inspired attack, reflecting the substantial ideological overlap between these networks.
[[Turkey]] (August 2024): An 18-year-old neo-Nazi livestreamed stabbing multiple people near a mosque in [[Eskisehir]]. The attack has been attributed to MKY by researchers; it is also cited in the Canadian sentencing proceedings of Terrorgram Collective co-founder [[Matthew Althorpe]] as a Terrorgram-inspired attack, reflecting the substantial ideological overlap between these networks.
[[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]] (January 22, 2025): [[Solomon Henderson]], 17, shot and killed student [[Josselin Corea Escalante]] at Antioch High School before dying by suicide. Henderson's manifesto cited MKY and named Chkhikvishvili specifically. Nashville Metropolitan Police Department's January 2026 investigative update concluded Henderson had no co-conspirators and that there was no evidence of direct operational direction from MKY.
@ -44,12 +44,14 @@ Though Ukrainian in origin, MKY expanded internationally through Telegram recrui
### Prosecutions and Designations
The primary prosecution of MKY leadership was brought by the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] against [[Michail Chkhikvishvili]] in the Eastern District of New York. Chkhikvishvili was indicted in July 2024 for soliciting hate crimes and planning a mass casualty attack in New York City. He was arrested in [[Chisinau]], Moldova in July 2024 and extradited to the United States in May 2025. He pleaded guilty in November 2025 and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon in May 2026.
The primary prosecution of MKY leadership was brought by the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] against Michail Chkhikvishvili in the Eastern District of New York. Chkhikvishvili was indicted in July 2024 for soliciting hate crimes and planning a mass casualty attack in New York City. He was arrested in [[Chisinau]], Moldova in July 2024 and extradited to the United States in May 2025. He pleaded guilty in November 2025 and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon in May 2026.
Yegor Krasnov, the founder, was arrested by Ukrainian authorities in 2020. His subsequent legal status under Ukrainian law has not been reported in English-language sources.
Alongside the U.S. prosecution, the UK proscribed MKY as a terrorist organization on July 2, 2025, making membership a criminal offense in England and Wales. Canada designated MKY as a terrorist entity on December 10, 2025, in the same order that designated 764 and Terrorgram Collective.[^5]
A [[Limestone County, Alabama|Limestone County]], Alabama indictment reported on December 5, 2025 names MKU (Maniac Murder Cult), 764 and [[No Lives Matter]] as groups with which [[Carson Albert Butler]] allegedly conspired against [[Athens High School]] students and staff; see [[Athens High School Terrorism Case]].[^6]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Argentino, Marc-Andre, Gay, Arthur, and Bastin, Naomi. "Nihilism and Terror: How M.K.Y. Is Redefining Terrorism, Recruitment, and Mass Violence." CTC Sentinel, Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. August/September 2024. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/nihilism-and-terror-how-m-k-y-is-redefining-terrorism-recruitment-and-mass-violence/
@ -57,3 +59,4 @@ Alongside the U.S. prosecution, the UK proscribed MKY as a terrorist organizatio
[^3]: ADL. "764." https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/764
[^4]: ADL. "Antioch, Tenn. Shooter Inspired by Broad Extremist Beliefs and Previous Mass Killers." https://www.adl.org/resources/article/antioch-tenn-shooter-inspired-broad-extremist-beliefs-and-previous-mass-killers; ISD. "From sextortion to violence: The threat of the 764 network in the US." https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/from-sextortion-to-violence-the-evolving-threat-of-the-764-network-in-the-us/
[^5]: U.S. Department of Justice, OPA. "Georgian National Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Planning Mass Casualty Attack." May 2026. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/georgian-national-sentenced-15-years-prison-soliciting-hate-crimes-and-planning-mass; Government of Canada. "Government of Canada Lists Four New Terrorist Entities." December 10, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2025/12/government-of-canada-lists-four-new-terrorist-entities0.html
[^6]: Wesley Tomlinson, "Indictment: Teen committed terrorism, attempted murder targeting Athens High staff, students," The Decatur Daily, December 5, 2025, https://www.decaturdaily.com/news/limestone_county/indictment-teen-committed-terrorism-attempted-murder-targeting-athens-high-staff-students/article_f6921221-e422-4cb9-a33d-acc4b3430aa4.html

21
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/No Lives Matter.md
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@ -12,20 +12,20 @@ tags:
start: "2022"
summary: "Misanthropic, accelerationist violent extremist network founded by Dutch national Justin B. (alias CXRPSE) as a 764 splinter group, linked to stabbing attacks across Europe and designated a terrorist organization by Dutch prosecutors."
created: 2026-05-21
updated: 2026-05-21
updated: 2026-10-04
---
No Lives Matter (NLM) is a violent extremist network operating within the broader criminal ecosystem known as [[The Com]], described by [[Wired]] in March 2025 as "a particularly violent splinter group within the extremist crime network known as Com and 764." Founded by a Dutch national identified in Dutch court proceedings only as Justin B. (alias CXRPSE), NLM emerged from the [[764]] child exploitation network and distinguished itself by prioritizing real-world physical violence over sextortion. The Dutch [[Public Prosecution Service]] designated NLM a terrorist organization, and its activities have been linked to stabbing sprees in [[Sweden]], disrupted plots in [[Italy]], and law enforcement investigations across [[Europe]] and the [[United States]].
### Background: The Com Ecosystem
NLM cannot be understood apart from [[The Com]] (short for "The Community"), a decentralized, transnational network of interconnected chatrooms, groups, and individuals engaged in wide-ranging criminal activity. Researchers divide The Com into three operational pillars:
NLM cannot be understood apart from The Com (short for "The Community"), a decentralized, transnational network of interconnected chatrooms, groups, and individuals engaged in wide-ranging criminal activity. Researchers divide The Com into three operational pillars:
- Cyber Com (also called Hacker Com): The network's historical origin point, focused on cell phone fraud, corporate computer intrusions, and large-scale hacking. [[Scattered Spider]] is the most prominent group associated with this pillar.
- Extortion Com: Groups that conduct sextortion and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) operations; [[764]] was founded in this pillar.
- Extortion Com: Groups that conduct sextortion and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) operations; 764 was founded in this pillar.
- Offline Com: Groups that embrace accelerationist and neo-Nazi ideologies and emphasize physical, real-world violence. NLM and Maniac Murder Cult (MKY, also written M.K.Y.) are the primary groups in this pillar.
[[764]] itself was founded circa 2020 by an American teenager in Stephenville, Texas, whose postal code was 764 - the group's namesake. He is now serving an 80-year prison sentence for child pornography offenses. NLM emerged as a splinter from 764, eventually breaking formally with the parent network: in May 2024, NLM announced on Telegram that its alliance with 764 "had ended a while ago," citing distrust of 764's current leadership and NLM's desire to distance itself from sextortion and CSAM operations.[^1]
764 itself was founded circa 2020 by an American teenager in Stephenville, Texas, whose postal code was 764 - the group's namesake. He is now serving an 80-year prison sentence for child pornography offenses. NLM emerged as a splinter from 764, eventually breaking formally with the parent network: in May 2024, NLM announced on Telegram that its alliance with 764 "had ended a while ago," citing distrust of 764's current leadership and NLM's desire to distance itself from sextortion and CSAM operations.[^1]
### Founding and Leadership
@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ The [[New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness]] (NJOHSP) issued
### Recruitment and Operations
NLM recruits primarily through [[Telegram]] channels with limited content moderation, though [[Discord]] has also been used in affiliated networks. Recruitment targets vulnerable young people, often boys aged 11-17. The group operates through a status economy: members commit and document acts of violence, upload recordings to NLM and 764 chatrooms to gain standing, and use the resulting footage as propaganda to attract further recruits.
NLM recruits primarily through Telegram channels with limited content moderation, though [[Discord]] has also been used in affiliated networks. Recruitment targets vulnerable young people, often boys aged 11-17. The group operates through a status economy: members commit and document acts of violence, upload recordings to NLM and 764 chatrooms to gain standing, and use the resulting footage as propaganda to attract further recruits.
Entry requirements escalate: documented acts range from vandalism and arson through beatings and stabbings to murder and mass murder. Recording and livestreaming attacks is a core requirement. This documentation-as-status dynamic, which researchers have compared to the "Columbine Effect" of copycat inspiration, is the mechanism by which NLM converted online activity into real-world violence across multiple countries.[^5]
@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ In July 2024, NLM announced a formal alliance with Mordwaffen Division (MWD), a
NLM is distinct from 764 in operational focus: 764 centers on sextortion and coercion into CSAM as its core criminal activity, while NLM centers on real-world physical violence and the glorification of mass casualty attacks. NLM formally severed its alliance with 764 in May 2024. Both networks exist within The Com's broader Offline Com pillar, however, and personnel overlap has been documented.
[[Scattered Spider]] operates in The Com's Cyber Com pillar and has no direct documented operational relationship with NLM. The connection is structural: both are products of the same decentralized Com ecosystem, not affiliated organizations with shared leadership or operational coordination. Researchers at SANS have noted that Cyber Com, Extortion Com, and Offline Com share cultural markers and personnel pipelines, but NLM's specific activities are not cyber-focused and no credible source has documented a direct Scattered Spider-NLM operational link.[^7]
Scattered Spider operates in The Com's Cyber Com pillar and has no direct documented operational relationship with NLM. The connection is structural: both are products of the same decentralized Com ecosystem, not affiliated organizations with shared leadership or operational coordination. Researchers at SANS have noted that Cyber Com, Extortion Com, and Offline Com share cultural markers and personnel pipelines, but NLM's specific activities are not cyber-focused and no credible source has documented a direct Scattered Spider-NLM operational link.[^7]
### Documented Violence
@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ ISD research linked nihilistic violence subcultures including NLM to at least fo
### Arrest and Prosecution of Justin B.
In late July 2025, a specialized Dutch police unit raided Justin B.'s home in [[Eindhoven]] and arrested him. Police found footage of extreme violence on his data carriers, including a video he had forwarded of a person being shot in the head with the accompanying message: "I really want to do that to someone's head. Brain on my shoes, everything." He also glorified multiple mass shooters on his devices.[^2]
In late July 2025, a specialized Dutch police unit raided Justin B.'s home in Eindhoven and arrested him. Police found footage of extreme violence on his data carriers, including a video he had forwarded of a person being shot in the head with the accompanying message: "I really want to do that to someone's head. Brain on my shoes, everything." He also glorified multiple mass shooters on his devices.[^2]
Justin B. was remanded into pre-trial detention at Penitentiaire Inrichting (PI) Vught, a maximum-security prison facility in the [[Netherlands]] with a dedicated wing for terrorism-related suspects and convicts.
Justin B. was remanded into pre-trial detention at Penitentiaire Inrichting (PI) Vught, a maximum-security prison facility in the Netherlands with a dedicated wing for terrorism-related suspects and convicts.
#### October 28, 2025 - First Public Preliminary Hearing, Rotterdam
Justin B. appeared for his first public hearing in the extra-secured courtroom in Rotterdam, where terrorism cases are heard. His attorney admitted on the record that his client was "CXRPSE," confirming the alias. Justin B. himself stated he had left the Com shortly before his arrest, and claimed he had converted to Christianity and had "just gotten his life together" when police arrived.
@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ The [[Dutch Public Prosecution Service]] (Openbaar Ministerie, OM) presented the
- Distribution of extreme violent and terrorist material
- Production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
The OM characterized NLM as "a terrorist organization aimed at committing or commissioning murder and other serious violence." Prosecutors cited B.'s glorification of [[Brenton Tarrant]] and other mass killers.
The OM characterized NLM as "a terrorist organization aimed at committing or commissioning murder and other serious violence." Prosecutors cited B.'s glorification of Brenton Tarrant and other mass killers.
B.'s defense argued that he had a history of mental health problems since youth, that others had built NLM's structure around him and his online persona, and that he was not the active operational leader the prosecution characterized him as.[^2]
@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ As of the time of writing, no subsequent court proceedings beyond the October 28
No Lives Matter members beyond Justin B. have been arrested in connection with NLM-specific charges. The broader 764 network has seen extensive law enforcement action: between 2020 and 2025, 191 members of 764 or affiliated groups across 28 countries were arrested for sextortion, CSAM possession, or violent attacks. The two Swedish teenage attackers described above were subject to administrative rather than criminal proceedings due to their ages. No other named NLM members have been reported as arrested on NLM-specific terrorism charges as of this writing.[^6]
A [[Limestone County, Alabama|Limestone County]], Alabama indictment reported on December 5, 2025 names No Lives Matter, [[764 Network|764]] and MKU ([[Maniac Murder Cult]]) as groups with which [[Carson Albert Butler]] allegedly conspired against [[Athens High School]] students and staff; see [[Athens High School Terrorism Case]].[^12]
### Academic and Policy Research
The following institutional analyses of NLM are cited in the secondary literature:
@ -136,3 +138,4 @@ The following institutional analyses of NLM are cited in the secondary literatur
[^9]: "Teen Found Guilty in Borås Sect-Related Knife Attack," *Sweden Herald*. https://swedenherald.com/article/teen-found-guilty-in-boras-knife-attack-linked-to-violent-network. See also "Online Sect's Influence on Teen Knife Attacks Faces Court Scrutiny," *Sweden Herald*. https://swedenherald.com/article/online-sects-influence-on-teen-knife-attacks-faces-court-scrutiny
[^10]: "Terror without ideology? The rise of nihilistic violence," Institute for Strategic Dialogue. https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/terror-without-ideology-the-rise-of-nihilistic-violence-an-isd-investigation/
[^11]: "Sadistische Justin B. ook verdacht van verkrachting en kinderpornobezit," *Omroep Brabant*. https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/6004745/sadistische-justin-b-ook-verdacht-van-verkrachting-en-kinderpornobezit. See also *Omroep Brabant*: https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/4770072/sadistische-justin-b-uit-eindhoven-was-oprichter-terreurnetwerk-volgens-om
[^12]: Wesley Tomlinson, "Indictment: Teen committed terrorism, attempted murder targeting Athens High staff, students," The Decatur Daily, December 5, 2025, https://www.decaturdaily.com/news/limestone_county/indictment-teen-committed-terrorism-attempted-murder-targeting-athens-high-staff-students/article_f6921221-e422-4cb9-a33d-acc4b3430aa4.html

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@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
---
category: "Private Organization"
tags:
- Organization
- AdTech
- ProgrammaticAdvertising
- JeffreyEpstein
- CantorFitzgerald
- HowardLutnick
- SouthernTrust
- EpsteinFiles
alias:
- AdFin Solutions
- AdFin Solutions, Inc.
- AdFin
- Adfin
- AD/FIN
- Ad/Fin
summary: "AdFin Solutions was a Delaware advertising-analytics company whose Series A investors included Jeffrey Epstein's Southern Trust Company and CVAFH I LLC, described in a July 2013 letter agreement as held ultimately by Cantor Fitzgerald."
location: "New York, New York"
relations:
- type: funded
with: "[[Southern Trust Company]]"
reverse: true
start: 2013-04-10
role: "Series A preferred purchaser (1,142,857 shares for $499,999.94 on April 10, 2013; 285,714 shares for $124,999.87 on July 23, 2013)"
fn: 4
- type: funded
with: "[[CVAFH I LLC]]"
reverse: true
start: 2013-07-23
role: "Series A preferred purchaser (800,000 shares for $350,000); purchaser of a $2,000,000 unsecured convertible note dated December 26, 2013"
fn: 5
- type: funded
with: "[[Cantor Fitzgerald]]"
reverse: true
start: 2013-07-23
role: "ultimate holding company of CVAFH I LLC according to the July 2013 letter agreement; largest shareholder at 60.32 percent on January 4, 2018"
fn: 5
- type: head_of
with: "[[Jeanne Houweling]]"
reverse: true
start: 2012-11-05
role: "president and chief executive officer"
fn: 7
- type: head_of
with: "[[Andrew Altersohn]]"
reverse: true
start: 2014
role: "chief executive officer"
fn: 16
- type: director_of
with: "[[David Mitchell]]"
reverse: true
start: 2012-12-28
role: "board member and Series A purchaser"
fn: 3
- type: director_of
with: "[[Jonathan Leitersdorf]]"
reverse: true
start: 2012-12-28
role: "board member, Series A purchaser and lender"
fn: 3
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Securities and Exchange Commission]]"
start: 2013-12-31
role: 'Form D (accession 0001595302-13-000001, file number 021-208986) filed December 31, 2013 under item 06b; first sale 2012-12-28; total amount sold $4,149,157; signed by Jeanne Houweling, CEO, December 30, 2013'
fn: 15
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
AdFin Solutions, Inc., styled AD/FIN, was a [[Delaware]] corporation incorporated on April 25, 2011 that ingested and harmonized log-file data on winning bid transactions in programmatic advertising and sold pricing and media-audit analytics built on it.[^1][^2] Its Series A preferred stock was bought in 2012 and 2013 by [[Jonathan Leitersdorf]], [[David Mitchell]], [[Tom Glocer]], [[Southern Trust Company]], Inc. (whose signature blocks name [[Jeffrey Epstein]] as president) and [[CVAFH I LLC]], a vehicle whose ultimate holding company, according to a July 2013 letter agreement, was [[Cantor Fitzgerald]], L.P. The company ceased operations in October 2019.[^3][^4][^5][^6]
### Incorporation and the Series A
The Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement is dated December 28, 2012 and provides for an initial closing that day at the offices of company counsel [[DLA Piper]] in East Palo Alto, at a price of $0.4375 per share, with each subsequent closing deemed a Closing under the agreement. The initial closing on that date involved two purchasers: Mitchell, for 685,714 shares ($299,999.88), and Leitersdorf, for 3,428,571 shares ($1,499,999.81), a total of $1,799,999.69. The agreement fixes a five-member board of Leitersdorf, [[Gil Mandelzis]], [[Roy Lowrance]], [[Jeanne Houweling]] and Mitchell.[^3] The company's schedule of exceptions records that Houweling had been hired as president and chief executive officer under an employment agreement dated November 9, 2012, effective November 5, 2012, and that the company "has received loans totaling approximately $1,500,000 from Jonathan Leitersdorf, a director and sole stockholder of the Company."[^7] In a February 2016 letter to his co-investors Mitchell called Leitersdorf the company's "founder."[^8]
On March 21, 2013 Mitchell wrote to Epstein about the voting rights attached to the investment: "I was invited into this transaction by Jonathan as part of the negotiations I asked for and got the 90 percent majority voting on certain major decisions. I suggest going forward that you and I split this, meaning it would take both of us to agree on major changes, or you and Jonathan would have to agree, or in the last case Jonathan and I would have to agree." Epstein answered "Ok" on March 22, 2013.[^9]
### The 2013 closings and the counterpart signature pages
The Schedule of Purchasers (Exhibit A) lists two later closings. For the subsequent closing of April 10, 2013 it lists Southern Trust Company, Inc. for 1,142,857 Series A shares at $499,999.94 and Tom Glocer for 228,571 shares at $99,999.81, alongside other individual purchasers. For the subsequent closing of July 23, 2013 it lists CVAFH I LLC for 800,000 shares at $350,000 and Southern Trust Company for a further 285,714 shares at $124,999.87, alongside Mitchell, Leitersdorf, Mandelzis and one other individual; the total line reads 7,940,935 shares and $3,474,158.50.[^4]
The same closing set contains counterpart signature pages to the purchase agreement, the Investors' Rights Agreement, the Right of Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement and the Voting Agreement. For Southern Trust Company, Inc. the signature block reads "Name: Jeffrey Epstein," "Title: President." For CVAFH I LLC each block reads "Name: [[Howard Lutnick|Howard W. Lutnick]]," "Title: President." The CVAFH page of the purchase agreement carries a handwritten line in the margin, "[Signature Page to $350,000 Series A Preferred Stock Investment in AdFin Solutions, Inc.]." The Voting Agreement's Exhibit A, the Schedule of Investors, lists "Southern Trust Company, Inc." with 1,428,571 shares and "CVAFH I LLC" with 800,000 shares.[^10]
A letter agreement dated July 2013 on the letterhead of "[[Cantor Ventures]], L.P.," 110 East 59th Street, refers to "the closing of the investment in the Company by CVAFH I LLC ('Cantor') on the date hereof" and states: "Cantor has been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares and the ultimate holding company of Cantor is Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership." The signature block for CVAFH I LLC on that letter reads "Title: President." Stock certificate PA-7, dated July 23, 2013, certifies that "CVAFH I LLC is the record holder of Eight Hundred Thousand shares of Series A Preferred Stock of AdFin Solutions, Inc."[^5]
### The $2 million convertible note
A Note Purchase Agreement dated December 26, 2013 provided for the sale of "an unsecured convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $2,000,000" to a single investor, CVAFH I, LLC, whose Schedule I address is 499 Park Avenue. The signature page for CVAFH I, LLC bears the handwritten name "[[Douglas Barnard]]" and the title "Chief Financial Officer." A stockholder consent of the same date, required under the certificate of incorporation for debt above $250,000 and for the written consent of holders of at least 66 percent of the Series A, has signature pages for Leitersdorf, Mitchell, Southern Trust Company, Inc. and CVAFH I, LLC, the last two dated December 26, 2013.[^11]
On January 7, 2014 Mitchell wrote to Epstein: "We completed a $2 million convertible placement with Cantor Ventures at the end of the year." He listed the terms (conversion at the lower of 50 percent above the investors' price or the valuation of the next round, an 8 percent coupon, a one-year maturity, and "If and when they convert they get a board seat (we will have to increase board to 7 people as we have 5 now)") and added that "Cantor is doing another $4 million in April targeting a $16-18 million valuation," that Mitchell was separately trying to raise at a higher valuation ("Cantor can match this as they have ROFR"), and that under an existing arrangement "either two of the three of us (JEE, JL or DJM) could block certain actions of the Company."[^12] On January 13, 2014 Epstein's lawyer [[Darren Indyke]] sent [[Lesley Groff]] the executed bridge-loan consents and note purchase agreement with the instruction to file them "in AdFin redweld in a folder called $2MM Bridge Note Financing December 2013."[^13]
An August 11, 2014 term sheet for a follow-on financing, which describes itself as "an expression of intent only" and "not meant to be binding," described the proposed notes as "on substantially the same terms" as "the existing $2,000,000 of unsecured convertible debt issued to Cantor Ventures in December 2013 (the 'Cantor Debt')," except that the lenders "will not be entitled to elect a member to the Board upon conversion of the Notes as Cantor Ventures is entitled to upon conversion of the Cantor Debt."[^14]
### The Form D of December 31, 2013
AdFin Solutions, Inc. filed a Form D (Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities) with the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] on December 31, 2013 under accession number 0001595302-13-000001 and SEC file number 021-208986. The submission header gives the filing date as December 31, 2013, the acceptance time as 17:49:05 on December 30, 2013, and the issuer's central index key as 0001595302. The filing records the issuer as "AdFin Solutions, Inc.," a corporation, jurisdiction of incorporation "DELAWARE," year of incorporation 2011, with a previous name "AdFin Services, Inc."[^15]
The offering fields read: federal exemption item "06b"; "isAmendment" false; "dateOfFirstSale" 2012-12-28; duration of offering "moreThanOneYear" false; type of securities "isEquityType" true; "isBusinessCombinationTransaction" false; revenue range "Decline to Disclose"; industry group "Other"; minimum investment accepted 0. The amounts read: "totalOfferingAmount" 4,484,375; "totalAmountSold" 4,149,157; "totalRemaining" 335,218; "totalNumberAlreadyInvested" 11; "hasNonAccreditedInvestors" false. Sales commissions, finders' fees and gross proceeds used are each recorded as 0.[^15]
The related persons listed are Jeanne Houweling ("Executive Officer" and "Director"), Jonathan Leitersdorf ("Director"), Gil Mandelzis ("Director"), David J. Mitchell ("Director") and Tom Glocer ("Director"). The signature block reads "/s/ JEANNE HOUWELING," name of signer "Jeanne Houweling," title "CEO," date 2013-12-30.[^15]
### Management changes, 2014 and 2015
[[Andrew Altersohn]] was chief executive by September 2014. On September 12, 2014 Mitchell asked Groff to arrange time with Epstein for the new chief executive: "Andrew Jeffery is the principal behind AdFin's investor Southern Trust. Andrew is the new CEO of AdFin and I mentioned to JE this morning I would like him to meet."[^16] On December 15, 2014 Mitchell sent Epstein a presentation and wrote that the company was "6-9 months behind where it thought it would be," that it had received a buyout offer of "$12-15 milion" which "the board did not think much of," and that "the new CEO is much better than the old one."[^17] On March 16, 2015 Leitersdorf confirmed to Mitchell, in a message Mitchell forwarded to Epstein on March 23: "True up to 7% when cantor exercises their option to convert to equity and we all get diluted."[^18]
### The February 2016 proposed terms
A letter of February 16, 2016 from Mitchell to his co-investors reported: "On Friday, the Board of Adfin voted to accept an offer from its largest shareholder, Cantor Venture, to fund $1,750,000. Alongside its founder, Jonathan Leitersdorf, Cantor has been funding the Company for the past two years on a bridge loan basis." Its Exhibit A, a summary of the proposed terms, lists "Conversion of approximately $7.3M in outstanding debt from Cantor, [[Julserra Capital|Julserra]], David Mitchell and Southern Trust" and a board "increased to 7 directors. All chosen by Cantor, but each 10% or greater stockholder will have the right to appoint 1 director ... for now only Julserra and the Board must include the CEO," adding that "Howard Lutnick, [[Jed Kleckner]] and [[Henrique de Castro]] will join the Board." It continues: "Cantor will effectively control decision-making power at the Board and stockholder level subject to very limited minority rights protection set out in a new Shareholders Agreement and to fiduciary duties under Delaware law," and "AdFin will be majority owned by Cantor."[^8]
A company investor presentation in the same file, dated February 2016, carries a slide headed "Backed By Leaders" stating "AD/FIN is backed by Cantor Fitzgerald, one of the world's leading financial services firms, and prominent angel investors." Beneath photographs, the captions read "Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO, Cantor Fitzgerald," Tom Glocer, "Former CEO, [[Thomson Reuters]]," Leitersdorf, "Founder, Julserra Capital," David Mitchell, "President, [[Mitchell Holdings LLC]]," and Gil Mandelzis, "Executive Chairman, [[Traiana]], Inc." (page EFTA01084707).[^8]
### Southern Trust's 2018 request to sell
A cap table "as of 1.4.18" in a company presentation lists Cantor with 85,959,207 shares (60.32 percent) and $11,742,954 invested, Julserra with 26,234,837 shares (18.41 percent) and $3,655,758 invested, and Southern with 6,409,679 shares including 110,619 options (4.50 percent) and $889,000 invested, out of 142,495,899 shares.[^19]
In an email thread of January 2018 with Mitchell and [[Richard Kahn]], Epstein's accountant, Altersohn wrote on January 26 that "we are trying to get a meeting with Howard next week." On February 13, 2018 he wrote to Kahn: "yes, finally met with Howard. All went well, but as always a few followup items I need to work on this week, most importantly finalizing the exact amount of the raise and per share valuation." On February 26 he sent details of an A-4 round ("Cantor and Julserra are taking their relative pro rata of $1.5M in a firm commitment over 3 tranches February to June 2018") and wrote that "Southern is already a party" to the shareholders agreement and that, to maintain its pro rata share, "Southern would have to invest in $85,695." Kahn forwarded this to Epstein, who answered: "you can tell them we are a seller at cost. 875 and we are out." Kahn then wrote to Altersohn that "we would be interested in selling for our cost of $875,000 which is approx 68% of FMV" and asked him to "communicate to existing investors and any other prospects you speak with during this Series A-4 round." On March 13 Altersohn answered a request for an update with "No, but let me check in and get back to you"; on March 14 Kahn forwarded this to Epstein with the note "still waiting on response to purchase our interest.." On April 13, 2018 Altersohn wrote: "We were trying to get a response from Howard and Jonathan on your ask, but there is apparently no interest at this time on the sale of your interest. We are however in discussions with other potential investors so if there is interest I will let you know." The emails give no surname for "Howard."[^20]
On April 3, 2018 Mitchell wrote to Kahn, copying Epstein, "meeting Jonathan next week on potential buy of AdFin Holdings." On September 18, 2018 he wrote to Epstein, "Jonathan seeing him this week and trying to get to buy Adfin position." On October 18, 2018 he sent slides with the note that the company needed "to get to a few million dollars until they are a real candidate to be sold" and that "in the fall next year, a capital event could happen which would return money."[^21]
### The May 28, 2018 email
On May 28, 2018 at 1:12 p.m. Epstein wrote to an address labeled "HWL" with a Cantor Fitzgerald disclaimer footer: "on another note what do you think the prospects for adfin are?" The reply at 1:19 p.m. read: "Producing revenue finally. This is their year. Next 12 months they need to become economically self sufficient." Epstein wrote at 1:23 p.m., "thx. how long until sherry is ready , and i can buy my guest house?" and HWL answered at 6:07 p.m. UTC, "Probably 4 years (pierre). We'd need to actually do something for it to ever finish. Haven't even picked an architect/designer yet. Too much construction. Just finishing this house."[^22]
### Statements before the House Oversight Committee
In a transcribed interview with the [[House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform]] on May 6, 2026, Lutnick gave these answers. Asked "During your visit to the island, did you discuss the company AdFin Solutions with Mr. Epstein?" he answered "No." (p. 26). Asked what AdFin Solutions was: "It was a company that attempted to create an exchange for online ads. They went out of business." "Were you personally an investor in AdFin Solutions?" "No." "Was Cantor Fitzgerald an investor in AdFin Solutions?" "Yes." Asked which part of Cantor Fitzgerald: "It was called Cantor Ventures ... it was a venture capital arm of Cantor Fitzgerald, so sort of multiple layers down the subsidiary chain" (pp. 26 to 27). A questioner stated that a stock purchase agreement released under the [[Epstein Files Transparency Act]] was one "that you signed on behalf of CVAFH and Mr. Epstein signed" and asked "Did you know that Mr. Epstein was an investor in this company AdFin?" Lutnick answered "No," and that he learned it "when these documents were released" (p. 27). On the signature page appearing in Epstein's files: "I found it inexplicable and unsettling that he had ... that it was released, that my company's signature page would be in someone else's files" (p. 27). On the 2018 email: "This was ... this was me, because it says 'HWL'" (p. 29); asked whether he knew during that exchange that Epstein was an investor: "I do not remember that I knew that, no" (p. 88). On timing: "I don't think I heard about this investment till 2013, May. I think the pitch was made to me in May of 2013, from the document. So it wasn't in December" (p. 88). His counsel at the interview, Zachary Terwilliger of [[Vinson & Elkins]], stated that the documents show that "when Cantor Fitzgerald Venture Capital signed these documents, it was ... much later ... in 2013 in the spring" and that "I do not consider this a business dealing with Mr. Epstein" (pp. 87, 89).[^23]
### Reporting in 2026
The [[BBC]] reported on July 14, 2026 that [[Simon Andriesz]], a former employee of Lutnick's firm, searched the released [[Epstein Files|Epstein files]] for "HWL" and found the May 28, 2018 exchange, which he gave to members of the House committee before Lutnick's interview. The BBC wrote that Epstein "had talked directly to Lutnick about a digital advertising company called Adfin, in which he and Lutnick's firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, had both invested," and that Lutnick "repeated his claim to the committee, that he did not know until this year that Epstein had been a co-investor in Adfin." The Commerce Department told the BBC there was "no evidence of wrongdoing or legitimate cause for concern."[^24]
### Closure
An [[AdExchanger]] article of July 29, 2019 described a 2016 study the company undertook with the [[Association of National Advertisers]] and [[Ebiquity]] that strained its relations with agency holding companies, and reported that in January 2019, after Altersohn's departure, [[Ravi Patel]] and [[Matt DeLoca]] became co-chief executives, with the investors holding them "on a tighter leash."[^25] On October 17, 2019 AdExchanger reported that "Ad/Fin ceased business operations on Friday," that the company "let go of all 16 of its employees" and was "considering selling its technology," and that "its investors, who were extremely patient with the company during the ANA saga, eventually pulled out." Patel was quoted: "The burn rate caught up to us."[^6]
### Footnotes
[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289540, DataSet 9, Delaware Secretary of State certificate for AdFin Solutions, Inc. ("was incorporated on the twenty-fifth day of April, A.D. 2011"), in the closing set beginning EFTA00289477. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289540.pdf
[^2]: Alison Weissbrot, "How Ad/Fin Got Caught In The Crossfire Of The Industry's Transparency Crusade," *AdExchanger,* July 29, 2019. https://www.adexchanger.com/agencies/how-ad-fin-got-caught-in-the-crossfire-of-the-industrys-transparency-crusade/ ; Alison Weissbrot, "After A Rocky Road, Ad/Fin Shuts Its Doors," *AdExchanger,* October 17, 2019 ("Launched in 2012 as a tool to benchmark pricing data in programmatic media"). https://www.adexchanger.com/agencies/after-a-rocky-road-ad-fin-shuts-its-doors/
[^3]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289560, DataSet 9, AdFin Solutions, Inc. Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2012, sections 1.2, 2.1 and 5.7 and Exhibit A (initial closing). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289560.pdf
[^4]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289560, DataSet 9, Exhibit A, Schedule of Purchasers (pages EFTA00289583 to EFTA00289585). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289560.pdf
[^5]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289560, DataSet 9, letter agreement of July 2013 between AdFin Solutions, Inc. and CVAFH I LLC (pages EFTA00289678 to EFTA00289680); EFTA00289722, DataSet 9, stock certificate PA-7, July 23, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289560.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289722.pdf
[^6]: Weissbrot, "After A Rocky Road, Ad/Fin Shuts Its Doors," *AdExchanger,* October 17, 2019. https://www.adexchanger.com/agencies/after-a-rocky-road-ad-fin-shuts-its-doors/
[^7]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289560, DataSet 9, Schedule of Exceptions, Schedules 3.12 and 3.15 (pages EFTA00289676 and EFTA00289677). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289560.pdf
[^8]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01084694, DataSet 9, letter from David J. Mitchell, "RE: ADFIN SOLUTIONS INC.," February 16, 2016, with Exhibit A (page EFTA01084696) and company investor presentation, "Backed By Leaders" slide (page EFTA01084707). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01084694.pdf
[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00652698, DataSet 9, email from David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, "Re: AdFin," March 21 and 22, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00652698.pdf
[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289560, DataSet 9, counterpart signature pages: purchase agreement (EFTA00289580 and EFTA00289581), Investors' Rights Agreement (EFTA00289633 and EFTA00289634), Right of Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement (EFTA00289651 and EFTA00289652), Voting Agreement (EFTA00289668 and EFTA00289669) and Voting Agreement Exhibit A (EFTA00289670). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289560.pdf
[^11]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289541, DataSet 9, Note Purchase Agreement dated December 26, 2013, Schedule I and signature page (EFTA00289550); EFTA00289527, DataSet 9, Action by Written Consent of the Stockholders, signature pages EFTA00289531 and EFTA00289532. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289541.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289527.pdf
[^12]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01942504, DataSet 10, email from David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, January 7, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01942504.pdf
[^13]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00376028, DataSet 9, email from Darren Indyke to Lesley Groff, "Fwd: AdFin - Bridge Loan Documents," January 13, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00376028.pdf
[^14]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01202791, DataSet 9, AdFin Solutions, Inc. Convertible Promissory Note Financing Term Sheet, August 11, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01202791.pdf
[^15]: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, EDGAR, AdFin Solutions, Inc. (CIK 0001595302), Form D, accession number 0001595302-13-000001, filed December 31, 2013 (primary document and submission header). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1595302/000159530213000001/primary_doc.xml ; https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1595302/000159530213000001/0001595302-13-000001.txt
[^16]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00362758, DataSet 9, email from Lesley Groff to David Mitchell, September 12, 2014 (Groff's reply quoting Mitchell's message, copied to Andrew Altersohn). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00362758.pdf
[^17]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00868060, DataSet 9, email from David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, December 15, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00868060.pdf
[^18]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01746876, DataSet 10, email from David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein forwarding message from Jonathan Leitersdorf, March 16 and 23, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01746876.pdf
[^19]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00796718, DataSet 9, AD/FIN company presentation, slide 21, "Cap Table as of 1.4.18" (page EFTA00796738). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00796718.pdf
[^20]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00877345, DataSet 9, email chain "AD/FIN Update & Financing," January 26 to February 26, 2018, with Epstein's reply of February 26, 2018; EFTA00861028, DataSet 9, Richard Kahn to Epstein, March 14, 2018; EFTA00836715, DataSet 9, Richard Kahn to Epstein, April 13, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00877345.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00861028.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00836715.pdf
[^21]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00843811, DataSet 9, David Mitchell to Richard Kahn, April 3, 2018; EFTA01022753, DataSet 9, David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, September 18, 2018; EFTA01019335, DataSet 9, David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, "slides for David.pptx," October 18, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00843811.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01022753.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01019335.pdf
[^22]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01050772, DataSet 9, email chain "Re: thanks for letting me know," May 28, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01050772.pdf
[^23]: U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, transcribed interview of Howard Lutnick, May 6, 2026, pp. 26 to 29, 87 to 89. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Lutnick-Transcript.pdf
[^24]: Andy Verity, Rob Byrne and Ben Milne, "How US commerce secretary's Epstein links were uncovered by British whistleblower," *BBC News,* July 14, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q28dlyxrzo
[^25]: Weissbrot, "How Ad/Fin Got Caught In The Crossfire," *AdExchanger,* July 29, 2019. https://www.adexchanger.com/agencies/how-ad-fin-got-caught-in-the-crossfire-of-the-industrys-transparency-crusade/

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---
category: "Organizations"
tags:
- Organization
- Trustee
- ESOP
- ERISA
- Radiance
- HuntsvilleAlabama
alias:
- Argent Trust Company
- Argent Trust
- Argent Financial Group
- Argent Financial Group, Inc.
summary: "Trustee of the Radiance Technologies employee stock ownership trust under an agreement dated September 5, 2017, and a defendant, with Argent Financial Group and Stephen A. Martin, in Berry v. Bailey."
relations:
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[Radiance Technologies]]"
start: 2017-09-05
role: "successor trustee of the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust under a trust agreement dated September 5, 2017"
fn: 2
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Stephen A. Martin]]"
reverse: true
start: 2017-09-05
role: "Senior Vice President; signed the trust agreement for Argent Trust Company; pleaded in Berry v. Bailey as Senior Vice President and Senior Fiduciary Consultant of Argent Financial and Argent Trust"
fn: 2
- type: defendant_in
with: "[[Berry v. Bailey]]"
start: 2024-04-25
end: 2025-09-18
role: "named defendant, with Argent Financial Group, Inc. and Martin, in Counts V and VI and, with all defendants, in Counts VII and VIII; all claims dismissed without prejudice September 18, 2025"
fn: 3
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Argent Trust Company is the trustee of the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust, the trust through which the [[Radiance Technologies]] employee stock ownership plan holds company stock. Each of the plan's audited financial statements for plan years 2018 through 2024 states that "Argent Trust Company is the Plan's Trustee" and that the plan "is administered by the Company's management."[^1]
### Trust agreement of September 5, 2017
The trust agreement, filed in [[Berry v. Bailey]] as Exhibit B to Doc. 43-2, is "made and entered into as of September 5, 2017, by and between Radiance Technologies, Inc., an Alabama corporation (the 'Company'), and Argent Trust Company, as successor trustee (the 'Trustee')." In it the trustee "accepts appointment as the successor trustee of the Trust." The signature block for Argent reads "[[Stephen A. Martin]], Senior Vice President, not in his individual capacity, but solely in his capacity as an authorized officer of Argent Trust Company." The agreement is dated five months before the plan became, in the words of its plan year 2018 audit, "the sole shareholder of the Company" on February 1, 2018.[^2][^1]
Section 2.4 provides that the trustee "shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services, as agreed to between the Company and the Trustee from time to time in writing," authorizes the trustee to pay its compensation from the trust, and provides that "the Company shall pay all such amounts, if they are not paid from the Trust." Section 2.5 requires the trustee to discharge its duties "solely in the interest of Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the Plan." Section 3.3(b) provides that "the Trustee shall vote all Company Stock held by it as part of the Plan assets," subject to a proviso for shares pledged as security for an obligation of the plan. Section 3.4 gives the trust a "put option" on company stock to require the company to purchase it when the trust has insufficient cash for distributions, diversification transfers or expenses, at a price "not less than 'adequate consideration.'" Section 6.2 provides that the company "may remove the Trustee by giving thirty (30) days' advance written notice."[^2]
The 2024 audit states: "Administrative expenses for the Trustees fees are paid directly by the Company." The audit also states that the valuation report of the estimated per-share value is one that "Plan management and the Trustee then review in detail, discuss and approve."[^1]
### Berry v. Bailey
The second amended verified complaint (Doc. 33, filed August 21, 2024) names Argent Financial Group, Inc., Argent Trust Company and Stephen A. Martin as defendants. It pleads, on information and belief, that Argent Financial is a [[Louisiana]] corporation that "performed some or all the duties of Argent Trust under the ESOP," that Argent Trust is a [[Tennessee]] corporation "designated as the 'ESOP Trustee' under the ESOP documents," and that Martin is a resident of [[Georgia]] and the "Senior Vice President and Senior Fiduciary Consultant" of both entities. Paragraph 32 alleges that "Martin and Argent were aware of the offers to purchase Radiance and, as trustee of the ESOP, they knew these offers were substantially in excess of the last valuation," that they "failed or refused to conduct any due diligence to investigate Bailey's claims that Radiance was worth more money," and that they "were driven by their desire to maintain the ESOP and the fees flowing to Argent therefrom, which would have likely been eliminated in a sale of Radiance to any third party." Count V pleads direct breach of fiduciary duty against Argent and Martin, Count VI the derivative counterpart, Count VII a fiduciary claim under the [[Employee Retirement Income Security Act]] against all defendants and Count VIII an ERISA action to enjoin all defendants. These are the plaintiffs' allegations.[^3]
The Argent defendants' motion argued ERISA preemption of the state-law claims and failure of the ERISA claims. In the memorandum opinion of September 18, 2025 [[Corey L. Maze]] held the state-law claims against the Argent defendants (Counts V and VI) preempted by ERISA and the ERISA claims (Counts VII and VIII) subject to dismissal for failure to exhaust the plan's claims procedure, and dismissed all claims without prejudice.[^4]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, audited financial statements, plan years 2018 (EFAST2 acknowledgment 20190927144949P040027478461001) and 2024 (acknowledgment 20251014121241NAL0001356787001), Note 1 and Notes 3 and 5, Form 5500 plan 003, EIN 63-1204084. https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2019/09/27/20190927144949P040027478461001.pdf ; https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2025/10/14/20251014121241NAL0001356787001.pdf
[^2]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust, Trust Agreement dated September 5, 2017, between Radiance Technologies, Inc. and Argent Trust Company, Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-00522-CLM (N.D. Ala.), Doc. 43-2 (Exhibit B), filed September 4, 2024, preamble, sections 2.4, 2.5, 3.3, 3.4, 6.2 and signature page. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.43.2.pdf
[^3]: Berry v. Bailey, Doc. 33, paragraphs 4 to 6, 32, and counts V to VII. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.33.0.pdf
[^4]: Berry v. Bailey, Doc. 68, Memorandum Opinion (September 18, 2025) and Doc. 69, order of dismissal without prejudice. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-alnd-5_24-cv-00522/pdf/USCOURTS-alnd-5_24-cv-00522-0.pdf

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---
category: "Organizations"
tags:
- Organization
- BGCGroup
- InterdealerBroker
- CantorFitzgerald
- HowardLutnick
- eSpeed
- Fenics
- CFTC
- Whistleblower
- Finance
alias:
- BGC Group
- BGC Group, Inc.
- BGC Partners
- BGC Partners, Inc.
- BGC Financial
- BGC Financial, L.P.
- BGC Financial, LP
- BGC
- eSpeed
- eSpeed, Inc.
- GFI Securities
- GFI Securities, LLC
- BGC Partners Inc
- BGC Group Inc
- ESPEED INC
summary: "Interdealer broker and financial-technology company, successor to eSpeed and BGC Partners and controlled by Cantor Fitzgerald, whose subsidiaries paid $25 million in 2019 over foreign exchange options brokering."
location: "New York, New York"
relations:
- type: subsidiary_of
with: "[[Cantor Fitzgerald]]"
role: "controlled by Cantor and CFGM through BGC Class B common stock; 96.2 percent of Class B at December 31, 2025"
start: 2008-04-01
fn: 1
- type: head_of
with: "[[Howard Lutnick]]"
reverse: true
role: "chief executive officer and chairman of the board from 1999 until February 18, 2025"
start: 1999
end: 2025-02-18
fn: 2
- type: head_of
with: "[[Stephen Merkel]]"
reverse: true
role: "chairman of the board from February 18, 2025"
start: 2025-02-18
fn: 2
- type: director_of
with: "[[Brandon Lutnick]]"
reverse: true
role: "board member from February 18, 2025"
start: 2025-02-18
fn: 2
- type: owner_of
with: "[[Newmark Group]]"
role: "real estate services business transferred to Newmark December 13, 2017; Newmark initial public offering December 19, 2017; spin-off to BGC stockholders November 30, 2018"
start: 2017-12-13
end: 2018-11-30
fn: 6
- type: acquired
with: "[[GFI Group]]"
role: "GFI merger completed January 12, 2016, after BGC's acquisition of Jersey Partners, GFI's largest shareholder"
start: 2016-01-12
fn: 6
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Commodity Futures Trading Commission]]"
role: "order of September 30, 2019 against BGC Financial, LP (civil monetary penalty $15,000,000) and against GFI Securities, LLC ($10,000,000) for false representations on emerging markets FX options desks"
start: 2019-09-30
fn: 3
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Commodity Futures Trading Commission]]"
role: "order of November 22, 2019 against BGC Financial, L.P. (civil monetary penalty $3,000,000) for supervision, reporting and recordkeeping violations"
start: 2019-11-22
fn: 4
- type: subject_of
with: "[[New York Attorney General]]"
role: "non-prosecution agreements of October 2, 2019 with BGC ($7.5 million) and GFI ($5 million), offset against the CFTC penalties"
start: 2019-10-02
fn: 3
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Simon Andriesz]]"
reverse: true
role: "described by the BBC as a managing director; dismissed in 2017 according to the BBC, with BGC giving a different account of the termination"
end: 2017
fn: 12
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]"
role: "FD-71A Guardian complaint recorded October 14, 2020 (form dated April 23, 2021) alleging money laundering by Howard Lutnick via BGC Financial and Cantor Fitzgerald"
start: 2020-10-14
fn: 5
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Securities and Exchange Commission]]"
role: "SEC settlement order of July 17, 2018 ($1.25 million, willful books and records violations), as recited in the CFTC order of November 22, 2019"
start: 2018-07-17
fn: 11
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
BGC Group, Inc. is an interdealer and wholesale broker and financial-technology company, listed on [[Nasdaq]] under the symbol BGC, that became the public holding company for the former BGC Partners, Inc. on July 1, 2023. BGC Partners was itself the 2008 combination of eSpeed with the interdealer brokerage assets of [[Cantor Fitzgerald]], which has controlled the company throughout.[^1][^2] Its subsidiaries BGC Financial, L.P. and GFI Securities, LLC were the respondents in two sets of 2019 orders of the [[Commodity Futures Trading Commission]], and the company's former employee [[Simon Andriesz]] made a 2020 complaint to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] concerning [[Howard Lutnick]], BGC and Cantor.[^3][^4][^5]
### From eSpeed to BGC Partners
BGC's business originated in Cantor's wholesale intermediary brokerage operations, started in 1972. In 1996 Cantor launched [[eSpeed]], a fully electronic marketplace for government bonds. eSpeed completed an initial public offering on December 10, 1999, on NASDAQ, and remained one of Cantor's controlled subsidiaries; Cantor continued to operate its voice and hybrid interdealer brokerage separately. After the [[September 11 attacks]], BGC states, and "the loss of the majority of our U.S.-based employees, our voice financial brokerage business operated primarily in Europe." The employees killed that day are covered at Cantor Fitzgerald.[^6][^7]
In April 2008, BGC and certain other Cantor assets merged with and into eSpeed, and the combined company began operating as BGC Partners, Inc. A License Agreement dated April 1, 2008 between BGC Partners and Cantor and the BGC Holdings Participation Plan were filed with the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] as exhibits to a Form 8-K on April 7, 2008. In June 2013 the company sold assets of its U.S. Treasury benchmark business, and the name "eSpeed," to Nasdaq.[^2][^6]
### Acquisitions, Newmark and the Cantor Relationship
[[GFI Group]] Inc. was acquired by a wholly owned subsidiary of BGC pursuant to a merger agreement completed on January 12, 2016, "after BGC's acquisition of Jersey Partners, Inc., GFI's largest shareholder."[^6] In November 2018 BGC acquired [[Poten & Partners]], a ship brokerage and consultancy specializing in liquefied natural gas, tanker and liquefied petroleum gas markets.[^6]
The company's real estate services business was transferred to [[Newmark Group]], Inc. on December 13, 2017, and Newmark completed an initial public offering of 23 million Class A shares in December 2017. On November 30, 2018 BGC distributed its Newmark shares to its stockholders in a spin-off, with Newmark Class A shares going to BGC Class A holders and Newmark Class B shares to the holders of BGC Class B stock, Cantor and another entity controlled by Lutnick.[^6] The transaction by which BGC bought [[Berkeley Point]] from [[Cantor Commercial Real Estate]] for $875 million and committed $100 million for a 27 percent interest in Real Estate, L.P. was challenged in a derivative complaint filed on October 5, 2018 by the [[Roofers Local 149 Pension Fund]] in the [[Delaware Court of Chancery]] against BGC's directors, Lutnick, [[CF Group Management|CFGM]] and Cantor; on September 30, 2019 the court denied the defendants' motions to dismiss on demand grounds without findings on the merits.[^6]
Each BGC Class B share carries ten votes. At December 31, 2019, Cantor and CFGM held all 45,884,380 outstanding shares of BGC Class B stock, approximately 59.8 percent of the total voting power.[^6] BGC's related-party dealings with Cantor are subject to the prior approval of its Audit Committee. They include a credit agreement of March 19, 2018 permitting each party to borrow up to $250.0 million, which BGC's 2019 report describes as amended on August 6, 2018 to increase the facility to $400.0 million and its 2025 report as further amended on March 8, 2024 to increase the facility to $400.0 million; a March 2018 sales agreement under which BGC pays Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (CF&Co) 2 percent of the gross proceeds from sales of BGC Class A shares; and Cantor's unlimited right to use BGC market data internally without cost.[^6][^1]
### Fenics and FMX
BGC's technology businesses operate under the [[Fenics]] name, which the company describes as its group of electronic brands covering fully electronic brokerage, market data, connectivity and post-trade services, and which includes the FMX platforms and [[Lucera]]. On November 3, 2021 BGC announced [[FMX]], combining Fenics' U.S. Treasury and foreign exchange businesses with a planned U.S. interest-rate futures exchange. The CFTC approved FMX to operate an exchange for U.S. Treasury and SOFR futures on January 22, 2024. On April 25, 2024 BGC announced that [[Bank of America]], [[Barclays]], [[Citigroup|Citi]], [[Goldman Sachs]], [[JPMorgan Chase|J.P. Morgan]], [[Jump Trading|Jump Trading Group]], [[Morgan Stanley]], [[Tower Research Capital]] and [[Wells Fargo]] had become minority equity owners of FMX, investing $171.7 million for 25.75 percent at a post-money equity valuation of $666.7 million. [[FMX Futures Exchange]] launched SOFR futures on September 23, 2024 and Treasury futures on May 18, 2025.[^1]
### The 2023 Corporate Conversion
Under a Corporate Conversion Agreement dated November 15, 2022, BGC Partners and BGC Holdings became wholly owned subsidiaries of BGC Group effective at 12:02 a.m. on July 1, 2023, replacing the "Up-C" structure with a full C-corporation. Each BGC Partners Class A and Class B share converted into one BGC Group share of the same class, and 64.0 million Cantor units in BGC Holdings were converted into BGC Group Class B shares. BGC Group assumed the BGC Credit Agreement with Cantor on October 6, 2023.[^1]
### Leadership Change and the Lutnick Divestiture
Howard Lutnick, BGC's chief executive officer and chairman since 1999, was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] as [[United States Department of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]] on February 18, 2025, and stepped down that day. The board appointed [[John Abularrage]], [[JP Aubin]] and [[Sean Windeatt]] co-chief executive officers, appointed [[Brandon Lutnick]] to the board, and named [[Stephen Merkel]], the company's chief legal officer, to the board and as chairman. On May 19, 2025 BGC announced the repurchase of 16,452,850 Class A shares from Lutnick at $9.2082 per share, an aggregate of $151,501,133, "in furtherance of Mr. Lutnick's [[U.S. government]] ethics agreement." On October 6, 2025 Lutnick completed the divestiture of his holdings in BGC, Cantor and CFGM, selling the voting shares of CFGM to trusts controlled by Brandon Lutnick, who as of February 27, 2026 beneficially owned 2.0 million Class A and 109.4 million Class B shares, "collectively representing 75.1% of the total voting power."[^1][^8]
### The September 2019 CFTC Orders (Release 8035-19)
On October 2, 2019 the Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced orders entered on September 30, 2019 against two interdealer brokers, BGC Financial, LP and GFI Securities, LLC, ordering BGC to pay a civil monetary penalty of $15 million and GFI $10 million, strengthen internal controls, appoint a monitor, and cease and desist. The orders found that brokers on their respective emerging markets foreign exchange options desks, "EFX options," made false representations that bids and offers were executable and that trades had occurred.[^3]
The BGC order describes the Respondent as "a Delaware limited partnership headquartered in [[New York City|New York, New York]], which provides voice and electronic brokerage services," registered as a futures commission merchant since 2009 and previously from 1994 to 2006. It states the relevant period as from at least January 2014 to at least December 2015, and finds that brokers on the desk posted bids and offers when "no trading institution had bid or offered the option at that level," a practice the brokers called "flying" prices, and "flew" hundreds of thousands of bids and offers; and that brokers communicated that trades had occurred when none had, called "printing." In a chat on or about January 27, 2014 a junior broker asked a colleague, "is this a printo?" and was told that it was. The order recites that when a flown bid or offer was hit or lifted the screen flashed, indicating to all users that a trade had occurred. The Commission found that the brokers intended "to create an illusion of greater liquidity and, at times, tighter spreads" and noted that BGC itself did not act as counterparty to the options transactions. It credited the Respondent's cooperation and remediation as reflected "in the form of a reduced civil monetary penalty."[^9]
The GFI order, against GFI Securities LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in New York, New York, registered as an introducing broker since January 2014 (previously as an introducing broker from September 1998 to August 2013 and as a futures commission merchant from August 2013 to January 2014), states a relevant period of at least July 2013 to at least December 2015 and makes the same findings of "flying" and "printing" for its own EFX options desk, with a penalty of $10,000,000.[^10] The release states that the CFTC had the assistance of the [[New York Attorney General|Office of the Attorney General for the State of New York]], which announced criminal non-prosecution agreements with BGC and GFI assessing monetary penalties of $7.5 million and $5 million, with remediation and a monitor, and that the CFTC penalties "will be offset by monies paid pursuant to these agreements." BGC's annual report for 2019 states that the company paid an aggregate of $25.0 million on October 9, 2019 and agreed to a monitor for two years, and describes the settling subsidiaries as BGC Financial L.P. and GFI Group Inc.[^6][^3]
### The November 2019 CFTC Order (Release 8083-19)
On November 22, 2019 the CFTC announced an order against BGC Financial, L.P., "a futures industry voice broker and registered futures commission merchant (FCM)," imposing a $3 million civil monetary penalty and undertakings including remediation and an outside consultant. The order found that from at least 2014 to March 2019 BGC failed to establish an adequate supervisory system with respect to its traditional and block trading futures brokerage businesses, including "audit trail" procedures and the use of personal cell phones by brokers for firm business contrary to its FCM Manual. It found that BGC lost all voice recordings from February 5, 2016 through the end of May 2016 for thousands of block trades, and that on multiple occasions failed to capture verbal communications for periods of up to four months; that BGC took more than two months to produce audit trail data for 100 random block trades requested by the Division of Enforcement; that its 2015 and 2016 Chief Compliance Officer reports did not adequately disclose voice-capture noncompliance; and that it failed to notify the CFTC of numerous formal investigations. The order recites that BGC "entered into at least eight settlements with the [[Financial Industry Regulatory Authority]]" and settled matters with [[CME Group]], [[ICE Futures U.S.]] and [[Nodal Exchange]] without notice to the Commission, and that BGC did not notify the CFTC of an SEC investigation, formal since at least early 2014 and resolved by a $1.25 million settlement for willful books and records violations, until after the SEC order of July 17, 2018. It also found that BGC filed notice of its 2017 change in chief executive officer "over nine months late." The CFTC thanked the [[National Futures Association]] for its assistance.[^4][^11]
### Simon Andriesz
The [[BBC]] reported on July 14, 2026 that Simon Andriesz, 57, "previously a managing director at a Wall Street firm," had been employed by BGC Partners, "part of Lutnick's Cantor Fitzgerald group." According to the BBC, Andriesz raised concerns internally in 2016 about accounting irregularities, was dismissed in 2017, and later spoke to the FBI. The BBC wrote that "some of his allegations later led to BGC being ordered to pay a $3m (£2.24m) penalty by the US derivatives regulator for 'numerous supervision, reporting, and record-keeping violations.'" The CFTC's release of November 22, 2019 (8083-19) uses that wording and names no individual who provided information. BGC told the BBC that Andriesz's allegations "lacked credibility" and were "categorically false," that the claims had been investigated by authorities in several jurisdictions which, in BGC's account, had not substantiated them, and that it denied retaliating against him. BGC said his employment ended "after he refused to follow medical advice, declined to perform essential job duties, rejected reasonable accommodation, and ultimately abandoned his role." The BBC added that Andriesz said he had won a financial award of $420,000 from the US regulator and that, in its words, "The FBI did not investigate these accusations."[^12]
The [[Transparency Task Force]], a [[United Kingdom]] campaign group, announced an event on July 21, 2026 at which Andriesz was to speak on the role of the [[Financial Conduct Authority]]. Its page states that he "spent 35 years in the securities industry," that his FBI file became public in the January 2026 release under the [[Epstein Files Transparency Act]], that the CFTC "made him a formal whistleblower award," and that the FCA's response was "a Supervision Order." Those statements are the Task Force's and Andriesz's own.[^13]
[[The Banker]] reported on October 2, 2026, in an article by [[Chris Newlands]], that Andriesz, 57, "has died by suicide." The article attributes the news of his death to [[Andy Agathangelou]], founder of the Transparency Task Force: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Simon Andriesz, a valued member of our community, passed away last week."[^14]
### The 2020 FBI Complaint
The [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]]'s [[Jeffrey Epstein|Epstein]] library contains an FBI FD-71A Guardian complaint form dated April 23, 2021 (EFTA01249210, DataSet 9), titled "Alleged Money Laundering by Howard Lutnick via BGC Financial and Cantor Fitzgerald," filed under a money-laundering zero file and under case 50D-NY-3027571, "EPSTEIN, JEFFREY; CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING." The caller's name is redacted in that file. A second release, EFTA01684300 in DataSet 10, a spreadsheet printout of Guardian complaints, carries the text "24 AM Eastern Time, Simon Andriesz, date of birth" and, at EFTA01684391, "Andriesz, calling from the United Kingdom, previously worked for BGC Financial (BGC) and Can," the text of the entry being cut off at the cell edge. The call time in the form itself is "9:16:24 AM Eastern Time" on October 14, 2020.[^5][^15]
The form records that the caller "was responsible for reviewing, reporting, and compliance for all of North America," and "uncovered fraud, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and regulatory breaches," so that "he became a whistleblower"; that the caller said BGC and Cantor "received large fines and there are 'live cases' still occurring in the United Kingdom"; and that the caller "believes he has supporting documents which could link Lutnick to Jeffrey Epstein and [[Ghislaine Maxwell]]." It records the allegation of "a 'global Ponzi share' scheme involving over 3,500 BGC employees who are forced to contribute 10% of their earnings into the scheme," and that "Epstein also sold Lutnick a house for $10 dollars through a trust fund, which was then sold for millions shortly after prior to the money going overseas," as well as a statement that the caller "believes its suspicious Lutnick's contributed over 65 million dollars to [[Haverford College]] in New York, although he cannot prove any illegal activity concerning this aspect." The form notes 26 results for Lutnick in Sentinel and Guardian queries in the New York division case files, including a restricted closed case "concerning money laundering" and a control file "concerning a RICO violations/real estate scheme," and 34 results in a DIVS query "including three SAR's," and states that "Queries were not conducted on Epstein and Maxwell due to the sensitive nature of the case."[^5] The allegations are those of the caller; the form records no verification.
An email dated July 24, 2025, in the same library, carries a digest of tips with an entry under the heading "Howard Lutnick": "Simon Andriesz reported that Lutnick made his money through Ponzi schemes and money laundering. Lutnick and Epstein were neighbors and Epstein sold Lutnick a home for $10 which was then sold for millions."[^16] The Commerce Department told the BBC the allegations were "a desperate partisan distraction from the historic work of this Administration" and that there was "no evidence of wrongdoing or legitimate cause for concern."[^12] The BBC reported that Andriesz searched the library for "HWL" and found 2018 emails between Epstein and that account, among them the May 28, 2018 exchange in which Epstein asked "what do you think the prospects for adfin are?"; the AdFin documents and Lutnick's May 6, 2026 testimony on them are set out at Cantor Fitzgerald.[^12]
### Footnotes
[^1]: BGC Group, Inc., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed March 2, 2026, "Our History," "Our Organizational Structure" and risk factors. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000162828026013162/bgcg-20251231.htm
[^2]: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, EDGAR company record for BGC Group, Inc. (CIK 0001094831), former names ESPEED INC (1999-2008) and BGC Partners, Inc. (2008-2023). https://data.sec.gov/submissions/CIK0001094831.json ; BGC Partners, Inc., Current Report on Form 8-K, filed April 7, 2008 (event of April 1, 2008). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000119312508076419/d8k.htm ; BGC Group, Inc., Form 10-K for 2025, "Our History." https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000162828026013162/bgcg-20251231.htm
[^3]: U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, "CFTC Orders Interdealer Brokers to Pay $25 Million for Fraud in FX Options Markets," release 8035-19, October 2, 2019. https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8035-19
[^4]: U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, "CFTC Orders BGC Financial, L.P. to Pay $3 Million for Supervision, Reporting, and Recordkeeping Violations," release 8083-19, November 22, 2019. https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8083-19
[^5]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01249210, DataSet 9, FBI FD-71A Guardian Complaint Form, "Alleged Money Laundering by Howard Lutnick via BGC Financial and Cantor Fitzgerald," April 23, 2021. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01249210.pdf
[^6]: BGC Partners, Inc., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed February 28, 2020, "Our History," "Newmark IPO, Separation Transaction and Spin-Off," "Our Organizational Structure," Legal Proceedings and Notes. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000156459020007843/bgcp-10k_20191231.htm
[^7]: eSpeed, Inc., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed April 1, 2002. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000095013602000955/file001.txt
[^8]: BGC Group, Inc., Form 8-K, exhibit 99.1, press release of May 19, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025045119/ea024268501ex99-1_bgc.htm
[^9]: U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Section 6(c) and (d) of the Commodity Exchange Act, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions, in the matter of BGC Financial, LP, September 30, 2019. https://www.cftc.gov/media/2661/enfbgcfinancial093019/download
[^10]: U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Section 6(c) and (d) of the Commodity Exchange Act, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions, in the matter of GFI Securities, LLC, September 30, 2019. https://www.cftc.gov/media/2666/%20enfgfisecuritiesorder093019/download
[^11]: U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Section 6(c) and (d) of the Commodity Exchange Act, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions, in the matter of BGC Financial, L.P., November 22, 2019. https://www.cftc.gov/media/3071/enfbgcfinanciallporder112219/download
[^12]: Verity, Andy, Rob Byrne and Ben Milne. "How US commerce secretary's Epstein links were uncovered by British whistleblower." *BBC News,* July 14, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q28dlyxrzo ; programme page, "Epstein Files: Lutnick, the Royals and the British Whistleblower," *File on 4 Investigates,* BBC Radio 4, July 14, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002yx47
[^13]: Transparency Task Force, "The Simon Andriesz Story; and the Role of the Financial Conduct Authority," event of July 21, 2026. https://transparencytaskforce.org/the-simon-andriesz-story-and-the-role-of-the-financial-conduct-authority/
[^14]: Newlands, Chris. "Whistleblower who flagged Lutnick's links to Epstein dies." *The Banker,* October 2, 2026. https://www.thebanker.com/content/02286d53-0338-42ef-996d-5f7712b9f133
[^15]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01684300, DataSet 10, compilation of FBI Guardian complaints, pages EFTA01684361 to EFTA01684437. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01684300.pdf
[^16]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01648946, DataSet 10, email of July 24, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01648946.pdf

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20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies.md
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@ -25,8 +25,20 @@ relations:
role: "sole bidder and awardee, firm fixed price order HHM402-08-C-0072 (Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications)"
start: 2008-09-22
end: 2010-12-21
fn: 3
updated: 2026-10-02
fn: 8
- type: investigated
with: "[[Marc Cecotti]]"
reverse: true
start: 2021-12-08
end: 2023-06-20
role: "filed FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records mentioning AAWSAP and BAASS (2008 to 2012); one responsive document, 'BAASS Goals 2011/2012', released June 20, 2023 under case 2022-HQFO-00386"
fn: 6
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Department of Homeland Security]]"
start: 2023-06-20
role: "the Office of the Chief Information Officer's search for BAASS and AAWSAP records dated 2008 to 2012 returned one document, released in full without exemptions"
fn: 6
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) was a subsidiary of [[Robert Bigelow]]'s aerospace and real estate enterprise, established as a scientific research and contracting organization to pursue anomalous phenomena investigation, including unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). It was the primary contractor for the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]]'s [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program|AATIP]]-related research program (formally designated the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program, AAWSAP) from 2008 to approximately 2010.[^1]
@ -51,66 +63,111 @@ BAASS investigators conducted detailed ongoing research at Skinwalker Ranch duri
BAASS produced a series of Defense Intelligence Reference Documents (DIRDs) - technical reports on advanced aerospace science topics relevant to UAP propulsion and performance. Hal Puthoff and other contributors addressed topics including warp drives, traversable wormholes, high-frequency gravitational wave communications, and exotic materials. The reports, produced between 2009 and 2010, were contracted at $25,000 each from subject matter experts in theoretical physics and advanced engineering. Several were later declassified and released as part of the post-2017 UAP transparency process.[^1]
A document titled "BAASS Ten Month Report," 530 pages, dated July 30, 2009, circulated online from May 30, 2025, when researchers including [[Jonathan Davies]] received an email from the [[Phenomainon]] website announcing a function called PhenomGPT through which two BAASS files could be retrieved. A second file, 141 pages, carries the title "BAASS Summary Report on BAASS' UAP Analysis Capabilities" and the date November 23, 2010. [[Keith Basterfield]] wrote on June 5, 2025 that he used no images from these documents and gave no links, and noted that Appendix 1 of [[James Lacatski]], Colm Kelleher and George Knapp's [[Skinwalkers at the Pentagon]] (2021) lists "BAASS July 2009 Ten Month report" (530 pages) and "Summary Report on BAASS UAP Analysis Capabilities" (141 pages) among the BAASS deliverables lodged with the Defense Intelligence Agency.[^2]
Basterfield wrote on June 28, 2025, citing page 3 of the Ten Month Report, that the first BAASS monthly report (for September 22 to October 2008) records two employees, "Robert Bigelow and senior analyst [[John Schuessler]] (In September 2008, a BAASS administrator was hired, but shortly thereafter resigned.)"[^3]
Basterfield wrote on July 7, 2025, quoting the Ten Month Report, that its description of Project Campus gives the objective as "to stimulate, motivate and encourage the senior levels of the academic community within the [[United States]] to involve themselves in study and research of very advanced aerial spacecraft that is presently considered phenomenological." As a "test case" BAASS approached senior management at the [[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]], which "responded positively"; BAASS proposed ten scenarios, including announcements by the [[United States Air Force]] or other officials that unidentified aerial phenomena were real and extraterrestrial, for the university to study with regard to "the media, economy, department of defense, political groups, science, the general public, religion, public health and academia." The report states: "Dr. Smith and four others have expressed strong interest in submitting a specific proposal to BAASS by August 2009."[^4]
According to Basterfield's quotation, BAASS also sought proposals from [[Battelle Memorial Institute]], Southwestern Research Institute, the [[Center for American Progress]] and [[Sandia National Laboratories]] for a study budgeted at 400,000 dollars. The request for proposals states: "For the purpose of the proposed study we take the presence of such advanced exotic aerospace craft as a given." It asks whether "by 2050 there will be confirmation to the public by the [[U.S. government]] and its military authorities" of craft "beyond those of our own most advanced military craft," what format such a confirmation should take and what its effects would be on the military and "the U.S. body politic in the areas of commerce, religion, academia and so forth," and what steps could be taken to "soften the societal blow." As of the report date: "BAASS has not received a reply from CAP or SWRI regarding the RFP. Sandia National Laboratories volunteered that they did not have the expertise for the project and Battelle Memorial Institute declined the RFP."[^4]
### Medical Effects Research
BAASS research included investigation of physiological effects reported by individuals claiming proximity to UAP, building on a database of cases with reported biological effects. [[Kit Green]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] neurophysiologist who had overseen the original SRI remote viewing program from 1972, contributed to this aspect of the research, applying forensic neurological analysis to reported injury patterns. The physiological effects research represented a continuity between the 1970s government anomalous phenomena programs and the AATIP-era research.[^2]
BAASS research included investigation of physiological effects reported by individuals claiming proximity to UAP, building on a database of cases with reported biological effects. [[Kit Green]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] neurophysiologist who had overseen the original SRI remote viewing program from 1972, contributed to this aspect of the research, applying forensic neurological analysis to reported injury patterns. The physiological effects research represented a continuity between the 1970s government anomalous phenomena programs and the AATIP-era research.[^5]
### Termination and Legacy
The BAASS contract was not renewed after its initial two-year period. The AAWSAP program transitioned to a smaller successor effort designated AATIP, directed by [[Luis Elizondo]] within the [[Pentagon]]'s [[Washington Headquarters Services]]. BAASS's accumulated research and case files remained with the program's intelligence customers. Robert Bigelow later sold Skinwalker Ranch to a new ownership group in 2016.[^1]
### Department of Homeland Security Records, Case 2022-HQFO-00386
[[Marc Cecotti]] submitted a [[Freedom of Information Act]] request to the [[Department of Homeland Security]] on December 8, 2021 for "a copy of all records, including but not limited to e-mails, reports, memorandum, presentations, mentioning: 'Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program' or the acronym 'AAWSAP' 'Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies' or the acronym 'BAASS.'" with a record-search date range of January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012. The department's final response, dated June 20, 2023 and signed by Jimmy Wolfrey, Senior Director, FOIA Operations and Management, was assigned case number 2022-HQFO-00386. It states: "Following a search of the Office of the Chief Information officer (OCIO), we are granting your request under FOIA ... After carefully reviewing the responsive document, we have determined that it is appropriate for public release. The documents are enclosed in their entirety; DHS has claimed no deletions or exemptions."[^6]
Cecotti posted the letter and its enclosure on [[X]] on June 20, 2023, writing: "According to Skinwalkers at the Pentagon, AAWSAP officials tried to find alternative locations to house the program and attempts were made to transfer it to the Dept of Homeland Security in 2011. I went after DHS records, this is what they found."[^6]
The enclosure is a single page headed "BAASS Goals 2011/2012." It has no author, date or letterhead on its face. Its text reads in full:
Area 1
1. Advanced Technology Analysis Center (an em dash follows these words in the original) analyze recovered AAV technology in collaboration with aerospace companies. Construct extremely secure underground lab facility.
2. Consciousness interactions with, and control of, advanced AAV technology.
3. Extend Remote Communication Programs to communicate and retrieve data across dimensional/space-time barrier. Target multiple locations.
4. Identify anomalous activity in select areas of United States and establish field research laboratories and remote communication programs on site.
Retrieve and integrate all historical data on AAVs from retirees (oral history).
Area 2
1. Liaison with IC, [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], state, local, and tribal police, FAA, DoD (including AFOSI), National Laboratories and with US Aerospace Companies.
2. Collect data, including classified data, from IC/DoD entities, e.g, cockpit flight recordings of AAV performance, communications, medical autopsy reports, weaponry use, AAV trajectory records (from NORAD).
3. Classified data collection from AAV interactions with Nuclear Weapons Storage Facilities (an em dash follows these words in the original) (Northern Tier and other AFB AAV incidents).
Area 3
NOTE: Unclassified separate organization
1. Create an open organization for collection of data on AAV performance.
2. Liaison with civilian groups for AAV data collection.[^6]
Basterfield transcribed the page on June 22, 2023 and set beside it the nine areas of work in BAASS's original proposal to the DIA as listed in *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon* (global data collection; contact with people who know of novel technologies; a laboratory program with Skinwalker Ranch as a "living lab"; oral history; use of Bigelow space platforms; existing DIA data; biological effects; remote sensing; expert analysis and synthesis), of which the DIA approved areas 1 to 4, 6 and 9 for the first year. His comments on the DHS page were: "Area 1:1. Analyze recovered AAV technolgy - to my knowledge, no such recovered material ever found its way to AAWSAP, and therefore none was ever analyzed"; and "Areas 2:1 and 2:2. These read very much like the current goals of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)." On November 30, 2023 he called it "a very overlooked BAASS document."[^7]
### Solicitation and award
The Defense Intelligence Agency published its request for proposals on August 18, 2008, listing twelve technical areas: lift, propulsion, control, armament (radio-frequency and directed energy), spatial and temporal translation, signature reduction, materials, configuration and structure, power generation, human effects, human interface, and technology integration. A DIA talking paper dated May 4, 2009 states that DIA "received only one bid, from Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), in response to the RFP," determined the proposal responsive, and signed the contract on September 22, 2008.[^3] A second DIA memorandum describes BAASS as "the only bid, headquartered in [[North Las Vegas]], Nevada." The November 17, 2009 talking points describe the award to "the sole bidder" as covering "unclassified research in 11 technical areas" with technical reports due July 31, 2009.[^4][^5] The solicitation number is HHM402-08-R-0211, and the awarded contract number appears on DIA's own forms as HHM402-08-C-0072.[^6][^7] Block 6 of the order form gives the solicitation issue date as September 1, 2008, block 8 gives an offer due date of September 10, 2008, and the order incorporates the BAASS proposal dated September 3, 2008; the DIA talking paper dates the request for proposals August 18, 2008.[^3][^6]
The Defense Intelligence Agency published its request for proposals on August 18, 2008, listing twelve technical areas: lift, propulsion, control, armament (radio-frequency and directed energy), spatial and temporal translation, signature reduction, materials, configuration and structure, power generation, human effects, human interface, and technology integration. A DIA talking paper dated May 4, 2009 states that DIA "received only one bid, from Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), in response to the RFP," determined the proposal responsive, and signed the contract on September 22, 2008.[^8] A second DIA memorandum describes BAASS as "the only bid, headquartered in [[North Las Vegas]], Nevada." The November 17, 2009 talking points describe the award to "the sole bidder" as covering "unclassified research in 11 technical areas" with technical reports due July 31, 2009.[^9][^10] The solicitation number is HHM402-08-R-0211, and the awarded contract number appears on DIA's own forms as HHM402-08-C-0072.[^11][^12] Block 6 of the order form gives the solicitation issue date as September 1, 2008, block 8 gives an offer due date of September 10, 2008, and the order incorporates the BAASS proposal dated September 3, 2008; the DIA talking paper dates the request for proposals August 18, 2008.[^8][^11]
The award document is a Standard Form 1449 (Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items) issued by the [[Virginia Contracting Activity]] at [[Bolling Air Force Base]] (issuing office code HHQ402, administered by ZD50). It names "Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies, LLC, 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas NV 89119" as contractor (CAGE 54JU7) and designates the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office at [[Fort Meade|Fort George G. Meade]], Maryland as the paying office. Block 26 of this copy gives the total award amount as 21,948,810 dollars. The copy of the same Standard Form 1449 reproduced at the front of the modification P00001 package (block 3 award date September 22, 2008, block 6 solicitation issue date September 1, 2008) gives the total award amount in block 26 as 10,000,000 dollars.[^8] The contract type is firm fixed price, with a base year of September 22, 2008 to September 29, 2009 and an option year of September 22, 2009 to September 21, 2010; the order incorporates BAASS's proposal dated September 3, 2008. The line items are monthly status reports, project management plans for the tasks listed as 3.a.1 through 3.a.12, research reports for the same tasks, a "Comprehensive Integrated Threat Assessment," travel, and other direct costs; the unit prices and line amounts are redacted under [[Freedom of Information Act|FOIA]] Exemption 4.[^6] The statement of work (section 5.1) required the contractor to provide a work facility with a Top Secret facility clearance granted by the [[Defense Security Service]], and states that cleared facilities "are not required at contract inception."[^7] Modification P00001 refers to the order as dated September 22, 2008.[^8]
The award document is a Standard Form 1449 (Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items) issued by the [[Virginia Contracting Activity]] at [[Bolling Air Force Base]] (issuing office code HHQ402, administered by ZD50). It names "Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies, LLC, 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas NV 89119" as contractor (CAGE 54JU7) and designates the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office at [[Fort Meade|Fort George G. Meade]], Maryland as the paying office. Block 26 of this copy gives the total award amount as 21,948,810 dollars. The copy of the same Standard Form 1449 reproduced at the front of the modification P00001 package (block 3 award date September 22, 2008, block 6 solicitation issue date September 1, 2008) gives the total award amount in block 26 as 10,000,000 dollars.[^13] The contract type is firm fixed price, with a base year of September 22, 2008 to September 29, 2009 and an option year of September 22, 2009 to September 21, 2010; the order incorporates BAASS's proposal dated September 3, 2008. The line items are monthly status reports, project management plans for the tasks listed as 3.a.1 through 3.a.12, research reports for the same tasks, a "Comprehensive Integrated Threat Assessment," travel, and other direct costs; the unit prices and line amounts are redacted under FOIA Exemption 4.[^11] The statement of work (section 5.1) required the contractor to provide a work facility with a Top Secret facility clearance granted by the [[Defense Security Service]], and states that cleared facilities "are not required at contract inception."[^12] Modification P00001 refers to the order as dated September 22, 2008.[^13]
DIA's response letter in case FOIA-00269-2018, which released a single six-page document, is dated June 26, 2023; its response letter in case FOIA-00349-2018, a request that cited contract HHM402-08-R-0211, is dated October 13, 2022 and covers nine documents (36 pages).[^6][^7] Two documents (13 pages) were withheld in full under 10 U.S.C. 424 and 41 U.S.C. 2102(a)(1) (contract source selection information).[^7]
DIA's response letter in case FOIA-00269-2018, which released a single six-page document, is dated June 26, 2023; its response letter in case FOIA-00349-2018, a request that cited contract HHM402-08-R-0211, is dated October 13, 2022 and covers nine documents (36 pages).[^11][^12] Two documents (13 pages) were withheld in full under 10 U.S.C. 424 and 41 U.S.C. 2102(a)(1) (contract source selection information).[^12]
### Payments, funding and modifications
A DIA contract status briefing dated December 16, 2008 for contract HHM402-08-C-0072 states that "equal amount monthly payments to contractor have commenced and allow for research subcontracts to be put into place quickly," that the technical approaches were "established, traditional techniques within intended scope of contract," and that the effort was "on track, on schedule, and within cost." It records that the first contract status brief was given on November 10, that Senator Harry Reid raised the subject in a meeting on November 13, and that BAASS submitted program management plans for the twelve technical areas on November 21, 2008.[^9]
A DIA contract status briefing dated December 16, 2008 for contract HHM402-08-C-0072 states that "equal amount monthly payments to contractor have commenced and allow for research subcontracts to be put into place quickly," that the technical approaches were "established, traditional techniques within intended scope of contract," and that the effort was "on track, on schedule, and within cost." It records that the first contract status brief was given on November 10, that Senator Harry Reid raised the subject in a meeting on November 13, and that BAASS submitted program management plans for the twelve technical areas on November 21, 2008.[^14]
A briefing of August 24, 2009 states that BAASS was "in full compliance," had delivered 12 project management plans and 26 detailed research reports ("twice minimum requirement") by June 30, 2009, that DIA should proceed with option year 1 "subject to available funding," and that 12 million dollars for continuation had been submitted in the fiscal 2010 defense budget. It records that the contracting officer would extend the contract through September 30 to use fiscal 2010 funds in option year 1 at no additional cost to the government, and that BAASS had indicated it was "willing to operate 'at risk' in option year 1 until FY10 funding arrives."[^10] A later briefing states that the 12 million dollars "also covers BAASS overhead, staff, facilities, IT, security, databases, etc."[^11]
A briefing of August 24, 2009 states that BAASS was "in full compliance," had delivered 12 project management plans and 26 detailed research reports ("twice minimum requirement") by June 30, 2009, that DIA should proceed with option year 1 "subject to available funding," and that 12 million dollars for continuation had been submitted in the fiscal 2010 defense budget. It records that the contracting officer would extend the contract through September 30 to use fiscal 2010 funds in option year 1 at no additional cost to the government, and that BAASS had indicated it was "willing to operate 'at risk' in option year 1 until FY10 funding arrives."[^15] A later briefing states that the 12 million dollars "also covers BAASS overhead, staff, facilities, IT, security, databases, etc."[^16]
The modifications released in FOIA-00349-2018 are:
Modification P00001, effective September 2, 2009 (signed September 4, 2009): extended the period of performance to September 30, 2009, revised the option year to October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010, and exercised option year 1 "subject to availability of funds" under FAR 52.217-9, with a modification amount of 0.00 dollars. The contractor address on this form is 1899 W Brooks Ave, North Las Vegas.[^8]
Modification P00001, effective September 2, 2009 (signed September 4, 2009): extended the period of performance to September 30, 2009, revised the option year to October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010, and exercised option year 1 "subject to availability of funds" under FAR 52.217-9, with a modification amount of 0.00 dollars. The contractor address on this form is 1899 W Brooks Ave, North Las Vegas.[^13]
Modification P00002, effective February 2, 2010: provided funding (amount redacted) for the exercise of option year 1, removed the availability-of-funds clause of P00001, and directed BAASS to "identify impacts to deliverables as a result of reduced funding for Option Year 1" and to identify "technical risks of reduced funding."[^12]
Modification P00002, effective February 2, 2010: provided funding (amount redacted) for the exercise of option year 1, removed the availability-of-funds clause of P00001, and directed BAASS to "identify impacts to deliverables as a result of reduced funding for Option Year 1" and to identify "technical risks of reduced funding."[^17]
Modifications P00003 and P00004, both distributed May 18, 2010: administrative changes concerning the contracting officer's representative.[^12]
Modifications P00003 and P00004, both distributed May 18, 2010: administrative changes concerning the contracting officer's representative.[^17]
Modification P00005, September 28, 2010: extended the period of performance from September 21, 2010 to December 21, 2010 under FAR 52.217-8, with no funding required.[^12]
Modification P00005, September 28, 2010: extended the period of performance from September 21, 2010 to December 21, 2010 under FAR 52.217-8, with no funding required.[^17]
DIA's October 30, 2009 memorandum lists 26 technical reports delivered in fiscal 2009. It states that eight reviews were performed by other authors listed in its table and five by outside reviewers, among them three research staff members at [[Sandia National Laboratories]], and that "based on draft budget guidance, [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] apparently will fund the contract's option year one at $12 million."[^5] A 2010 memorandum to the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics]] states that the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations Act "included a $12 million add for the project," that twelve additional reports were produced and delivered, and that one of the 26 reports, "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering," was published in March 2010.[^5]
DIA's October 30, 2009 memorandum lists 26 technical reports delivered in fiscal 2009. It states that eight reviews were performed by other authors listed in its table and five by outside reviewers, among them three research staff members at Sandia National Laboratories, and that "based on draft budget guidance, [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] apparently will fund the contract's option year one at $12 million."[^10] A 2010 memorandum to the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics]] states that the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations Act "included a $12 million add for the project," that twelve additional reports were produced and delivered, and that one of the 26 reports, "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering," was published in March 2010.[^10]
### Counterintelligence notation
Talking points prepared for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Reid contain the entry "August 2008: DIA learned of counter-intelligence concerns with Bigelow Aerospace, the parent company of Bigelow Aerospace Advance Space Studies. These concerns do not appear to be directly related to Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Application Program (AAWSAP)." The next entry reads "September 2008: DIA awarded the contract to the sole bidder." The document does not state the nature of the concerns. The talking points are attached to a memorandum signed by [[James Clapper|James R. Clapper Jr.]], [[Under Secretary of Defense]] for Intelligence, recommending against a Special Access Program; it states that the program manager and his leadership "saw no justification for Special Access protections based on the content of the FY09 deliverables or the anticipated FY10 work."[^4]
Talking points prepared for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Reid contain the entry "August 2008: DIA learned of counter-intelligence concerns with Bigelow Aerospace, the parent company of Bigelow Aerospace Advance Space Studies. These concerns do not appear to be directly related to Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Application Program (AAWSAP)." The next entry reads "September 2008: DIA awarded the contract to the sole bidder." The document does not state the nature of the concerns. The talking points are attached to a memorandum signed by [[James Clapper|James R. Clapper Jr.]], [[Under Secretary of Defense]] for Intelligence, recommending against a Special Access Program; it states that the program manager and his leadership "saw no justification for Special Access protections based on the content of the FY09 deliverables or the anticipated FY10 work."[^9]
Sole source for the August 2008 counterintelligence sentence: the November 17, 2009 talking points as released. The redactions leave the nature of the concerns and the component that learned of them unstated.
### Appropriation as described in DIA papers
The talking points state that "Senators Reid and Inouye co-sponsored a $10M earmark in the July 2008 supplemental" and that "a $12M earmark has been allocated to support the program in FY2010," and record that Reid met a DIA analyst "at a technical conference" in early 2008. They list that a Reid staff member, [[Robert T. Herbert|Bob Herbert]], made "multiple phone calls" between July and October 2009 to [[Marcel Lettre]] (listed as "PDASDILA"), asking about the status of the response to Reid's June 24, 2009 letter, and that DIA met Herbert on November 4, 2009, who "relayed the Senator's impatience."[^4]
The talking points state that "Senators Reid and Inouye co-sponsored a $10M earmark in the July 2008 supplemental" and that "a $12M earmark has been allocated to support the program in FY2010," and record that Reid met a DIA analyst "at a technical conference" in early 2008. They list that a Reid staff member, [[Robert T. Herbert|Bob Herbert]], made "multiple phone calls" between July and October 2009 to [[Marcel Lettre]] (listed as "PDASDILA"), asking about the status of the response to Reid's June 24, 2009 letter, and that DIA met Herbert on November 4, 2009, who "relayed the Senator's impatience."[^9]
### Foundations at the contractor's address
The [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3962948) and the [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3974535), both with a March 2024 [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] ruling date as 501(c)(3) organizations, list their address as 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada, the contractor address on the 2008 order. Their Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 report contributions of 62,000 dollars to each, all from Robert Thomas Bigelow, expenses of 105 and 8,158 dollars, and year-end assets of 61,895 and 53,953 dollars. The returns list Robert Thomas Bigelow as president and director and as treasurer and director, [[Donna Stauch]] as secretary and director, and Colm Kelleher and [[Jody Erickson]] as directors.[^13]
The [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3962948) and the [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3974535), both with a March 2024 [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] ruling date as 501(c)(3) organizations, list their address as 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada, the contractor address on the 2008 order. Their Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 report contributions of 62,000 dollars to each, all from Robert Thomas Bigelow, expenses of 105 and 8,158 dollars, and year-end assets of 61,895 and 53,953 dollars. The returns list Robert Thomas Bigelow as president and director and as treasurer and director, [[Donna Stauch]] as secretary and director, and Colm Kelleher and [[Jody Erickson]] as directors.[^18]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Lacatski, James T., Kelleher, Colm A., and Knapp, George. *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon: An Insider's Account of the Secret Government UAP Program*. RTMA, 2021. Elizondo, Luis. *IMMINENT: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs*. Morrow, 2024.
[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017.
[^3]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Talking Paper, "Senator Reid Visit to Director, DIA," May 4, 2009, released by DIA to The Black Vault. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf
[^4]: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, final packet for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Harry Reid, including the memorandum signed by James R. Clapper Jr. and the talking points. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf
[^5]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Info Memo U-10-2552CE to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, "Advanced Aerospace Threat and Identification Program," 2010; and Info Memo U-429-09 of October 30, 2009, "Review of Advanced Aerospace Contract Deliverables." https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-10-2552CE-IM-ATL.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-429-09-DWO-IM.pdf
[^6]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Standard Form 1449, order HHM402-08-C-0072, signed September 22, 2008, released with a DIA letter dated June 26, 2023 in FOIA-00269-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf
[^7]: DIA letter U-22-8017/IMO-2 (FOIA) of October 13, 2022 and attached records (statement of work sections 5.1 and 9; modifications), FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf ; document index with release notes: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/the-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system-applications-program-aawsap-documentation/
[^8]: Modification P00001 (Standard Form 30), effective September 2, 2009, with the attached copy of Standard Form 1449 for order HHM402-08-C-0072. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_FY10.pdf
[^9]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Contract Status," contract HHM402-08-C-0072, December 16, 2008. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DI_Brief_2008.pdf
[^10]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Aerospace Contract Status," August 24, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_24Aug09.pdf
[^11]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Contract Status," 2009 (undated), slide on option year 1 deliverables. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_Briefing.pdf
[^12]: Modifications P00002 (February 2, 2010), P00003 and P00004 (May 18, 2010) and P00005 (September 28, 2010), contract HHM402-08-C-0072, in FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf
[^13]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Form 990-PF, The Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3962948, object ID 202403379349100410) and The Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3974535, object ID 202413379349100411), tax period ended January 31, 2024, in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2024/2024_TEOS_XML_12A.zip ; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API records for the same EINs. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933962948.json and https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933974535.json
[^2]: Keith Basterfield, "More BAASS AAWSAP documents emerge," June 5, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/more-baass-aawsap-documents-emerge.html . Lacatski, James T., Kelleher, Colm A., and Knapp, George. *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon*. RTMA, 2021, Appendix 1 (as described by Basterfield). Sole source for the contents and circulation history of the two files.
[^3]: Keith Basterfield, "There was a BAASS AAWSAP administrator before Robert Bigelow," June 28, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/there-was-baass-aawsap-administrator.html . Sole source for the passage quoted from the Ten Month Report.
[^4]: Keith Basterfield, "The BAASS 'Project Campus,'" July 7, 2025, quoting the BAASS Ten Month Report (July 30, 2009). https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-baass-project-campus.html . Sole source for the passages so cited.
[^5]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017.
[^6]: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, final response letter of June 20, 2023, case 2022-HQFO-00386, to Marc Cecotti, signed Jimmy Wolfrey, Senior Director, FOIA Operations and Management, and one-page enclosure "BAASS Goals 2011/2012," as posted by Marc Cecotti on X, June 20, 2023. https://x.com/MC05A/status/1671217484685246478 ; images https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzFa762X0AA4b7W.jpg (letter) and https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzFa76yXwAE4d8N.png (enclosure).
[^7]: Keith Basterfield, "Was the Department of Homeland Security keen to take on the AAWSAP?," June 22, 2023, https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/06/was-department-of-homeland-security.html ; "Lockheed Martin and BAASS," November 30, 2023, https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/11/lockheed-martin-and-baass.html .
[^8]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Talking Paper, "Senator Reid Visit to Director, DIA," May 4, 2009, released by DIA to The Black Vault. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf
[^9]: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, final packet for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Harry Reid, including the memorandum signed by James R. Clapper Jr. and the talking points. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf
[^10]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Info Memo U-10-2552CE to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, "Advanced Aerospace Threat and Identification Program," 2010; and Info Memo U-429-09 of October 30, 2009, "Review of Advanced Aerospace Contract Deliverables." https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-10-2552CE-IM-ATL.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-429-09-DWO-IM.pdf
[^11]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Standard Form 1449, order HHM402-08-C-0072, signed September 22, 2008, released with a DIA letter dated June 26, 2023 in FOIA-00269-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf
[^12]: DIA letter U-22-8017/IMO-2 (FOIA) of October 13, 2022 and attached records (statement of work sections 5.1 and 9; modifications), FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf ; document index with release notes: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/the-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system-applications-program-aawsap-documentation/
[^13]: Modification P00001 (Standard Form 30), effective September 2, 2009, with the attached copy of Standard Form 1449 for order HHM402-08-C-0072. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_FY10.pdf
[^14]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Contract Status," contract HHM402-08-C-0072, December 16, 2008. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DI_Brief_2008.pdf
[^15]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Aerospace Contract Status," August 24, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_24Aug09.pdf
[^16]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Contract Status," 2009 (undated), slide on option year 1 deliverables. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_Briefing.pdf
[^17]: Modifications P00002 (February 2, 2010), P00003 and P00004 (May 18, 2010) and P00005 (September 28, 2010), contract HHM402-08-C-0072, in FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf
[^18]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Form 990-PF, The Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3962948, object ID 202403379349100410) and The Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3974535, object ID 202413379349100411), tax period ended January 31, 2024, in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2024/2024_TEOS_XML_12A.zip ; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API records for the same EINs. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933962948.json and https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933974535.json

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---
category: "Organizations"
tags:
- Organization
- CantorFitzgerald
- Brokerage
- PrimaryDealer
- HowardLutnick
- SeptemberEleventh
- Tether
- SPAC
- JeffreyEpstein
- Finance
alias:
- Cantor Fitzgerald
- Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.
- Cantor Fitzgerald L.P.
- Cantor Fitzgerald LP
- Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
- Cantor Fitzgerald and Company
- Cantor, Fitzgerald & Company
- B. G. Cantor & Company
- CF&Co
- Cantor
- Cantor Ventures
- Cantor Ventures, L.P.
summary: "New York brokerage and investment bank founded in 1945 that lost 658 employees on September 11, 2001, controls BGC Group, and has been led by Brandon Lutnick since February 2025."
location: "New York, New York"
relations:
- type: founded
with: "[[B. Gerald Cantor]]"
reverse: true
role: "founded B. G. Cantor & Company, 1945; founding partner of Cantor, Fitzgerald & Company, 1947"
start: 1945
fn: 1
- type: head_of
with: "[[Howard Lutnick]]"
reverse: true
role: "president and chief executive officer of Cantor from 1992 and chairman from 1996, as stated in Cantor's SPAC prospectuses (CBS News gives 1991 for the presidency and chief executive role); succeeded by Brandon Lutnick as chairman and chief executive officer on February 18, 2025"
start: 1992
end: 2025-02-18
fn: 4
- type: head_of
with: "[[Brandon Lutnick]]"
reverse: true
role: "Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Cantor"
start: 2025-02-18
fn: 2
- type: owner_of
with: "[[BGC Group]]"
role: "controlling stockholder through Class B common stock held by Cantor and CFGM; 105.3 million Class B shares at December 31, 2025"
start: 2008-04-01
fn: 11
- type: founded
with: "[[eSpeed]]"
role: "launched the eSpeed electronic Treasury trading system in 1996; eSpeed initial public offering December 10, 1999"
start: 1996
fn: 6
- type: investor_in
with: "[[AdFin Solutions]]"
role: "through CVAFH I LLC: 800,000 shares of Series A preferred stock for $350,000 (July 23, 2013) and a $2,000,000 convertible note (December 26, 2013)"
start: 2013-07-23
fn: 17
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Tether]]"
role: "described by Tether's chief executive Paolo Ardoino as a Tether custodian since late 2021; sponsor, through an affiliate, of Cantor Equity Partners, which completed its business combination with Twenty One Capital, majority-owned by Tether and Bitfinex, on December 8, 2025"
start: 2021
fn: 30
- type: founded
with: "[[CF Acquisition Corp. VI]]"
role: "sponsor of the special purpose acquisition company (incorporated April 17, 2020) that merged with Rumble on September 16, 2022"
start: 2020-04-17
end: 2022-09-16
fn: 33
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Securities and Exchange Commission]]"
role: "order of December 12, 2024: $6.75 million civil penalty over statements by CF Finance Acquisition Corp. II and CF Acquisition Corp. V"
start: 2024-12-12
fn: 36
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Securities and Exchange Commission]]"
role: "order of April 6, 2020: $3.2 million penalty and censure of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. over deficient blue sheet trading data"
start: 2020-04-06
fn: 37
- type: subject_of
with: "[[BBC]]"
start: 2026-07-14
role: "BBC report that one of Lutnick's firms made plans in 2013 to go into business with the then Prince Andrew; Cantor Fitzgerald did not deny the talks and said it did not go into business with the former prince"
fn: 28
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. is a [[New York City|New York]] [[Securities Brokerage|brokerage]] and investment bank whose operating subsidiaries include Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., a broker-dealer on the [[Federal Reserve Bank of New York]]'s list of primary dealers, and whose affiliates include the interdealer broker [[BGC Group]], the real estate services company [[Newmark Group]], and a series of special purpose acquisition companies. The firm lost 658 employees at [[One World Trade Center]] on [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]]. Since February 18, 2025 it has been led by [[Brandon Lutnick]], the son of [[Howard Lutnick]], who was confirmed that day by the [[United States Senate]] as [[United States Department of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]].[^1][^2][^3]
### Founding and the Cantor Era
[[B. Gerald Cantor]], born on December 17, 1916 and raised in the [[The Bronx|Bronx]], served in the [[United States Army]] in the [[South Pacific]] during [[World War II]]. In 1945 he founded B. G. Cantor & Company, a securities firm. Two years later he became a founding partner in its successor, Cantor, Fitzgerald & Company, named also for another partner, [[John Fitzgerald]], who died two decades later. The [[New York Times]] described the firm at his death on July 3, 1996 as "among the biggest institutional brokers of Government securities in the [[United States]]," with the country's largest banks and pension funds among its clients.[^1]
The partnership Cantor Fitzgerald L.P. was created in 1992 through a remodeling of the business structure of its predecessor; its managing general partner was a Cantor family partnership. On May 7, 1996, with Cantor ailing, a settlement ended what the Times called a "bitter, months-long battle" over succession: the Cantor family's stake of 48 percent in the firm was to be reduced over time to a limited-partnership stake of almost 20 percent. The Times reported that the firm's president, Howard Lutnick, "whom Mr. Cantor had groomed to succeed him," kept the heightened management role he had assumed early in 1996. The settlement also obliged the firm to keep providing support to the charitable foundation of the founder and his wife [[Iris Cantor]].[^1] Prospectuses for Cantor's special purpose acquisition companies describe Lutnick as having joined Cantor in 1983 and served as its president and chief executive officer since 1992 and as chairman since 1996, and state that Cantor "was founded 75 years ago and has been led by Mr. Lutnick since 1992."[^4] [[CBS News]] reported in February 2026 that Lutnick "had been president and CEO of Cantor since 1991 and was elevated to chairman in 1996."[^5]
Cantor started its wholesale intermediary brokerage operations in 1972. In 1996 it launched [[eSpeed]], a fully electronic marketplace for government bonds; eSpeed completed an initial public offering on December 10, 1999, and remained a controlled subsidiary of Cantor. As of March 15, 2002, Cantor beneficially owned approximately 90.4 percent of the combined voting power of eSpeed's voting stock.[^6][^7]
### September 11, 2001
Cantor Fitzgerald's headquarters were at One World Trade Center, the north tower of the [[World Trade Center]]. eSpeed reported to the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] on April 1, 2002 that "our offices in the World Trade Center were destroyed and we lost approximately 180 of our employees, including many members of our senior management," and that "Cantor and [[TradeSpark]] lost an aggregate of 478 employees and equipment and systems." BGC's annual report for 2019 refers to "the 658 colleagues and friends who perished on that day," and, in a separate passage, to 61 [[Eurobrokers]] employees who died the same day. In that report BGC states that Lutnick and the surviving employees created the [[Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund]], and that the firm and its affiliates "committed 25% of profits for five years and committed to pay for 10 years of healthcare for the families of those we lost." BGC's annual September 11 Charity Day, on which it donates its global revenue to the fund, had raised approximately $159 million.[^7][^8][^9]
eSpeed's report states that the loss of Cantor's brokers and assets had adversely affected eSpeed's revenues, because Cantor was "not currently trading many of the financial products its voice brokers historically traded using our eSpeed system." Fixed assets with a book value of $17,690,289 were destroyed, and eSpeed had received $20.5 million of insurance proceeds by December 31, 2001.[^7] The [[National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States]] heard [[Harry Waizer]], listed as "survivor, Cantor Fitzgerald, LP," among the witnesses on "The Experience of the Attack" at its first public hearing, at the [[Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House]] in New York on March 31 and April 1, 2003.[^10]
### eSpeed, BGC and the Corporate Chain
In April 2008, BGC Partners' businesses and certain other Cantor assets were merged with and into eSpeed, and the combined company began operating as BGC Partners, Inc. In June 2013 the company sold assets of its U.S. Treasury benchmark business, and the name "eSpeed," to [[Nasdaq]]. On July 1, 2023 BGC Partners became a wholly owned subsidiary of the new public parent BGC Group, Inc. Cantor and [[CF Group Management]] (CFGM), the general partner of Cantor, held 105.3 million shares of BGC Class B common stock, 96.2 percent of that class, at December 31, 2025. The history of the public company and its enforcement record are set out at BGC Group.[^2][^11]
Newmark, the commercial real estate business that BGC transferred to Newmark Group on December 13, 2017, was listed in December 2017 and distributed to BGC's stockholders on November 30, 2018. Related-party dealings between BGC and Cantor have drawn litigation: on October 5, 2018 the [[Roofers Local 149 Pension Fund]] filed a derivative complaint in the [[Delaware Court of Chancery]] against BGC's board, Lutnick, CFGM and Cantor over BGC's $875 million purchase of [[Berkeley Point]] from [[Cantor Commercial Real Estate]], and on September 30, 2019 the court denied the defendants' motions to dismiss on demand grounds without making findings on the merits.[^12]
### Primary Dealer and Treasury Markets
The [[Federal Reserve Board|Federal Reserve]] Bank of New York's published list of primary dealers includes Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., recorded as added to the list effective August 1, 2006.[^13] Cantor's prospectus for its [[Cayman Islands]] SPAC [[Cantor Equity Partners]] describes the firm's broker-dealer as "a leading independent middle market investment bank and primary dealer," and Cantor as having "a controlling interest in BGC Group."[^14] The Times in 1996 had already placed the firm among the largest institutional brokers of Government securities in the United States.[^1]
### Cantor Ventures and CVAFH I LLC
Cantor Ventures, L.P. appears in AdFin documents with a letterhead address of 110 East 59th Street. Lutnick told the [[House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform]] on May 6, 2026 that "Cantor Fitzgerald had a subsidiary that did venture capital investing with small investments in many companies in sort of high-risk investments," called Cantor Ventures, "a venture capital arm of Cantor Fitzgerald, so sort of multiple layers down the subsidiary chain."[^15] [[Henrique de Castro]] has been described in a [[Target Corporation]] proxy statement as an advisor at Cantor Fitzgerald since January 2017, "where he leads the corporate venture capital arm of the firm, Cantor Ventures."[^16]
[[CVAFH I LLC]] invested in [[AdFin Solutions]], Inc., a [[Delaware]] advertising-analytics company incorporated on April 25, 2011, in which [[Jeffrey Epstein]]'s [[Southern Trust Company]] also held Series A preferred stock. The [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]]'s Epstein library contains the following documents.
The Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (EFTA00289560 in DataSet 9) is dated December 28, 2012, and its Exhibit A schedules an initial closing that day and subsequent closings on April 10 and July 23, 2013. It carries a counterpart signature page for CVAFH I LLC with the printed name "Howard W. Lutnick" and title "President." The same name and title appear on the counterpart pages of the investors' rights, right of first refusal and co-sale, and voting agreements, and on a letter agreement dated in July 2013. The letter agreement, on the letterhead of Cantor Ventures, L.P., states: "CVAFH I LLC ('Cantor')... Cantor has been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares and the ultimate holding company of Cantor is Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership." Exhibit A to the purchase agreement lists "CVAFH I LLC" with 800,000 shares and a purchase price of $350,000 at a "Subsequent Closing" of July 23, 2013, and a stock certificate numbered PA-7, dated as of July 23, 2013, certifies that CVAFH I LLC is the record holder of "Eight Hundred Thousand shares of Series A Preferred Stock." Epstein's Southern Trust bought 1,142,857 Series A shares at an April 10, 2013 closing and 285,714 more on July 23, 2013.[^17][^18]
On December 26, 2013, AdFin issued a $2,000,000 unsecured convertible note under a Note Purchase Agreement (EFTA00289541) whose investor was "CVAFH I, LLC," on Schedule I at 499 Park Avenue. The investor signature page (EFTA00289550) bears a handwritten signature with the handwritten name "[[Douglas Barnard]]" and the title "Chief Financial Officer." A stockholder consent (EFTA00289527) has signature pages for Southern Trust Company, Inc. and CVAFH I, LLC, each dated December 26, 2013.[^19] On January 7, 2014 AdFin shareholder [[David J. Mitchell]] wrote to Epstein: "We completed a $2 million convertible placement with Cantor Ventures at the end of the year... If and when they convert they get a board seat (we will have to increase board to 7 people as we have 5 now)," and said that "either two of the three of us (JEE, JL or DJM) could block certain actions of the Company."[^20]
A February 16, 2016 letter from Mitchell (EFTA01084694) attached a term sheet stating that "the Board of Adfin voted to accept an offer from its largest shareholder, Cantor Venture, to fund $1,750,000," and that the "Board increased to 7 directors. All chosen by Cantor," with "Howard Lutnick, [[Jed Kleckner]] and Henrique de Castro" to join the board, "Cantor will effectively control decision-making power at the Board and stockholder level" and "AdFin will be majority owned by Cantor." A cap table as of January 4, 2018 (EFTA00796718) lists Cantor at 85,959,207 shares, 60.32 percent.[^21]
On May 28, 2018 an account labeled "HWL," with a Cantor Fitzgerald LP disclaimer, exchanged emails with Epstein's account. Epstein wrote at 1:12 p.m.: "on another note what do you think the prospects for adfin are?" At 1:19 p.m. the reply read: "Producing revenue finally. This is their year. Next 12 months they need to become economically self sufficient."[^22] AdFin ceased business operations in October 2019.[^23]
Lutnick's statements on the record sit beside these documents. At the May 6, 2026 House Oversight interview he was asked "Were you personally an investor in AdFin Solutions?" and answered "No"; asked "Was Cantor Fitzgerald an investor in AdFin Solutions?" he answered "Yes." Asked whether he knew that Epstein was an investor, he answered "No," and that he learned of it "To the best of my knowledge, when these documents were released." Of the stock purchase agreement he said, "I don't think I heard about this investment till 2013, May. I think the pitch was made to me in May of 2013, from the document." He described it as "inexplicable and unsettling that he had ... that it was released, that my company's signature page would be in someone else's files," and said of the May 28, 2018 email, "This was ... this was me, because it says 'HWL.'"[^15] A source close to Lutnick told CBS News, in a report updated February 7, 2026, that "Cantor [Fitzgerald] was a small minority investor in Adfin" and that "[a]t the time of doing the deal, as a minority investor, Mr. Lutnick would not have any knowledge of who the other investors were."[^5] The [[BBC]] reported on July 14, 2026 that the Commerce Department had called the allegations "a desperate partisan distraction from the historic work of this Administration" and said there was "no evidence of wrongdoing or legitimate cause for concern."[^24]
### The 2013 Proposals Involving the Duke of York
A term sheet headed "Term Sheet (8/29/13 Preliminary Draft for Discussion Purposes Only)" and marked "CONFIDENTIAL" summarizes "a joint venture to create an asset management business to be known as Cantor Urramoor Asset Management." Its partners are "[[Cantor Urramoor Asset Management Holdings]], LLC ('Cantor Holdings'), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald," and "[Urramoor], an entity owned by a trust created by Mr. T." "Cantor Holdings would be the manager of the Company," which "would be permitted to engage affiliates of Cantor as subcontractor to perform certain services such as brokerage, investment banking, subadvisory and asset management services" and could engage Cantor for support services "at 110% of fully allocated cost." The loan term reads: "the Company would advance the sum of £1,000,000 to Urramoor which would accrue interest at an annual rate of 3.5%, compounded annually," with the capital term "Cantor would make a capital contribution to the Company in an amount necessary to fund the Loan." The sheet states: "It is not a commitment to form the Company, either express or implied."[^25]
The sheet reached Jeffrey Epstein's email account through a message of August 30, 2013, subject "Term Sheet from Cantor Fitzgerald to Mr. T," from a Cantor sender to two solicitors: "Attached please find the draft term sheet. Please let me know when you would like to discuss it." On September 2, 2013 [[David Stern (business adviser)|David Stern]], whom the BBC describes as "the prince's business aide," forwarded it to Epstein: "See attached term sheet from Howard to PA. I think madness. They are still at it. We kill it ?" Epstein proposed a counter ("fifty fifty split, first 1 millino to offset loan, no subs acting without written agreement as to fee and profits . no exclusivity,") and wrote of its terms: "no predetermined split, and even then payments made only if they choose to? its crazy."[^26]
A draft "Agreement for Referrals" of November 2013 names "[[Cantor Opportunities]], LLC," "a subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. which is the holding company for a diverse organization that includes subsidiaries and affiliates that are involved in various financial services and real estate activities," and "[[Urramoor Limited]]." Its signature blocks and date are blank. It provides that "Nothing in this agreement shall be construed or interpreted to create a partnership or joint venture," that Urramoor's "only services shall be to provide Cantor and any applicable CF Company with introductions to non-US persons, individuals, or entities," and that "a typical referral fee to Cantor would be 25% of the lender's fee ... Such referral fee to Cantor would be split 50/50 with UML." Exhibit A lists, among the "Asset Management Opportunities," "Investment in funds or separate account managed by a registered investment advisor such as Cantor Comparative Advantage, L.P."[^27]
On August 9, 2013, in a thread headed "HL Loan," Epstein wrote to Stern: "no no no no no, howards main businesss is gambing in las vegas. he will have to disclose to the las vegas commsion his arrangeent and you will have holy hell to pay." On November 16, 2013 Stern asked Epstein, "Have you seen Cantor Fitzgerald proposal?" and Epstein answered "goofy."[^25]
The BBC reported on July 14, 2026 that "advisers to both Lutnick and the former prince discussed the deal for four months, from August to November 2013, but it came to nothing," and that "Cantor Fitzgerald did not deny the talks took place but told the BBC it did not go into business with the former prince." [[Prince Andrew|Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor]] "did not respond to a request for comment." Elsewhere in the article, a [[White House]] statement made on behalf of Howard Lutnick said: "The BBC's pathetic and desperate attempt to slander Secretary Lutnick will do nothing to change the fact that he has been the most consequential Commerce Secretary in modern history."[^28]
On November 14, 2013 a Cantor Fitzgerald managing director and deputy general counsel sent a message addressed "David" and attaching a draft agreement with the file name "LEGAL-#67891-v1-UML_Cantor_agreement_re_asset_management.docx," writing: "I have attached a draft agreement in connection with the matters we have discussed. Please note that it has not been fully reviewed internally but I believe it reflects the discussion we had." Stern forwarded it to Epstein at 7:36 PM the same day.[^29]
### Tether
[[Paolo Ardoino]], the chief executive of [[Tether]], told [[The Block]] in an article of January 16, 2024 that Cantor Fitzgerald had been a Tether custodian since late 2021. The article reports Lutnick as saying, in a [[Bloomberg Television]] interview from the [[World Economic Forum]] in [[Davos]], "I manage many, many of their assets" and "From what we've seen, and we did a lot of work, they have the money," and states that in the preceding December he "reportedly said" he was a "big fan of this stablecoin called Tether. I hold their Treasuries. So I keep their Treasuries, and they have a lot of Treasuries." A person with direct knowledge of the matter told The Block that Cantor custodies "the vast vast majority" of Tether's reserves.[^30]
On January 27, 2025 Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] wrote to Lutnick that Cantor Fitzgerald "holds a 5% stake in Tether and serves as Tether's asset manager," and that "you are handing over the reins of one of your companies to your 26-year-old son, who has worked closely with Tether on your behalf."[^31] On April 23, 2025 Cantor Equity Partners, Inc. and [[Twenty One Capital]], Inc. announced a business combination agreement, dated April 22, 2025, with entities of Tether, [[Bitfinex]] and [[SoftBank Group]]. [[Jack Mallers]] is Twenty One's chief executive. Twenty One began trading on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] as "XXI" on December 9, 2025, "majority-owned by Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V.... and Bitfinex, with significant minority ownership by SoftBank Group," holding over 43,500 bitcoin; Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. acted as financial and capital markets advisor to Cantor Equity Partners and placement agent for the PIPE financings.[^32]
### SPACs
Cantor sponsors special purpose acquisition companies under the names CF Finance Acquisition Corp. and CF Acquisition Corp., and Cantor Equity Partners. [[CF Acquisition Corp. VI]], sponsored by [[CFAC Holdings VI, LLC]] and with Howard Lutnick as chairman and chief executive officer, closed its business combination with the video platform [[Rumble]] on September 16, 2022, following approval by its stockholders at a special meeting on September 15; the company was renamed Rumble Inc.[^33][^34] On December 20, 2024 Rumble announced a $775 million strategic investment from Tether at $7.50 per share, with Rumble's chief executive [[Chris Pavlovski]] retaining his controlling stake and Tether without the right to designate directors.[^35]
The SEC announced on December 12, 2024 that Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. had agreed, without admitting or denying the findings, to pay a $6.75 million civil penalty. The order found that in 2020 and 2021 a team of Cantor executives "managed and controlled" [[CF Finance Acquisition Corp. II]] and [[CF Acquisition Corp. V]], which raised $750 million in initial public offerings ahead of mergers with [[View, Inc.]] and [[Satellogic]], and that Cantor "caused the SPACs in their SEC filings to deny having had contact or substantive discussions with potential business combination targets prior to their IPOs" when personnel had "already commenced negotiations" with the companies they eventually merged with.[^36]
### Enforcement Record
The SEC announced on April 6, 2020 that Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. had agreed to pay $3.2 million for deficient "blue sheet" trading data: for "almost five years" the firm's submissions contained missing or incorrect data for "approximately 35 million transactions." The firm admitted the findings and was censured.[^37] The 2019 [[Commodity Futures Trading Commission]] orders against BGC Financial, L.P. and GFI Securities, LLC, and the earlier SEC and [[Financial Industry Regulatory Authority|FINRA]] settlements recited in them, are set out at BGC Group. BGC's annual report states that CF&Co has entered into guarantees on behalf of BGC and GFI for the foreign introducing brokers' obligations to the CFTC, for which BGC indemnifies CF&Co.[^6]
### Government and Political Connections
An invitation sent on November 3, 2015 from the account "Lutnick, Howard" and forwarded to Epstein by his assistant [[Lesley Groff]] announced an event with [[Hillary Clinton]] at the Cantor Fitzgerald offices on November 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., described as "a very intimate fundraising event," with a [[Hillary for America]] contribution form attached (EFTA02671545). At his May 6, 2026 House Oversight interview Lutnick said that emails addressed to "Howard Lutnick" or "Lutnick, Howard" "went to [[Matthew Gilbert]]. They did not go to me," and that "You would know if they went to me if they are listed as 'HWL.'"[^38][^15] Lutnick was confirmed as Secretary of Commerce on February 18, 2025, and stepped down that day as chairman and chief executive of BGC; Brandon Lutnick was appointed chief executive officer and chairman of Cantor and chief executive officer of CFGM, and [[Kyle Lutnick]] executive vice chairman of Cantor and president of CFGM.[^2][^3] On May 19, 2025 BGC announced it would repurchase 16,452,850 shares from Lutnick for $151,501,133 "in furtherance of Mr. Lutnick's [[U.S. government]] ethics agreement," and that Lutnick would transfer his ownership interest in Cantor to trusts for the benefit of Brandon, Kyle and his other adult children, with Brandon as controlling trustee. The divestiture of holdings in BGC, Cantor and CFGM was completed on October 6, 2025, including the sale of all voting shares of CFGM to trusts controlled by Brandon Lutnick, who beneficially owned 2.0 million BGC Class A and 109.4 million Class B shares, 75.2 percent of BGC's total voting power, as of the date of BGC's annual report for 2025.[^2][^3][^39] The 2012 and later documents on Lutnick's relationship with Epstein are at Howard Lutnick; the 2020 [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] complaint concerning Lutnick, BGC and Cantor is at BGC Group.
### Footnotes
[^1]: Pace, Eric. "B. Gerald Cantor, Philanthropist and Owner of Rodin Collection, Is Dead at 79." *The New York Times,* July 6, 1996. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/06/arts/b-gerald-cantor-philanthropist-and-owner-of-rodin-collection-isdead-at-79.html (archived at https://web.archive.org/web/1996/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/06/arts/b-gerald-cantor-philanthropist-and-owner-of-rodin-collection-isdead-at-79.html?pagewanted=all)
[^2]: BGC Group, Inc., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed March 2, 2026, "Our History" and "Our Organizational Structure." https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000162828026013162/bgcg-20251231.htm
[^3]: BGC Group, Inc., Form 10-K for 2025, "Our History," on the February 18, 2025 confirmation and October 6, 2025 divestiture. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000162828026013162/bgcg-20251231.htm
[^4]: CF Acquisition Corp. VI, prospectus (Form 424B4), February 19, 2021, management biography of Howard W. Lutnick. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1830081/000121390021010621/f424b4_cffinance6.htm ; Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., prospectus (Form 424B4), 2024. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1865602/000121390024068145/ea0204552-10.htm
[^5]: Ruetenik, Daniel, and Graham Kates. "Lutnick and Epstein were in business together, Epstein files show." *CBS News,* updated February 7, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-lutnick-jeffrey-epstein-in-business-together/
[^6]: BGC Partners, Inc., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed February 28, 2020, "Our History." https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000156459020007843/bgcp-10k_20191231.htm
[^7]: eSpeed, Inc., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed April 1, 2002, risk factor "The events of September 11, 2001 have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our business," and Management's Discussion. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000095013602000955/file001.txt
[^8]: BGC Partners, Inc., Form 10-K for 2019, "Our Commitment to Our People and Community." https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000156459020007843/bgcp-10k_20191231.htm
[^9]: BGC Partners, Inc., Form 10-K for 2019, "Our History," on September 11, 2001 and the loss of the majority of U.S.-based employees. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000156459020007843/bgcp-10k_20191231.htm
[^10]: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, *The 9/11 Commission Report* (2004), hearing list, "The Experience of the Attack," Alexander Hamilton Customs House, New York, March 31 to April 1, 2003. https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf
[^11]: BGC Group, Inc., Form 10-K for 2025, "Our Organizational Structure," Cantor and CFGM Class B holdings as of December 31, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000162828026013162/bgcg-20251231.htm
[^12]: BGC Partners, Inc., Form 10-K for 2019, Legal Proceedings, *In re BGC Partners, Inc. Derivative Litigation,* Consolidated C.A. No. 2018-0722-AGB (Del. Ch.). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000156459020007843/bgcp-10k_20191231.htm
[^13]: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, "Primary Dealers" list and "Additions and Removals," entry of July 31, 2006. https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/primarydealers
[^14]: Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., prospectus (Form 424B4), 2024. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1865602/000121390024068145/ea0204552-10.htm
[^15]: U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, transcribed interview of Howard W. Lutnick, May 6, 2026, pp. 22, 26-29, 87-89. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Lutnick-Transcript.pdf
[^16]: Target Corporation, definitive proxy statement (Schedule 14A), filed April 29, 2019, biography of Henrique De Castro. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/27419/000130817919000197/ltgt2019_def14a.htm
[^17]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289560, DataSet 9, Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement of AdFin Solutions, Inc., with Exhibit A, counterpart signature pages and letter agreement, July 2013; EFTA00289722, DataSet 9, stock certificate PA-7, July 23, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289560.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289722.pdf
[^18]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00392047, DataSet 9, email of April 19, 2013 on the April 10, 2013 closing. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00392047.pdf
[^19]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289541, DataSet 9, Note Purchase Agreement dated December 26, 2013 (signature page EFTA00289550); EFTA00289527, DataSet 9, stockholder consent, December 26, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289541.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289527.pdf
[^20]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01942504, DataSet 10, email from David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, January 7, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01942504.pdf
[^21]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01084694, DataSet 9, letter from David Mitchell, February 16, 2016, with term sheet; EFTA00796718, DataSet 9, AdFin cap table as of January 4, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01084694.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00796718.pdf
[^22]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01050772, DataSet 9, email thread, May 28, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01050772.pdf
[^23]: Weissbrot, Alison. "After A Rocky Road, Ad/Fin Shuts Its Doors." *AdExchanger,* October 17, 2019. https://www.adexchanger.com/agencies/after-a-rocky-road-ad-fin-shuts-its-doors/
[^24]: Verity, Andy, Rob Byrne and Ben Milne. "How US commerce secretary's Epstein links were uncovered by British whistleblower." *BBC News,* July 14, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q28dlyxrzo
[^25]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01107738 and EFTA01107739, DataSet 9, term sheet of August 29, 2013; EFTA02573653, DataSet 11, thread "Re: HL Loan - CD/SM call note 8.8.13," August 9, 2013 (line-break characters of the text layer omitted); EFTA01949796 and EFTA01949827, DataSet 10, emails of November 16, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01107738.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02573653.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01949827.pdf
[^26]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01958492, EFTA01958705 and EFTA01958916, DataSet 10, thread "Term Sheet from Cantor Fitzgerald to Mr. T," August 30 to September 2, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01958492.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01958705.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01958916.pdf
[^27]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01141453 to EFTA01141460, DataSet 9, "Agreement for Referrals" (draft) with Exhibits A and B. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01141453.pdf
[^28]: Verity, Andy, Rob Byrne and Ben Milne. "How US commerce secretary's Epstein links were uncovered by British whistleblower." *BBC News,* July 14, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q28dlyxrzo
[^29]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02678017, DataSet 11, email from David Stern to Jeffrey Epstein, "Fwd: Draft Cantor agreement," November 14, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02678017.pdf
[^30]: Khatri, Yogita. "Cantor Fitzgerald CEO says Tether has the billions of dollars in reserves it claims." *The Block,* January 16, 2024 (edited by Nathan Crooks). https://www.theblock.co/post/272893/cantor-fitzgerald-ceo-tether-reserves
[^31]: Warren, Elizabeth, letter to Howard Lutnick, January 27, 2025. https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_lutnick.pdf
[^32]: Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., Current Report on Form 8-K, April 23, 2025 (business combination agreement dated April 22, 2025). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1865602/000121390025034374/ea0239222-8k425_cantor.htm ; Twenty One Capital, Inc., Current Report on Form 8-K, exhibit 99.1, press release of December 8, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2070457/000121390025119445/ea026879401ex99-1_twenty.htm ; Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., Form 8-K, exhibit 99.1, press release of July 29, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1865602/000121390025068458/ea025053801ex99-1_cantor.htm
[^33]: CF Acquisition Corp. VI, Current Report on Form 8-K, September 22, 2022 (report of September 16, 2022 closing; sponsor CFAC Holdings VI, LLC). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1830081/000121390022058065/ea166065-8k_rumbleinc.htm
[^34]: CF Acquisition Corp. VI, Current Report on Form 8-K, December 2, 2021 (signed by Howard W. Lutnick). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1830081/000121390021063093/ea151639-8k_cfacquisit6.htm
[^35]: Rumble Inc., Current Report on Form 8-K, exhibit 99.1, press release of December 20, 2024. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1830081/000121390024111292/ea022562201ex99-1_rumble.htm
[^36]: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, "SEC Charges Cantor Fitzgerald Over Misleading SPAC Disclosures," press release 2024-199, December 12, 2024. https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024-199
[^37]: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, "Cantor Fitzgerald Agrees to Pay $3.2 Million to Settle Charges for Providing Deficient Blue Sheet Data," press release 2020-81, April 6, 2020. https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2020-81
[^38]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02671545, DataSet 11, email forwarded by Lesley Groff, "November 11th - Hillary Clinton Event at Cantor Fitzgerald." https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02671545.pdf
[^39]: BGC Group, Inc., Form 8-K, exhibit 99.1, press release of May 19, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025045119/ea024268501ex99-1_bgc.htm

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---
category: "Organizations"
tags:
- Organization
- DefenseContractor
- HuntsvilleAlabama
- Radar
- CounterUAS
- SierraBlanca
- Leidos
- DARPA
- AMTC
alias:
- Dynetics, Inc.
- Dynetics Inc
- Dynetics Inc.
- DYHC, Inc.
- Leidos Dynetics
summary: "Huntsville, Alabama engineering and weapons-systems company founded in 1974, employee-owned until Leidos bought it for $1.65 billion on January 31, 2020, and holder of FCC experimental licence WK2XCW with a Sierra Blanca, Texas site."
location: "Huntsville, Alabama"
relations:
- type: subsidiary_of
with: "[[Leidos]]"
start: 2020-01-31
role: "Leidos, Inc. completed the stock purchase of DYHC, Inc. (Dynetics) from the Dynetics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust for $1.65 billion in cash; the purchase agreement was dated December 17, 2019"
fn: 2
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[DARPA]]"
start: 2017-08-21
role: "team lead for one of three Phase 1 agreements in the Mobile Force Protection program; FCC filings cite DARPA agreement HR0011-17-9-0017"
fn: 5
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium]]"
start: 2021-02
role: "AMTC member named on project 20-01-017, 'Air and Missile Defense Radio Frequency Sensor Prototypes', $20M, listed in the February 2021 block of the consortium awards page"
fn: 9
- type: licensed_by
with: "[[Federal Communications Commission]]"
start: 2023-01-16
role: "experimental licence WK2XCW; the 2023 to 2026 filings list a Sierra Blanca, Texas site (31 20 05 N, 105 30 16 W, 10 km radius)"
fn: 12
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Dynetics, Inc. is an engineering, weapons-systems and information-technology company headquartered in [[Huntsville, Alabama]]. A [[Leidos]] investor presentation filed with the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] on December 17, 2019 gives its founding year as 1974, its workforce as 2,300 employees nationwide with 100 percent employee ownership, and its facilities as more than 350,000 square feet of production, assembly and test space including "Classified production capability." It lists customers including the [[United States Army]], [[DARPA]], the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], [[NASA]] and [[Special Operations Command]], and names the company as "Prime, Common Hypersonic Glide Body," "Subcontractor, Long Range Hypersonic Weapon" and "Developer, Universal Stage Adapter."[^1]
### Acquisition by Leidos
On December 17, 2019 [[Leidos Holdings]] and its subsidiary Leidos, Inc. entered a stock purchase agreement with [[DYHC, Inc.]] and the Dynetics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust (part of the Dynetics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan) to buy all issued shares for $1.65 billion in cash, subject to adjustments. A Form 8-K dated January 31, 2020 reports that the purchase closed that day, funded in part by a $1.25 billion bridge facility with [[Citibank]] as administrative agent. The accompanying press release gives Dynetics 2,300 employees, states that it would operate as a wholly owned subsidiary with chief executive [[David King]] reporting to Leidos chairman and chief executive [[Roger Krone]], and names [[Baird]] (for Leidos) and [[Jefferies]] (for Dynetics) as financial advisors.[^2][^3] A Leidos release of January 22, 2024 quotes "Leidos Dynetics President Steve Cook."[^4]
### Mobile Force Protection
DARPA announced on August 21, 2017 that it had "recently awarded Phase 1 agreements for MFP to three teams, led by Dynetics, Inc. (Huntsville, Ala.), Saab Defense and Security USA, LLC (East Syracuse, N.Y.), and SRC, Inc. (North Syracuse, N.Y.)." The program manager was [[Jean-Charles Ledé]] of the Tactical Technology Office, and DARPA stated it was working on the program with the [[Department of Homeland Security]] Science and Technology Directorate and the [[United States Coast Guard]]. The release describes the program as countering small unmanned aircraft systems and names the Army's [[Maneuver Aviation and Fires Integration Application]] architecture as the common framework.[^5]
On June 7, 2021 DARPA reported that "in recent tests at Eglin Air Force Base, DARPA's Mobile Force Protection (MFP) program demonstrated a Counter-Unmanned Air System (C-UAS) multilayer defense architecture," using "a newly-developed X band radar that automatically senses and identifies unmanned aerial system threats." The program manager was [[Gregory Avicola]], and the release states that "Dynetics was the primary systems integrator."[^6]
A Leidos release datelined Huntsville, January 22, 2024 states that the company and the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center's "Advanced Multilayered Mobile Force Protection (AM2FP)" team demonstrated a counter-small unmanned aircraft system at the Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment 2024, and that "Leidos' AM2FP work began under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Mobile Force Protection (MFP) program." It lists a "Multifunction X-Band Radar (MXR), an X-Band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar," and the "Co-axial Unmanned Guided Autonomous Rotorcraft (CUGAR)" interceptor, and states: "The current contract for upgrades to the MXR sensor, CUGAR interceptor and the C2 system is managed by the [[U.S. Army]] DEVCOM AvMC Radar Operations Facility (ROF) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama."[^4]
### DARPA agreement HR0011-17-9-0017
A public interest statement filed with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (Dynetics' application for a two-year conventional experimental licence) states: "This experiment, a continuation of the Huntsville, AL and Eglin AFB operations previously authorized under STA (WN9XIR), involves the testing of a tracking and discrimination radar. This activity is necessary to support DARPA agreement No. HR0011-17-9-0017." It names a DARPA point of contact, lists the Dynetics Huntsville rooftop or ground sites and "Eglin AFB (Range B-70), FL," gives beam widths of 16.1 by 16.5 degrees (Configuration 1) and 8 by 8 degrees (Configuration 2) and a boresight elevation of less than 60 degrees, and adds: "Additional confidential information regarding the purpose and nature of the experiment is contained at Confidential Exhibit 3." The exhibit text carries no file number or date; the PDF's embedded metadata gives a creation date of February 19, 2019.[^7]
The "HR0011-XX-9-XXXX" form is the numbering DARPA uses in its sample other-transaction agreement for prototypes.[^8] No DARPA document opened places the number HR0011-17-9-0017 beside the Mobile Force Protection program, and the filing does not name a program.
### Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium project 20-01-017
The awards page of the [[Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium]] (AMTC), introduced as "The following projects have been awarded under the AMTC Other Transaction Agreements," lists in its "February 2021" block: project 20-01-017, requirement area GM-20-01-11, "Air and Missile Defense Radio Frequency Sensor Prototypes," AMTC member "Dynetics, Inc," project value "$20M." The [[Internet Archive]] copy of January 19, 2021 (17:31 UTC) ends its newest block at "December 2020" and does not carry the row; the copy of March 4, 2021 (08:55 UTC) carries it in a block headed "February 2021." The row is also present in copies of April 12, May 6, July 2 and December 6, 2021 and March 30, 2022, and does not appear in the copy of August 16, 2022 or on the page as read on October 4, 2026. The same block lists project 19-08-026 (PNTAX Prototype Technologies, [[T2S, LLC]], $95.23M) and 20-01-144 (Low Earth Orbit Small Satellite Payload Technology, [[Iridium Satellite]], $30.04M). The page gives no scope text, period of performance or sponsor.[^9]
The consortium is an other-transaction arrangement between the Army Contracting Command at [[Redstone Arsenal]] and industry and academic consortia, for the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center.[^10] Other Dynetics rows on the page include 19-01-049 "Advanced Prototype Sensors" ($28M), 20-03-001 "Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) Prototypes" ($19.99M), 20-01-119 (March 2021 block, $47.38M), 21-01-030 "Sensor Prototypes for Long Range Precision Fire (LRPF) Missiles" ($36.56M), 22-01-040 "RF & IR Sensors and Seeker Prototypes" ($27.31M) and, under the name Leidos Dynetics, 25-01-010 "IBCS AMDPCS Convergence Inc 3 - JLTV & M1087A2 Expando Van" ($32.86M).[^9]
### FCC experimental licence WK2XCW
The FCC Experimental Licensing System lists call sign WK2XCW (station class MO, radar) in Dynetics' name. A modification filed February 3, 2022 (file 0025-EX-CM-2022) lists nine sites: Huntsville, [[Yuma Proving Ground]], [[White Sands Missile Range]], [[Dugway Proving Ground]], two at [[Eglin Air Force Base]], [[Joint Base San Antonio]]-Randolph, Redstone Arsenal and [[Joint Base Andrews]], with 9.2 to 9.9 GHz, 19.2 W mean and 7.6 kW peak power and emission designator 100MQ3N; it carries "[[U.S. government]] contract: Yes" and no Sierra Blanca location.[^11]
Later filings list a Sierra Blanca, Texas entry ("Ground Temp Fixed and Mobile, Sierra Blanca, TX," [[Hudspeth County, Texas]], 31 20 05 N, 105 30 16 W, 10 km radius). The filings are file 0012-EX-CM-2023 (filed January 16, 2023), 0148-EX-CM-2023 (May 5, 2023), 0007-EX-CM-2024 (January 10, 2024; adds "Ground Temporary Fixed and Mobile - Albuquerque, NM," within 10 km of 34-58-01 N, 106-26-44 W), 0127-EX-CR-2024 (February 15, 2024), 0161-EX-CM-2025 (July 30, 2025) and 0179-EX-CR-2026 (February 24, 2026). The exhibit to the February 2024 renewal (0127-EX-CR-2024), titled "Contract and Stop Buzzer Update Notification," states that the license file "should be updated to reflect support for the contract set forth below - which replaces the previously specified contract (DARPA No. HR0011-17-9-0017): New Contract: Agency/Customer: AvMC Contract No.: AMTC 20-01-017." The exhibit to the July 2025 modification states: "The contract below replaces the previously specified contract (DARPA No. HR0011-17-9-0017): New Contract: Agency/Customer: AvMC Contract No.: AMTC 20-01-017." The 2026 renewal's Exhibit 1 states "No Updates to Supported Contract Information: Agency/Customer: AvMC Contract No.: AMTC 20-01-017." Other licensees filing for Sierra Blanca locations in the same period are listed on [[Sierra Blanca, Texas]].[^12]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Leidos Holdings, Inc., "Acquisition of Dynetics" investor presentation, Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K of December 17, 2019 (accession 0001336920-19-000056), slides 3 to 6. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1336920/000133692019000056/dyneticsacquisitionprese.htm
[^2]: Leidos Holdings, Inc., Form 8-K, Date of Report January 31, 2020 (accession 0001336920-20-000009), Items 1.01 and 2.01. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1336920/000133692020000009/a8-kcoverpagejan312020.htm ; Leidos Holdings, Inc., Form 8-K, December 17, 2019, Item 1.01. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1336920/000133692019000058/a8-kcoverpagedec182019.htm
[^3]: Leidos, "Leidos Completes Acquisition of Dynetics," press release, Reston, Va., January 31, 2020, Exhibit 99.1 to the January 31, 2020 Form 8-K. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1336920/000133692020000009/exhibit991-pressreleas.htm
[^4]: Leidos, "Advanced Multilayered Mobile Force Protection Excels at MFIX Demo," Huntsville, Ala., January 22, 2024. https://www.leidos.com/insights/advanced-multilayered-mobile-force-protection-excels-mfix-demo
[^5]: DARPA, "Mobile Force Protection Aims to Thwart Adversaries' Small Unmanned Aircraft," August 21, 2017. https://www.darpa.mil/news/2017/mobile-force-protection
[^6]: DARPA, "Mobile Force Protection Program Concludes with Successful Demonstration," June 7, 2021. https://www.darpa.mil/news/2021/mobile-force-protection-demonstration
[^7]: Federal Communications Commission, Experimental Licensing System, Dynetics, Inc., Exhibit 1, "Public Interest Statement" (attachment 223589). https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=223589&x=
[^8]: DARPA, sample other transaction agreement for prototypes, "Agreement No. HR0011-XX-9-XXXX." https://www.darpa.mil/sites/default/files/attachment/2025-07/sbir-sample-ot-for-prototypes.pdf
[^9]: Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium, Awards page, Internet Archive copies of January 19, 2021 (http://web.archive.org/web/20210119173126id_/https://www.amtcenterprise.org/awards/), March 4, 2021 (http://web.archive.org/web/20210304085513id_/https://www.amtcenterprise.org/awards/), and later copies; live page https://www.amtcenterprise.org/awards/ read October 4, 2026.
[^10]: Advanced Technology International, "AMTC." https://www.ati.org/services/amtc/
[^11]: Federal Communications Commission, Experimental Licensing System, file 0025-EX-CM-2022 (WK2XCW), application print.
[^12]: Federal Communications Commission, Experimental Licensing System, WK2XCW files 0012-EX-CM-2023, 0148-EX-CM-2023, 0007-EX-CM-2024, 0127-EX-CR-2024, 0161-EX-CM-2025 and 0179-EX-CR-2026, applications and Exhibit 1. https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/GenericSearch.cfm

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---
category: "Organizations"
tags:
- Organization
- TradeAssociation
- Lobbying
- EmployeeOwned
- ESOP
- DefenseContracting
- NDAA
alias:
- ECR
- Employee Owned Contractors Roundtable
- Employee-Owned Contractor Roundtable
- ECR Coalition
- Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable (ECR)
- Venn Strategies on behalf of Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable
summary: "Washington coalition of federal contractors organized as S corporations wholly owned through employee stock ownership plans, represented by Venn Strategies since 2017 and named as the source of the section 874 sole-source pilot."
location: "Washington, D.C."
relations:
- type: head_of
with: "[[Erik Olson]]"
reverse: true
role: "president, per the Roundtable's About Us page ('principal at ECR'; previously 'Chief of Staff and in a variety of policy and campaign roles for Representative Ron Kind')"
fn: 1
- type: represented
with: "[[Venn Strategies]]"
reverse: true
start: 2017-11
role: "registered lobbying firm for the Roundtable; registration filed in the fourth quarter of 2017 ('Exploring SBA and DOD Preference program changes for ESOP government contractors')"
fn: 6
- type: represented
with: "[[The Halcrow Group]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-03-15
role: "registered lobbying firm for the Roundtable ('Venn Strategies on behalf of Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable'); lobbyist Stephanie Halcrow, covered position 'Professional Staff Member, House Armed Services Committee'"
fn: 2
- type: member_of
with: "[[Modern Technology Solutions]]"
reverse: true
start: 2026
role: "listed on the Roundtable's 2026 Membership List"
fn: 4
- type: member_of
with: "[[Modern Technology Solutions]]"
reverse: true
start: 2019
end: 2023
role: "listed as an affiliated organization on Venn Strategies' lobbying reports for the Roundtable (amended 2019 and 2020 reports through the first-quarter 2023 report)"
fn: 9
- type: member_of
with: "[[Radiance Technologies]]"
reverse: true
start: 2019
end: 2023
role: "listed as an affiliated organization on Venn Strategies' lobbying reports for the Roundtable (amended 2019 and 2020 reports through the first-quarter 2023 report)"
fn: 9
- type: member_of
with: "[[Torch Technologies]]"
reverse: true
start: 2026
role: "listed on the Roundtable's 2026 Membership List"
fn: 4
- type: member_of
with: "[[PeopleTec]]"
reverse: true
start: 2026
role: "listed on the Roundtable's 2026 Membership List"
fn: 4
- type: member_of
with: "[[Decibel Research]]"
reverse: true
start: 2026
role: "listed on the Roundtable's 2026 Membership List"
fn: 4
- type: member_of
with: "[[Avion Solutions]]"
reverse: true
start: 2026
role: "listed on the Roundtable's 2026 Membership List"
fn: 4
- type: member_of
with: "[[Trideum]]"
reverse: true
start: 2026
role: "listed on the Roundtable's 2026 Membership List"
fn: 4
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
### Organization
The Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable (ECR) describes itself as "a coalition of federal government contractors that are organized as private subchapter S corporations wholly-owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)." Its website says members "provide products and services for the U.S. Government, ranging from manufacturing engines and timing belts to developing some of the most advanced combat simulators and sonar detection technologies," and lists as values giving "100% ESOPs a pathway to growth." The core team named on the About Us page is [[Erik Olson]], president ("a principal at ECR"; "14 years serving as Chief of Staff and in a variety of policy and campaign roles for Representative [[Ron Kind]] (D-WI)"), [[Matt Scott]], senior vice president (previously "senior legislative aide to Representative [[Lee Zeldin]] (R-NY)"), and [[Garrett Lukken]], assistant vice president (previously "a long stint on Congressman Ed Purlmutter's (D-CO) staff"). The site's footer reads "@2022 Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable". The Members page is password protected.[^1]
[[Lobbying Disclosure Act]] filings give the Roundtable's address as 1341 G Street N.W., [[Washington, D.C.]] (the affiliated-organization field of the Halcrow Group registration).[^2]
### 2026 membership list
The About Us page carries a "2026 Membership List" of logos, linked to the websites of: [[EA Engineering]], [[Integration Innovation|i3]], [[Jasper Holdings]], [[Life Cycle Engineering|LCE]], [[Modern Technology Solutions]] (MTSI), [[Consolidated Safety Services|CSS]], [[Decibel Research]], [[Thompson Gray]], [[Patch Plus Consulting]], [[Torch Technologies]], [[Sonalysts]], TSC ([[Technology Service Corporation]]), [[Will-Burt Company|Willburt]], [[Data Systems Analysts|DSA]], [[American Systems]], [[Avion Solutions]], [[PeopleTec]], [[REI Systems]], [[Ventus Solutions]], [[Metron]], [[SSI]], [[Stratos Solutions]], [[Weston Solutions]], [[Aero Simulation]], [[Indus Technology]], [[Simventions]] and [[Trideum]].[^1] The list carries 27 logos; the Roundtable's July 24, 2024 comment on the [[Department of Defense]]'s proposed rule refers to "the logos of the 23 ECR member companies."[^3][^4]
On federal award records at USAspending, Torch Technologies, PeopleTec, Decibel Research, Avion Solutions and Trideum Corporation are each listed as recipients with a Huntsville, Alabama address, as is [[Radiance Technologies]], which does not appear on the list; Aero Simulation is listed at [[Tampa, Florida]], Indus Technology at [[San Diego]], California, Simventions at Fredericksburg, Virginia, Technology Service Corporation at Silver Spring, Maryland and American Systems Corporation at McLean, Virginia.[^5]
### Lobbying registrations
[[Venn Strategies]] registered for the Roundtable in the fourth quarter of 2017. The registration lists the issue "Exploring SBA and DOD preference program changes for ESOP government contractors" and the lobbyists Olson, [[John Hebert]] and [[Matt Pearce]]; the first quarterly report (fourth quarter 2017, $50,000) gives the issue "Federal contractor preference policies," prints the lobbyists' prior positions as Olson ("Chief of Staff for Rep. Ron Kind"), Hebert ("Staff Assistant for Rep. [[Cheri Bustos]] (D-IL)") and Pearce ("Legislative Aide to Congressman [[Earl Pomeroy]] (D-ND)"), and lists the [[House of Representatives]], the Senate, the [[Office of Management and Budget]] and the [[Small Business Administration]] as bodies contacted.[^6] Reports from 2018 through the third quarter of 2020 carry the same issue text; the report for the fourth quarter of 2020 ($40,000) reads "Federal contractor preference policies, including S.4049/H.R.6395 the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act, which included Other Transaction Authority legislative language that directly impacted 100% ESOP companies."[^6] A lobbyist added in the second quarter of 2019, Matthew Scott, is listed with prior positions including senior legislative aide to Representative Lee Zeldin.[^6]
The 2021 reports (quarterly amounts as printed: $70,000, $50,000, $30,000 and $50,000) read "Promoting ESOP related small business procurement policies as part of the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act to provide incentives for 100% employee-owned businesses in federal contracting, and generally, provisions that promote such businesses in small business set-asides," with the lobbyists Olson, Pearce, Scott, [[Kali Fields]] (first and second quarters) and [[Gabriel Pimsler]] (second through fourth quarters).[^7] The pilot enacted in December 2021 as section 874 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 is described on [[DoD ESOP Pilot Program]].
Quarterly amounts reported by Venn Strategies for the Roundtable from 2022 onward are:
- 2022: $330,000, $90,000, $50,000, $30,000. Text through the third quarter repeats the 2021 wording; the fourth-quarter report reads "Implementation of ESOP related small business procurement policies that were included in the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act."
- 2023: $170,000, $110,000, $20,000, $30,000. The third-quarter report reads "Improvement of ESOP related sole source procurement policies that were originally passed in the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Provision for sole source procurement for follow on contracts through Department of Defense for businesses wholly owned through an employee stock ownership plan. Language was included in the House NDAA H.R.2670 and Senate NDAA S.2226."
- 2024: $330,000, $60,000, no amount printed, $10,000.
- 2025: $370,000, $50,000, $30,000, $50,000.
- 2026 (first and second quarters): $290,000, $10,000; the text adds "to all federal agencies."
From the fourth quarter of 2023 the reports read "Improvement and expansion of ESOP policies that were passed in Sec. 874 of FY2022 NDAA. Provision for sole source procurement for follow on contracts through Department of Defense for businesses wholly owned through an employee stock ownership plan." The lobbyists named in these reports are Olson, Pearce (through the second quarter of 2023), Scott, and, in various quarters, Pimsler, [[Kyla Taylor]], [[Jacob Petote]], [[Teagan Poleykett]], [[Joseph Brady]], Lukken (third quarter 2025 on) and [[Duncan Hughes]] (2026).[^7]
[[The Halcrow Group]] LLC, a consulting firm, registered on March 15, 2022 for the client "Venn Strategies on behalf of Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable"; the registration lists [[Stephanie Halcrow]] under the issue code Defense with the covered position "Professional Staff Member, House Armed Services Committee." Its reports give "National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2022, Section 874" (2022; first quarter $10,000, then $20,000 per quarter), "National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024 ... provisions related to employee-owned contractors" (2023, $20,000 per quarter), the same phrase for the fiscal year 2025 act (2024, $40,000 per quarter), the fiscal year 2026 act (2025, $30,000 per quarter) and the fiscal year 2027 act (2026, $30,000 for each of the first two quarters).[^2]
Venn Strategies also registered for Radiance Technologies in a filing posted June 6, 2024, listing Olson, Lukken and [[Andrew Sigmon]]; the filing is described on the Radiance page.[^8]
### Affiliated organizations on the lobbying reports
The affiliated-organizations field of Venn Strategies' reports for the Roundtable is empty on the reports as first filed through the third quarter of 2020 and is filled on the amended reports filed on December 2 and 4, 2020 and on most reports from the fourth quarter of 2020 through the first quarter of 2023. The named organizations are, by report:
- Amended 2019 reports (filed December 4, 2020): first quarter, Torch Technologies, [[Jasper Engines and Transmissions]], [[Applied Research Associates]], Avion Solutions, Modern Technology Solutions, Radiance Technologies, [[Burns & McDonnell]] and Sonalysts; second quarter, the same without Burns & McDonnell and Sonalysts; third quarter, Jasper, Avion, Radiance and Burns & McDonnell; fourth quarter, Torch, Jasper, Applied Research Associates, Modern Technology Solutions and Radiance.
- Amended 2020 reports (filed December 2, 2020): first quarter, Jasper, Applied Research Associates, Avion, Modern Technology Solutions and Radiance; second quarter, Torch, Jasper, Applied Research Associates, Avion and Radiance; third quarter, those five plus Modern Technology Solutions, Burns & McDonnell, Sonalysts and [[Pinnacle Solutions]].
- Fourth quarter 2020: Avion, Jasper, Radiance, Pinnacle Solutions, Torch and Modern Technology Solutions.
- 2021: first quarter, Applied Research Associates, Avion, Jasper, Radiance, Pinnacle Solutions, Torch, Sonalysts and Modern Technology Solutions; second quarter, the same without Sonalysts; third quarter, Jasper, Torch, Radiance, Pinnacle Solutions and Modern Technology Solutions; fourth quarter, Applied Research Associates, Avion, Integration Innovation, Radiance, Pinnacle Solutions and EA Engineering.
- 2022: first quarter, EA Engineering, Avion, Jasper, Radiance, Torch, Sonalysts, Will-Burt, Integration Innovation, Pinnacle Solutions, Life Cycle Engineering, Consolidated Safety Services and Technology Service Corporation; second quarter, Torch, Modern Technology Solutions, Life Cycle Engineering, Decibel Research, Data Systems Analysts and Pinnacle Solutions; third quarter, Avion, Burns & McDonnell and Data Systems Analysts; fourth quarter, Applied Research Associates and Avion.
- 2023: first quarter, Decibel Research, Life Cycle Engineering, Torch, Radiance, Data Systems Analysts, Integration Innovation, Applied Research Associates, Modern Technology Solutions and Jasper; second quarter, Will-Burt, Sonalysts, Burns & McDonnell, Avion and EA Engineering; third quarter, Consolidated Safety Services.
- 2024: second quarter, Consolidated Safety Services, American Systems and Thompson Gray. The other reports from the fourth quarter of 2023 on name none.
Radiance Technologies appears in 14 of these reports (the last for the first quarter of 2023) and Modern Technology Solutions in 11 (the last for the first quarter of 2023); Modern Technology Solutions is on the 2026 Membership List and Radiance is not.[^9][^1]
### Statements and filings in the pilot program record
In the [[Highlight Technologies]] podcast of October 21, 2023, Matt Pearce of Venn Strategies said of the pilot: "ECR led the effort to establish a pilot program that allows 100 percent employee owned companies to be eligible for a sole source follow on provision with the Department of Defense," and that "we work closely with the department of defense and the office of defense pricing and contracting in 2022 to get this program, uh, up and running." The [[National Center for Employee Ownership]] wrote on January 3, 2022 that "The impetus for the bill came from the Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable (ECR)" and gave Pearce's address for those wishing to take part.[^10][^11]
The Roundtable's comment on the proposed Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement rule (Docket DARS-2024-0017, comment DARS-2024-0017-0013) was received July 24, 2024 and posted July 30, 2024, with an attached letter titled "Comments on Proposed Rule from Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable (ECR) - DFARS Case 2024-D004."[^3]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, "About Us," including "Meet Our Core Team" and "2026 Membership List," retrieved October 4, 2026. https://ecrcoalition.com/about-us/
[^2]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, The Halcrow Group LLC for the client "Venn Strategies on behalf of Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable": registration (39cdfee6-4f44-45ad-a082-349be5239b3f, posted March 15, 2022) and quarterly reports 2022 to 2026, including b563879c-2230-4538-9732-84678cb989e8, e0bb567e-4586-472b-a534-e6aace037edc, 46b5d7f1-fb69-4dae-8cad-58580422c2e2, cf273b3f-3ebc-424c-81ec-a4d95072c3ac, 6af4d114-fe86-46d9-b897-6f15e0ce936e, 2ee379b1-d719-4661-bb8a-7a0cee347ca7, 17855ac6-25a6-45c9-ba0e-8b6213c6d4ac, 6c7356b2-2b41-4713-90f3-b73c112531dd and 1056a462-f1fb-4c16-9050-d7db8a18bd3a. https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/
[^3]: Regulations.gov, Docket DARS-2024-0017, comment DARS-2024-0017-0013 (Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable (ECR), received July 24, 2024, posted July 30, 2024), via the regulations.gov v4 API, retrieved October 4, 2026. https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DARS-2024-0017-0013
[^4]: Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, "About Us," membership logo links (mtsi-va.com, torchtechnologies.com, peopletec.com, decibelresearch.com, avionsolutions.com and others), retrieved October 4, 2026. https://ecrcoalition.com/about-us/
[^5]: USAspending.gov, recipient location on award records for Torch Technologies Inc, PeopleTec, Inc., Decibel Research, Inc., Avion Solutions, Inc., Trideum Corporation, Aero Simulation, Inc., Indus Technology Inc, Simventions Inc, Technology Service Corp and American Systems Corporation, retrieved October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/
[^6]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Venn Strategies for the client Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable: registration RR and amendment, fourth quarter 2017 (9de749e3-2835-497f-a5f5-89043bbce5d4; fb99422d-0ae7-4de5-aa34-57f437c4cda1); fourth-quarter 2017 report (9d232b48-61d6-4268-8049-3fdc749007ca); second-quarter 2019 report (568ac9c7-5562-4fc0-ba76-e855a5cf3462); fourth-quarter 2020 report (b82fc02a-0133-4a1b-afb8-8b6fa34bcfb8). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/
[^7]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Venn Strategies for the client Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, reports for 2021 (385d74d8-5048-4ac0-b5b2-7474540b730f; 6e6ed7db-5fb1-44d4-ba93-05aaeefc5cbd; c94c47aa-b819-4f8b-9823-abc581d48539; 88eb6018-3dea-4cac-a8fc-27ce4c07b6c9), 2022 (2c310bce-8a23-41e0-8d75-270364d7dbbc; f51307b7-af85-4cc1-9fa8-835333337351; e95c65f3-7677-4638-8cdf-936cac9424a7; eaa354b0-09dd-459b-9ba6-4c69f9d1d5d6), 2023 (a15d3709-503a-4420-9d86-b1417e132890; 9f618212-6245-4cf7-a1fa-8d805468468b; 36d67b6b-1cd6-4b4d-a127-1e459fc4152f; 48965e82-bd6d-4777-a094-ad87f4d9e835), 2024 (7f79c3c7-2452-41b5-82f6-bbcf97e49532; 03ce544f-80b8-40f1-aaa5-ab75bb216774; 2733b6d1-9f17-46be-b3de-8dd14dc20471; 8d201e24-22e6-40d1-bf25-61fbfd50d6d5), 2025 (9011bce4-ab97-489d-aee0-58c21b2bf017; 37e36cf1-d1df-4aa0-91d0-319bc1fb471e; d532d925-b1f3-4df3-a66d-b004985355d4; 97431fe8-9800-4ec4-bf97-b1853b0de8a3) and 2026 (9460a0b0-ae34-4968-b513-8cdf383a45a8; a630456c-6a33-496d-87ea-d506a89a5261). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/
[^8]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Venn Strategies registration for the client Radiance Technologies, Inc., filing 0670b2fa-7a5f-4c78-8439-432cfeee800e, posted June 6, 2024. https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/0670b2fa-7a5f-4c78-8439-432cfeee800e/
[^9]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Venn Strategies reports for the client Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, affiliated-organization fields: 2019 amended reports (c3cc1cc3-b62d-4912-8f2a-1b9860a8f9b1, 009b449c-7468-4a0f-8c46-3fe923a39cc6, 712e0254-257f-479f-bb15-e662062e948e, 9d6729fd-6e52-4087-b25a-006844aa9593), 2020 amended reports (ec57a71a-f736-4605-95fb-9ce9451779af, c4fa4e76-8351-477d-b6af-c731d194d637, 6e730121-4948-46c2-ae6e-ed2404fa568f), fourth-quarter 2020 (b82fc02a-0133-4a1b-afb8-8b6fa34bcfb8), 2021 reports (385d74d8-5048-4ac0-b5b2-7474540b730f, 6e6ed7db-5fb1-44d4-ba93-05aaeefc5cbd, c94c47aa-b819-4f8b-9823-abc581d48539, 88eb6018-3dea-4cac-a8fc-27ce4c07b6c9), 2022 reports (2c310bce-8a23-41e0-8d75-270364d7dbbc, f51307b7-af85-4cc1-9fa8-835333337351, e95c65f3-7677-4638-8cdf-936cac9424a7, eaa354b0-09dd-459b-9ba6-4c69f9d1d5d6), 2023 reports (a15d3709-503a-4420-9d86-b1417e132890, 9f618212-6245-4cf7-a1fa-8d805468468b, 36d67b6b-1cd6-4b4d-a127-1e459fc4152f) and second-quarter 2024 (03ce544f-80b8-40f1-aaa5-ab75bb216774). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Employee-Owned+Contractors+Roundtable
[^10]: Highlight Technologies, "Episode #36: Employee Ownership in Government Contracting," published October 21, 2023, transcript. https://highlighttech.com/episode-36-employee-ownership-in-government-contracting/
[^11]: Corey Rosen, "Congress Makes 100% ESOPs Eligible for Sole-Source Follow-on Awards," National Center for Employee Ownership, January 3, 2022. https://www.nceo.org/employee-ownership-blog/congress-makes-100-esops-eligible-sole-source-follow-awards

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---
category: "Private Organization"
tags:
- Organization
- UAP
- Startup
- VentureCapital
- SightingsDatabase
- AARO
alias:
- Enigma Labs
- Enigma Labs LLC
- Enigma Labs, Inc.
- Enigma
- enigmalabs.io
summary: "Venture-funded UAP sightings app company whose founder Alex Smith was named by Fortune in July 2022 and whose correspondence with Pentagon officials from May to October 2022 was released under FOIA case 23-F-0711."
location: "New York, New York"
relations:
- type: founded
with: "[[Alex Smith]]"
reverse: true
role: "named as the company's founder in Fortune, July 13, 2022 (quoting an interview with Bloomberg); the company's FAQ states that its employees use pseudonyms"
fn: 1
- type: funded
with: "[[Lux Capital]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024; FAQ entry last published January 24, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[FJ Labs]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Kindred Ventures]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as 'Kindred' among investors on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Stellation Capital]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as 'Stellation' among investors on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Haystack]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed among investors on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Glosso]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed among investors on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Centre Street]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed among investors on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Starburst Ventures]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as 'Starburst' among investors on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Ryan Shea]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an angel investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Ryan Hoover]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an angel investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Balaji Srinivasan]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an angel investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Jason Tan]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an angel investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Trevor McFedries]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an angel investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: funded
with: "[[Elad Gil]]"
reverse: true
role: "listed as an angel investor on the company's FAQ (capture of February 5, 2024)"
fn: 2
- type: participant_in
with: "[[David Taylor]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-05-17
role: "Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security; email of May 17, 2022 introducing himself to an Enigma correspondent, in DoD FOIA 23-F-0711"
fn: 3
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Sean Kirkpatrick]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-07-20
end: 2022-10-18
role: "video discussion of July 20, 2022, a virtual call of September 29, 2022 and an in-person meeting of October 18, 2022, with an email chain from July to October 2022, in DoD FOIA 23-F-0711"
fn: 3
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Enigma Labs is a company that publishes a mobile application for submitting and reviewing sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), run from the domain enigmalabs.io. [[Fortune]] reported on it on July 13, 2022 in an article by [[Colin Lodewick]] under the headline "This startup wants to help organize your UFO sightings," quoting its founder, [[Alex Smith]], from an interview with [[Bloomberg]]: "There was really no destination for credible information, data and sharing of expertise and insights." The article adds that "Enigma did not respond to Fortune's request for comment."[^1]
### Funding as stated by the company
The company's own FAQ page changed its answer to "How are you funded?" between 2023 and 2024. The [[Prismic]] record behind the entry gives a first publication date of August 23, 2023 and a last publication date of January 24, 2024. The [[Internet Archive]] capture of enigmalabs.io/faq taken November 12, 2023 reads: "We are a venture backed startup. Our investors are people we have known for a long time. Our investors are collaborators, they are excited about our mission and support and follow us wherever we go. The company was created by veteran technologists who drive the strategy and product decisions, not investors."[^2]
The capture of February 5, 2024 carries the revised entry: "To date, 100% of our funding is from startup investors. These include established venture capital funds like Lux Capital, Stellation, [[Glosso]], Haystack, Kindred, Centre Street, Starburst, FJ Labs and also angel investors who understand how to design and scale great consumer products, including Ryan Shea, Ryan Hoover, Balaji Srinivasan, Jason Tan, Trevor McFedries, Elad Gil. Our investors are all US funds and citizens and are people we have known for a long time." The same text appears in the captures of January 14, 2025 and October 10, 2025.[^2]
### Government affiliation as stated by the company
The November 12, 2023 capture answers "Are you government-affiliated?" with: "Enigma is a startup and a private, independent company. We are not part of any country's government or military." It continues: "We speak on a regular basis with government entities, scientific groups, local law enforcement, aviation safety and pilot groups, and NGOs. We have not signed any government agreements or received government funding to date." A further paragraph states: "We are evaluating multiple partnerships, public and private."[^2]
The February 5, 2024 capture divides the answer into labelled paragraphs. "Affiliation" repeats the statement that the company is not part of any government or military and adds: "We have no signed partnerships or collaborations to date." "Revenue" reads: "100% of our funding is from venture capital investors. We have not signed any government agreements or received government funding to date. We regularly explore science grants as well as SBIR opportunities (Small Business Innovation Research), where it could align with our goals." "Data" reads: "We have not passed any of our UAP sightings to any government." The January 14, 2025 capture adds to "Affiliation": "We do not operate on behalf of anyone."[^2]
An FAQ entry titled "Why do Enigma Labs employees use pseudonyms?" (retitled "Why aren't Enigma Labs employees names listed?" by January 2025) states: "We are a private company, not a publicly funded group."[^2]
### Correspondence with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2022
On July 3, 2025 the [[Department of Defense]] Freedom of Information Division released 50 pages under case 23-F-0711 to [[John Greenewald]] of [[The Black Vault]], in response to his request of April 13, 2023. The cover letter, signed by [[Pamela Andrews]], Chief of the [[Freedom of Information Act|FOIA]] office, states that the [[Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security]] located the 50 pages and that the Initial Denial Authority for the [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] (AARO) determined that portions are exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(5) and (b)(6). Names of correspondents other than [[Sean Kirkpatrick]] and [[David Taylor]] are redacted. The company is identified in the pages by subject lines ("Enigma Discussion," "Re: Updated: [redacted] Enigma") and by signature blocks linking to enigmalabs.io.[^3]
The chain begins, in its oldest quoted message, with an email of Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 8:20 a.m. from "Taylor, David M SES OSD (USA)": "I am the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security at OSD. I got your contact from [redacted]. I've cc'd some folks who can answer your questions. Thanks R Dave." A later message of Tuesday, May 31, 2022 from a redacted sender reads: "Mr. Taylor asked me to connect with you to better understand the product you are offering. There is a fairly broad spectrum of activity covered under data collection, data-driven reporting, and analysis with regard to this problem set." The reply from the company side, partly redacted, reads: "this week detailing the push for standardized, data-driven, rational reporting. And the call for the new AOIMSG office to work with external partners on data collection and analytics. We have a team of 20 engineers, data scientists, and ex service vets with clearance who have built this rigorous product." Another company message offers: "I can invite our CTO and VP Product to share details if helpful," and asks: "Would you prefer a phone call or a zoom where we can show you our product?"[^3]
A Zoom invitation in the release carries the topic "Enigma Discussion" and the time "Jul 20, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)"; the header of the message carrying it lists "Kirkpatrick, Sean M SES USSPACECOM J2 (USA)" and the subject "Re: Enigma Discussion."[^3]
On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 9:25 p.m. Kirkpatrick, writing from an address headed "HQE USSPACECOM J2" ([[United States Space Command]]), replied to a follow-up from the company: "I'll let you know if I survive tomorrow-I've already been pulled down to the Hill everyday this week. I have been broaching the subject of public private partnerships with the Hill and they are very receptive. Talk with you after tomorrow." The company correspondent answered on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 11:19 a.m.: "Understood. Fingers crossed on getting the PPP ball rolling and then we can start to demonstrate value. Let us know if you need anything else from us. Good luck on the Hill and talk soon."[^3]
On Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 7:52 a.m. Kirkpatrick, now under an "OSD OUSD INTEL & SEC" address, wrote: "I've been in negotiations with my bosses on this. In order to ensure proper oversight and address legal concerns, I need to request if you could provide me a detail on how your processing and application removes and protects any PII from people submitting data. Would you be willing to provide that?" The company replied the same day at 11:16 a.m.: "Thanks for your note Sean. Happily, we have been working on exactly this," followed by a redacted passage and: "We would love to do a demo of that capability - week of Sept 12th onwards I will be able to join, if there's a good time?" On Tuesday, September 20, 2022 a company message stated: "We can show you our PII redaction pipeline that we've built for other partners - is there a good time next week, Wednesday or Thursday?"[^3]
Scheduling messages of September 24 to 27, 2022 settle on a virtual call at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 29. Kirkpatrick wrote on September 27: "Let's do 6. I will be returning from a meeting at Bolling. Is this a virtual call, or am I meeting up someplace?" The company correspondent replied that the company was "in NYC so it will be virtual" and added: "It would be great to meet in person soon though - I'll be in DC and VA, Oct 19 20th."[^3]
A message quoted as written by Kirkpatrick on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 11:48 a.m. gives "When: October 18, 2022 at 1:00:00 PM EDT." On Friday, October 14, 2022 a company message under the subject "Re: Updated: [redacted] Enigma" reads: "We are looking forward to meeting you next week. Can you confirm the address for this meeting below?" Kirkpatrick wrote on October 17, 2022: "We'll meet you in the lobby to bring you up." A later company message in the same chain says: "Hi Sean - we arrived a little early, in the lobby."[^3]
A message to Kirkpatrick, undated in the visible text, reads "As promised, here is some background on the NASA program we touched on today" and gives links to a [[NASA]] announcement of NOIS-2 contract awardees and an [[Accenture Federal Services]] release on a 175 million dollar NASA crowdsourcing contract. Its signature block, and that of a further message, carry enigmalabs.io links. A message on page 3 of the release carries Kirkpatrick's signature block as "Director" of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.[^3]
### Statements about the release
The Black Vault published the release with a write-up headed "FOIA Response Reveals Contact Between AARO and Enigma Labs, Details Remain Largely Redacted," which quotes the company's FAQ: "We are not part of any country's government or military. We have no signed partnerships or collaborations to date."[^4]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Colin Lodewick, "This startup wants to help organize your UFO sightings," Fortune, July 13, 2022. https://fortune.com/2022/07/13/enigma-labs-uap-unidentified-aerial-phenomenon-startup/
[^2]: Enigma Labs, FAQ page (enigmalabs.io/faq), Internet Archive captures of November 12, 2023 (http://web.archive.org/web/20231112052159/https://enigmalabs.io/faq), February 5, 2024 (http://web.archive.org/web/20240205181411/https://enigmalabs.io/faq), January 14, 2025 (http://web.archive.org/web/20250114122228/https://enigmalabs.io/faq) and October 10, 2025 (http://web.archive.org/web/20251010160228/https://enigmalabs.io/faq); entries "How are you funded?" (Prismic first publication August 23, 2023, last publication January 24, 2024), "Are you government-affiliated?" and "Why do Enigma Labs employees use pseudonyms?". Sole source for the company's statements about itself.
[^3]: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Division, final response 23-F-0711 to John Greenewald Jr., The Black Vault, July 3, 2025, 50 pages with cover letter signed by Pamela Andrews, Chief, FOIA, with the messages quoted above appearing at release pages 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 50 and 51 (as numbered in the footer of the pages). https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/osd/23-F-0711.pdf
[^4]: The Black Vault, "FOIA Response Reveals Contact Between AARO and Enigma Labs, Details Remain Largely Redacted." https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/foia-response-reveals-contact-between-aaro-and-enigma-labs-details-remain-largely-redacted/

157
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Ignite Fueling Innovation.md
View file

@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ relations:
with: "[[Clayton Hinchman]]"
reverse: true
role: "chief marketing officer (2017), chief executive officer (May 2020); registered agent on the Alabama record in 2026"
fn: 25
fn: 8
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Jason Shelton]]"
reverse: true
@ -39,17 +39,17 @@ relations:
start: 2010-09-27
end: 2016-06-15
role: "functional, execution and non-matrix administrative support, orders 0002 ($21,844,756) and 0003 ($45,296,027)"
fn: 21
fn: 22
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[TRADOC Analysis Center]]"
start: 2007-05-03
role: "modeling and simulation, analysis and information technology support at White Sands Missile Range (CombatXXI, OneSAF) under Army orders"
fn: 21
fn: 22
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[U.S. Air Force]]"
start: 2019-05-29
role: "Transportation Family of Systems (FA877119F0021, $36,220,973) and later orders"
fn: 21
fn: 22
- type: represented
with: "[[Sol Foundation]]"
start: 2022-09-23
@ -61,37 +61,48 @@ relations:
start: 2013-10-31
end: 2016-03-31
role: "subcontractor under Army order 0003 of indefinite-delivery contract W9113M13D0006, subaward of $906,327 reported November 4, 2013; a second subaward of $98,665 reported June 11, 2026 under Air Force order FA860426FB159"
fn: 22
fn: 24
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Julie Praino]]"
reverse: true
start: 2026-08
role: "Senior Vice President for business development, capture and proposals"
fn: 12
fn: 13
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Logan Grumbach]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023
role: "strategic threat capabilities analyst (2023), Vice President (May 2024); Space Force and intelligence portfolios"
fn: 12
fn: 13
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Lonnie Dunbar]]"
reverse: true
start: 2024
role: "program manager (2024), Vice President (2025)"
fn: 12
fn: 13
- type: funded
with: "[[Citizens for Turner]]"
start: 2024-06-18
role: "Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. Federal Political Action Committee (C00830901), $2,500"
fn: 10
fn: 11
- type: funded
with: "[[Susie Lee]]"
start: 2025-05-08
role: "Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. Federal Political Action Committee (C00830901), $2,500 to Susie Lee for Congress"
fn: 10
fn: 11
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[JBS Solutions]]"
start: 2024-07-29
role: "mentor in a Small Business Administration mentor-protege agreement (naics 541715), protege JBS Solutions, Inc. (EDWOSB, WOSB, 8(a))"
fn: 25
- type: subject_of
with: "[[Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. v. United States]]"
start: 2025-01-23
end: 2025-03-14
role: "plaintiff in bid protest No. 1:25-cv-00132 (Court of Federal Claims), voluntarily dismissed March 14, 2025"
fn: 29
created: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. is an [[Alabama]] domestic corporation based in [[Huntsville]], formed on February 2, 2001 in Madison County and known as Alatec, Inc. until a name change recorded on May 16, 2016. The Alabama Secretary of State record (entity 000-214-606) gives its status as "Exists" and its nature of business as "PERFORM ENGINEERING/TECHNICAL SERVICES." Authorized capital is $250,000 and paid-in capital $100,000. The incorporators listed are [[John Hamburg]], [[Dan Cleary]], [[Mike Jury]] and [[Larry Anderson]].[^1]
@ -104,7 +115,7 @@ The Federal Election Commission registration of Ignite's first political action
The Secretary of State record shows a Certificate of Formation (7 pages), Articles of Amendment dated May 23, 2016 (3 pages) recording that the legal name was "Changed From Alatec, Inc." on May 16, 2016, and further Articles of Amendment dated September 4, 2019 (3 pages) and March 26, 2024 (1 page). The page prints incorporators only and lists no officers; annual reports for 2000 through 2024 are listed.[^1]
The registered-agent history on the same record reads as follows. On August 12, 2010 the agent was changed from Larry D. Anderson. On August 5, 2016 an agent (Anderson, at an address on Pratt Avenue) was replaced. On January 4, 2019 the agent was changed from [[Jason Shelton]], at an address on Jan Davis Drive NW. On November 9, 2022 a Registered Agent Change (2 pages) records the agent as changed from Shelton at a Discovery Drive NW address in Huntsville, with the agent's mailing address changed from the same address. The current agent is [[[[Clayton Hinchman]]|Robert Clayton Hinchman]], with a registered office on The Bridge Street in Huntsville.[^1]
The registered-agent history on the same record reads as follows. On August 12, 2010 the agent was changed from Larry D. Anderson. On August 5, 2016 an agent (Anderson, at an address on Pratt Avenue) was replaced. On January 4, 2019 the agent was changed from [[Jason Shelton]], at an address on Jan Davis Drive NW. On November 9, 2022 a Registered Agent Change (2 pages) records the agent as changed from Shelton at a Discovery Drive NW address in Huntsville, with the agent's mailing address changed from the same address. The current agent is [[Clayton Hinchman|Robert Clayton Hinchman]], with a registered office on The Bridge Street in Huntsville.[^1]
### Huntsville conference, June 2022
@ -120,31 +131,31 @@ The Alabama name search run on October 3, 2026 for the address text returned no
### Leadership
A [[Business Alabama]] report of July 20, 2017 describes the company as led by president and chief executive officer Jason Shelton, chief operating officer [[Brandon Umphrey]], chief marketing officer Clayton Hinchman and chief financial officer [[Trent Poff]]. The same report says that the company was "known as ALATEC until last year's purchase of and merger with [[USi]]," that it had about 250 employees serving federal and commercial customers in 17 states, that it was founded by "a group of retired military officers," that in 2006 it won its first two prime contracts, for modeling and simulation analytics at [[White Sands Missile Range]], New Mexico and at [[Fort Leavenworth]], Kansas, and that it established an employee stock ownership plan in 2012.[^6]
A [[Business Alabama]] report of July 20, 2017 describes the company as led by president and chief executive officer Jason Shelton, chief operating officer [[Brandon Umphrey]], chief marketing officer Clayton Hinchman and chief financial officer [[Trent Poff]]. The same report says that the company was "known as ALATEC until last year's purchase of and merger with [[USi]]," that it had about 250 employees serving federal and commercial customers in 17 states, that it was founded by "a group of retired military officers," that in 2006 it won its first two prime contracts, for modeling and simulation analytics at [[White Sands Missile Range]], [[New Mexico]] and at [[Fort Leavenworth]], Kansas, and that it established an employee stock ownership plan in 2012.[^6]
By October 2024 the announcement of the [[Radiance Ignite Technologies]] joint venture identified Hinchman as chief executive officer of Ignite.[^7] The Alabama record lists Hinchman as the registered agent in 2026.[^1]
By October 2024 the announcement of the [[Radiance Ignite Technologies]] joint venture identified Hinchman as chief executive officer of Ignite.[^7] The Alabama record lists Hinchman as the registered agent in 2026.[^1][^8]
Shelton joined Alatec in 2009 with responsibility for business development, after working at [[Camber Corporation]], and served 12 years in the [[U.S. Army]] and Army National Guard as an Air Defense Artillery officer working "principally in Joint and Coalition integration of missiles and radar systems around the globe."[^8] On May 22, 2020 Ignite announced that Hinchman would succeed him as chief executive officer, with Shelton remaining chairman of the board and Rich McAdams as president.[^9] The Federal Election Commission lists Shelton as "Chairman" of Ignite on contributions to the company's committee in 2016 and 2018.[^10]
Shelton joined Alatec in 2009 with responsibility for business development, after working at [[Camber Corporation]], and served 12 years in the [[U.S. Army]] and Army National Guard as an Air Defense Artillery officer working "principally in Joint and Coalition integration of missiles and radar systems around the globe."[^9] On May 22, 2020 Ignite announced that Hinchman would succeed him as chief executive officer, with Shelton remaining chairman of the board and Rich McAdams as president.[^10] The Federal Election Commission lists Shelton as "Chairman" of Ignite on contributions to the company's committee in 2016 and 2018.[^11]
Hinchman graduated from the [[United States Military Academy]], served as an infantry officer with the [[10th Mountain Division]] and Special Operations Task Force 17, and retired medically as a captain after wounds from an improvised explosive device during a night raid in Iraq. His decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal; he was an honor graduate of Ranger School. He worked for the [[Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization]] and Washington nonprofits, served on the board of the [[Elizabeth Dole Foundation]], holds a master's degree from [[Georgetown University]], founded and led the company USi until Ignite acquired it on April 1, 2016, served as Ignite's chief marketing officer for three years, then as president and chief operating officer of Systems, Products, Solutions, Inc. before becoming Ignite's chief executive officer in May 2020.[^9][^11] Ignite's Our Leadership page states that the company has "a minority-owned Employee-Owned Stock Owner Plan (ESOP)."[^12]
Hinchman graduated from the [[United States Military Academy]], served as an infantry officer with the [[10th Mountain Division]] and Special Operations Task Force 17, and retired medically as a captain after wounds from an improvised explosive device during a night raid in Iraq. His decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal; he was an honor graduate of Ranger School. He worked for the [[Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization]] and Washington nonprofits, served on the board of the [[Elizabeth Dole Foundation]], holds a master's degree from [[Georgetown University]], founded and led the company USi until Ignite acquired it on April 1, 2016, served as Ignite's chief marketing officer for three years, then as president and chief operating officer of Systems, Products, Solutions, Inc. before becoming Ignite's chief executive officer in May 2020.[^10][^12] Ignite's Our Leadership page states that the company has "a minority-owned Employee-Owned Stock Owner Plan (ESOP)."[^13]
Hinchman was a Republican candidate for Alabama's 5th congressional district in the 2018 cycle (Federal Election Commission candidate H8AL05208, statement of candidacy first filed June 20, 2017). His committee, Hinchman for Congress (C00648162), reported receipts of $253,800.31 and loans of $100,000 for the cycle; Ignite's committee contributed $2,700 to it on May 18, 2017, and the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee contributed $5,000 on March 21, 2018.[^10] In the Republican primary of June 5, 2018 he received 34,739 votes (38.7 percent) to 54,928 (61.3 percent) for [[Mo Brooks]], of 89,667 cast in the district.[^13]
Hinchman was a Republican candidate for Alabama's 5th congressional district in the 2018 cycle (Federal Election Commission candidate H8AL05208, statement of candidacy first filed June 20, 2017). His committee, Hinchman for Congress (C00648162), reported receipts of $253,800.31 and loans of $100,000 for the cycle; Ignite's committee contributed $2,700 to it on May 18, 2017, and the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee contributed $5,000 on March 21, 2018.[^11] In the Republican primary of June 5, 2018 he received 34,739 votes (38.7 percent) to 54,928 (61.3 percent) for [[Mo Brooks]], of 89,667 cast in the district.[^14]
Trent Poff has been chief financial officer since 2016 and is listed as vice chairman; he joined in 2014 and was previously at Camber. Jessica Wilkerson is chief operations officer (vice president from June 2023), with 17 years as an Army civilian at Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, Program Executive Office Aviation and the Aviation and Missile Command; her team supports the TRADOC Analysis Center at White Sands Missile Range, Program Executive Office Missiles and Space and the Space and Missile Defense Command. Stephen Mitchell has been chief information officer since January 2024 and works on Army Materiel Command information technology contracts.[^12]
Trent Poff has been chief financial officer since 2016 and is listed as vice chairman; he joined in 2014 and was previously at Camber. Jessica Wilkerson is chief operations officer (vice president from June 2023), with 17 years as an Army civilian at Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, Program Executive Office Aviation and the Aviation and Missile Command; her team supports the TRADOC Analysis Center at White Sands Missile Range, Program Executive Office Missiles and Space and the Space and Missile Defense Command. Stephen Mitchell has been chief information officer since January 2024 and works on Army Materiel Command information technology contracts.[^13]
[[Julie Praino]] is Senior Vice President, a position Ignite's release of August 31, 2026 says she took in August 2026 to lead business development, capture and proposal development. The release says she supported air and missile defense programs including the [[Upgraded Early Warning Radar]], [[Terminal High Altitude Area Defense]], the [[AN/TPY-2]] radar and [[PATRIOT]] through industry partners including [[Raytheon]], held profit and loss responsibility for a portfolio above $600 million, and holds degrees from [[Bates College]] (physics), [[Boston University]] (electrical engineering) and [[Boston College]] (MBA).[^12] She is one of five named inventors on U.S. patent application 2020/0407525 A1, "Porous Polymer Membranes Comprising Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes," published December 31, 2020 from an application filed November 27, 2018 under a provisional of November 27, 2017. The other named inventors include Jerry Shan and Richard Castellano of [[Rutgers University]] and Francesco Fornasiero of [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]. The applicants are Rutgers and Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC. Its government interest statement reads: "This invention was made with government support under grant number BA12PHM123 awarded by The Defense Threat Reduction Agency." Assignment records show two of the inventors assigning their rights to Chasm Technologies Inc. (later [[Chasm Advanced Materials]]) on May 28 and 29, 2020, and the [[United States Department of Energy]] holding a confirmatory license from Lawrence Livermore National Security recorded July 27, 2020. The specification says the nanotubes were functionalized by Chasm Technologies before use.[^14] The same grant number appears in a 2017 American Physical Society abstract by Castellano, Shan, Eric Meshot and Fornasiero.[^15] Lawrence Livermore's Biosecurity Center describes the [[Defense Threat Reduction Agency]]-funded effort as a breathable membrane for protective clothing against chemical and biological agents.[^16]
[[Julie Praino]] is Senior Vice President, a position Ignite's release of August 31, 2026 says she took in August 2026 to lead business development, capture and proposal development. The release says she supported air and missile defense programs including the [[Upgraded Early Warning Radar]], [[Terminal High Altitude Area Defense]], the [[AN/TPY-2]] radar and [[PATRIOT]] through industry partners including [[Raytheon]], held profit and loss responsibility for a portfolio above $600 million, and holds degrees from [[Bates College]] (physics), [[Boston University]] (electrical engineering) and [[Boston College]] (MBA).[^13] She is one of five named inventors on U.S. patent application 2020/0407525 A1, "Porous Polymer Membranes Comprising Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes," published December 31, 2020 from an application filed November 27, 2018 under a provisional of November 27, 2017. The other named inventors include Jerry Shan and Richard Castellano of [[Rutgers University]] and Francesco Fornasiero of [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]. The applicants are Rutgers and Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC. Its government interest statement reads: "This invention was made with government support under grant number BA12PHM123 awarded by The Defense Threat Reduction Agency." Assignment records show two of the inventors assigning their rights to Chasm Technologies Inc. (later [[Chasm Advanced Materials]]) on May 28 and 29, 2020, and the [[United States Department of Energy]] holding a confirmatory license from Lawrence Livermore National Security recorded July 27, 2020. The specification says the nanotubes were functionalized by Chasm Technologies before use.[^15] The same grant number appears in a 2017 American Physical Society abstract by Castellano, Shan, Eric Meshot and Fornasiero.[^16] Lawrence Livermore's Biosecurity Center describes the [[Defense Threat Reduction Agency]]-funded effort as a breathable membrane for protective clothing against chemical and biological agents.[^17]
[[Logan Grumbach]] joined Ignite as a strategic threat capabilities analyst in 2023 and was promoted to Vice President in May 2024, according to the company, leading its [[United States Space Force]] and intelligence portfolios, including support to the Space Force "Space Security and Defense Program," support to the [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]] full-motion GEOINT mission, and the partnership with [[Virgin Galactic]] "to establish Spaceflight as a Service for government missions." The company says he spent 15 years in missile defense at [[Lockheed Martin]] and [[Boeing]] on programs including Next Generation Interceptor, Glide Phase Interceptor, Multi-Object Kill Vehicle, Redesigned Kill Vehicle, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Long Range Discrimination Radar, holds a Ph.D. in aerospace systems engineering and is a part-time instructor at the [[University of Alabama in Huntsville]].[^12]
[[Logan Grumbach]] joined Ignite as a strategic threat capabilities analyst in 2023 and was promoted to Vice President in May 2024, according to the company, leading its [[United States Space Force]] and intelligence portfolios, including support to the Space Force "Space Security and Defense Program," support to the [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]] full-motion GEOINT mission, and the partnership with [[Virgin Galactic]] "to establish Spaceflight as a Service for government missions." The company says he spent 15 years in missile defense at [[Lockheed Martin]] and [[Boeing]] on programs including Next Generation Interceptor, Glide Phase Interceptor, Multi-Object Kill Vehicle, Redesigned Kill Vehicle, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Long Range Discrimination Radar, holds a Ph.D. in aerospace systems engineering and is a part-time instructor at the [[University of Alabama in Huntsville]].[^13]
His curriculum vitae at the University of Alabama in Huntsville lists him from May 2023 to May 2024 as lead scientist/engineer and futurist on "a direct congressional tasking through the United States Space Force (USSF) and elements of the Intelligence Community (IC)," including a 500-plus page futures study for the Space Force "to be delivered to Congress," technical whitepapers on "quantum radar, neutrino science, brain-computer interface, and metamaterials," and briefings to "Congressional Staff" and the Director of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center; the CV does not name the "multi-billion-dollar US company" with which it says he was chief technical coordinator for a partnership.[^17]
His curriculum vitae at the University of Alabama in Huntsville lists him from May 2023 to May 2024 as lead scientist/engineer and futurist on "a direct congressional tasking through the [[United States]] Space Force (USSF) and elements of the Intelligence Community (IC)," including a 500-plus page futures study for the Space Force "to be delivered to Congress," technical whitepapers on "quantum radar, neutrino science, brain-computer interface, and metamaterials," and briefings to "Congressional Staff" and the Director of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center; the CV does not name the "multi-billion-dollar US company" with which it says he was chief technical coordinator for a partnership.[^18]
[[Lonnie Dunbar]] III joined Ignite in 2024 as a program manager and became Vice President in 2025, with a portfolio the company describes as "IT, space, electronic warfare, programmatic, and facility efforts" for customers including the Space and Missile Defense Command, the [[Missile and Space Intelligence Center]], the Air Force [[350th Spectrum Warfare Wing]] and [[United States Special Operations Command]]. According to the company he served in the Army Signal Corps for over 24 years, including with the [[White House Communications Agency]], and as a sergeant major was senior enlisted leader of the [[Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence]]. The Army published his remarks in that role in 2024.[^12][^18]
[[Lonnie Dunbar]] III joined Ignite in 2024 as a program manager and became Vice President in 2025, with a portfolio the company describes as "IT, space, electronic warfare, programmatic, and facility efforts" for customers including the Space and Missile Defense Command, the [[Missile and Space Intelligence Center]], the Air Force [[350th Spectrum Warfare Wing]] and [[United States Special Operations Command]]. According to the company he served in the Army Signal Corps for over 24 years, including with the [[White House Communications Agency]], and as a sergeant major was senior enlisted leader of the [[Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence]]. The Army published his remarks in that role in 2024.[^13][^19]
### Federal contractor record
[[USAspending]] lists the recipient as Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (unique entity identifier MU8VTWFS9QP8; a second identifier, Y2C9YZS13BT3, carries the name with a doubled space; DUNS 013188409), with alternate names Alatec Inc. and Alatec Incorporated, and with the business types small business, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, self-certified small disadvantaged business and subchapter S corporation.[^19] The company's own 2015 site described it as an ISO 9001:2008 certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in Huntsville, and a 2014 capture of its "About" page listed its customers as the [[Missile Defense Agency]], the [[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]], the [[TRADOC Analysis Center]] (TRAC), [[NASA]], the [[United States Army Materiel Command]] and the [[United States Army Fires Center of Excellence]].[^20]
[[USAspending]] lists the recipient as Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (unique entity identifier MU8VTWFS9QP8; a second identifier, Y2C9YZS13BT3, carries the name with a doubled space; DUNS 013188409), with alternate names Alatec Inc. and Alatec Incorporated, and with the business types small business, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, self-certified small disadvantaged business and subchapter S corporation.[^20] The company's own 2015 site described it as an ISO 9001:2008 certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in Huntsville, and a 2014 capture of its "About" page listed its customers as the [[Missile Defense Agency]], the [[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]], the [[TRADOC Analysis Center]] (TRAC), [[NASA]], the [[United States Army Materiel Command]] and the [[United States Army Fires Center of Excellence]].[^21]
USAspending contract obligations by fiscal year (queried October 3, 2026, awarding sub-agency totals; fiscal year 2026 is partial):[^21]
USAspending contract obligations by fiscal year (queried October 3, 2026, awarding sub-agency totals; fiscal year 2026 is partial):[^22]
| Fiscal year | Total | Army | Missile Defense Agency | Air Force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
@ -168,35 +179,69 @@ USAspending contract obligations by fiscal year (queried October 3, 2026, awardi
| 2025 | $11,692,890 | $1,681,197 | | $10,008,693 |
| 2026 | $5,602,193 | $91,847 | $500 | $5,509,846 |
The fiscal-year totals (spending over time endpoint) sum to $197,112,058; the agency columns come from the awarding sub-agency endpoint and differ from the totals by small residuals. By awarding agency over the whole period the figures are the Department of the Army $78.2 million, the Missile Defense Agency $67.1 million and the Air Force $51.7 million, with $3,001 from the Navy and $5,000 from the General Services Administration. Small residuals, including Navy, General Services Administration and Defense Contract Management Agency amounts, are omitted from the columns.[^19][^21]
The fiscal-year totals (spending over time endpoint) sum to $197,112,058; the agency columns come from the awarding sub-agency endpoint and differ from the totals by small residuals. By awarding agency over the whole period the figures are the Department of the Army $78.2 million, the Missile Defense Agency $67.1 million and the Air Force $51.7 million, with $3,001 from the Navy and $5,000 from the General Services Administration. Small residuals, including Navy, General Services Administration and Defense Contract Management Agency amounts, are omitted from the columns.[^20][^22]
Largest awards by type:
- Missile Defense Agency: order 0003, $45,296,027, October 26, 2012 to June 15, 2016, "functional, execution and non-matrix administrative support"; order 0002, $21,844,756, September 27, 2010 to October 26, 2012, same description; and HQ085926FF788, $500, December 29, 2025 to December 28, 2035, "Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) initial order."[^21]
- Army, TRAC and White Sands: contract W91QF407D0004 (May 3, 2007, $0 obligated at the contract level) is described as "TRAC-WSMR missions related to analysis, studies, modeling, simulation and information technology." Orders under it and later vehicles carry descriptions such as "ONESAF scenario modeling and exercise support" (order 0043, $1,266,116, 2009 to 2010), "Combat XXI support" (order 0060, $1,951,043, 2011 to 2012), "Brigade combat team analysis support service" (order 0024, $773,937, 2008), "JIEDDO modeling and simulation support" (order 0036, $266,650, 2009), "Analytical engineering support services" (W9115122F0264, $1,158,538, June 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023), "Labor - TRAC WSMR CombatXXI" (W9115124F0091, $1,081,193, May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025) and "TRAC security task order" (W9115125F0060, $620,383, 2025).[^21]
- Air Force: FA877119F0021, $36,220,973, May 29, 2019 to November 28, 2024, "Transportation Family of Systems (Trans FOS)"; FA877125F0010, $11,262,704, November 29, 2024 to August 31, 2026, "support services for the cargo and personnel movement product line"; and FA460025F0048, $4,255,740, May 16, 2025 to March 31, 2027, "Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Ops Center."[^21]
- Missile Defense Agency: order 0003, $45,296,027, October 26, 2012 to June 15, 2016, "functional, execution and non-matrix administrative support"; order 0002, $21,844,756, September 27, 2010 to October 26, 2012, same description; and HQ085926FF788, $500, December 29, 2025 to December 28, 2035, "Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) initial order."[^22]
- Army, TRAC and White Sands: contract W91QF407D0004 (May 3, 2007, $0 obligated at the contract level) is described as "TRAC-WSMR missions related to analysis, studies, modeling, simulation and information technology." Orders under it and later vehicles carry descriptions such as "ONESAF scenario modeling and exercise support" (order 0043, $1,266,116, 2009 to 2010), "Combat XXI support" (order 0060, $1,951,043, 2011 to 2012), "Brigade combat team analysis support service" (order 0024, $773,937, 2008), "JIEDDO modeling and simulation support" (order 0036, $266,650, 2009), "Analytical engineering support services" (W9115122F0264, $1,158,538, June 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023), "Labor - TRAC WSMR CombatXXI" (W9115124F0091, $1,081,193, May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025) and "TRAC security task order" (W9115125F0060, $620,383, 2025).[^22]
- Air Force: FA877119F0021, $36,220,973, May 29, 2019 to November 28, 2024, "Transportation Family of Systems (Trans FOS)"; FA877125F0010, $11,262,704, November 29, 2024 to August 31, 2026, "support services for the cargo and personnel movement product line"; and FA460025F0048, $4,255,740, May 16, 2025 to March 31, 2027, "Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Ops Center."[^22]
Of 151 award records read under the recipient name, the only description containing an intelligence term is one 2011 Army order of $849,933 described as "IEW support." No award description names the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, the [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] or unidentified anomalous phenomena, and no NASA Marshall Space Flight Center award appeared. No document opened ties any award to Redstone Arsenal.[^21]
Of 151 award records read under the recipient name, the only description containing an intelligence term is one 2011 Army order of $849,933 described as "IEW support." No award description names the Defense Intelligence Agency, the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]], the [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] or unidentified anomalous phenomena, and no NASA Marshall Space Flight Center award appeared. No document opened ties any award to Redstone Arsenal.[^22]
### Federal registration identifiers
A 2017 justification of the [[Mission and Installation Contracting Command]] at Fort Hood (control number 2017-55, for work at White Sands Missile Range) for a twelve-month bridge contract, effective August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018, with an estimated value of $3.1 million, to "Ignite Fueling Innovation Inc, DUNS: 013188409, CAGE: 1TWJ7" states that [[Alatec, Inc.]] "is the incumbent and has completed a novation agreement to change their name to Ignite Fueling Innovation Inc."[^23]
USAspending lists Ignite's order FA877125F0010 ([[Air Force Life Cycle Management Center]], task order under [[General Services Administration]] contract 47QTCH18D0024, signed November 27, 2024, performance November 29, 2024 to August 31, 2026) with unique entity identifier MU8VTWFS9QP8, principal naics 541512, one offer, solicitation procedure "MAFO," extent competed "FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES" and type of set-aside "SDVOSB SOLE SOURCE." Obligations reach $11,262,704.03 through modification P00005 (May 28, 2026).[^23] The [[Defense Logistics Agency]] award notice for Radiance's order SPRRA226C0009 gives Radiance's CAGE code as 1H1J5 and unique entity identifier YXRLX5PDCWK4.[^23]
### Subcontract and teaming record
USAspending subaward records show Ignite as a subcontractor to [[Radiance Technologies]] on an Army order issued by the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal: prime order 0003 under indefinite-delivery contract W9113M13D0006, base period labor, $5,197,210, October 31, 2013 to March 31, 2016, performed in Huntsville, with a subaward of $906,326.71 reported November 4, 2013 described as "provide independent programmatic and engineering support, create/develop program documentation, conduct scientific and engineering studies... and analyze and assess work performed by other contractors." A second Radiance subaward to Ignite, $98,665, was reported on June 11, 2026 under Air Force order FA860426FB159, "ICAM Collection Development and Support" (Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Dayton, $12,955,000 total, June 12, 2026 to March 11, 2029).[^22]
USAspending subaward records show Ignite as a subcontractor to [[Radiance Technologies]] on an Army order issued by the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal: prime order 0003 under indefinite-delivery contract W9113M13D0006, base period labor, $5,197,210, October 31, 2013 to March 31, 2016, performed in Huntsville, with a subaward of $906,326.71 reported November 4, 2013 described as "provide independent programmatic and engineering support, create/develop program documentation, conduct scientific and engineering studies... and analyze and assess work performed by other contractors." A second Radiance subaward to Ignite, $98,665, was reported on June 11, 2026 under Air Force order FA860426FB159, "ICAM Collection Development and Support" (Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Dayton, $12,955,000 total, June 12, 2026 to March 11, 2029).[^24]
Ignite also appears as a subawardee to Torch Technologies on Army Space and Missile Defense Command contract W9113M18FD009 (Future Warfare Center, Decision Support Directorate) from 2018 to 2023, to [[Science Applications International Corporation]] on NASA orders from 2019 to 2023 (the mentor-protege relationship reported in 2017), to Parsons Government Services and ITA International on General Services Administration orders, to [[Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation]] on Army order W31P4Q25F0049 (Strike Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance, July 2, 2025, $185,259), and to ManTech, IBM, General Dynamics Information Technology and Boeing on other orders. Repeated monthly reports make the totals unreliable.[^22]
Ignite also appears as a subawardee to Torch Technologies on Army Space and Missile Defense Command contract W9113M18FD009 (Future Warfare Center, Decision Support Directorate) from 2018 to 2023, to [[Science Applications International Corporation]] on NASA orders from 2019 to 2023 (the mentor-protege relationship reported in 2017), to Parsons Government Services and ITA International on General Services Administration orders, to [[Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation]] on Army order W31P4Q25F0049 (Strike Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance, July 2, 2025, $185,259), and to ManTech, [[IBM]], General Dynamics Information Technology and Boeing on other orders. Repeated monthly reports make the totals unreliable.[^24]
### Small Business Administration mentor-protege agreements
The [[Small Business Administration]] list of active mentor-protege agreements, effective October 1, 2026 and updated October 2, 2026, filtered to agreements not expired and not terminated, contains three rows naming Ignite or Radiance as mentor or protege:[^25]
| Approved | NAICS | Protege | Mentor | Protege certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2024 | 541512 | Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (UEI MU8VTWFS9QP8) | Radiance Technologies, Inc. (UEI YXRLX5PDCWK4) | SDVOSB, VOSB |
| July 29, 2024 | 541715 | [[JBS Solutions]], Inc. | Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. | EDWOSB, WOSB, 8(a) |
| November 4, 2024 | 541715 | [[Offset Strategic Services]], LLC | Radiance Technologies, Inc. | SDVOSB, VOSB |
The agreement between Radiance and Ignite was approved on May 23, 2024. The Alabama certificate of formation of the joint venture Radiance Ignite Technologies, which markets itself as "An SBA Approved SDVOSB Mentor Protege Joint Venture," is dated July 10, 2024, and the agreement between Ignite and JBS Solutions was approved on July 29, 2024. The naics code of the Radiance and Ignite agreement, 541512, is also the principal code on Ignite's order FA877125F0010; the codes of the other two agreements, 541715, are the code of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]]'s Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing solicitation.[^25][^26]
### Award descriptions and capability claims
Of Ignite's 214 prime award records (summed award amount $202.5 million: Army $83.65 million, Missile Defense Agency $67.15 million, Air Force $51.74 million), the awarding offices are Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command offices at Fort Huachuca, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Hood and Fort Sill, the Missile Defense Agency, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and the 55th Contracting Squadron. No awarding office is the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], the Missile and Space Intelligence Center or the [[National Air and Space Intelligence Center]]. Descriptions include "Hybrid Threat, Complex Operational Environment (HTCOE) development and analysis support" (order 0011, $904,812, 2014), "Cognitive Behaviors for Units and Soldiers" (order 0042, $450,105, 2009), "IEW support" (order 0065, $849,933, 2011) and, in 2025, "Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Ops Center" (FA460025F0048, $4,255,740, performed in San Antonio). The company's capabilities page lists "Cognitive EW," "All-Source Intelligence Analysis" and "Threat Modeling and Red Teaming."[^7][^23]
Of Ignite's 214 prime award records (summed award amount $202.5 million: Army $83.65 million, Missile Defense Agency $67.15 million, Air Force $51.74 million), the awarding offices are Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command offices at Fort Huachuca, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Hood and Fort Sill, the Missile Defense Agency, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and the 55th Contracting Squadron. No awarding office is the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Missile and Space Intelligence Center or the [[National Air and Space Intelligence Center]]. Descriptions include "Hybrid Threat, Complex Operational Environment (HTCOE) development and analysis support" (order 0011, $904,812, 2014), "Cognitive Behaviors for Units and Soldiers" (order 0042, $450,105, 2009), "IEW support" (order 0065, $849,933, 2011) and, in 2025, "Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Ops Center" (FA460025F0048, $4,255,740, performed in San Antonio). The company's capabilities page lists "Cognitive EW," "All-Source Intelligence Analysis" and "Threat Modeling and Red Teaming."[^7][^27]
Ignite's September 24, 2026 announcement states that it was selected as an awardee on the $14 billion Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) contract supporting the Missile and Space Intelligence Center "through our joint venture with Radiance Technologies," to provide "Scientific and Technical Intelligence (S&TI), foundational military intelligence, and analytical-enabling services to MSIC located at Redstone Arsenal," and lists the Defense Intelligence Agency among its customers.[^23]
Ignite's September 24, 2026 announcement states that it was selected as an awardee on the $14 billion Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) contract supporting the Missile and Space Intelligence Center "through our joint venture with Radiance Technologies," to provide "Scientific and Technical Intelligence (S&TI), foundational military intelligence, and analytical-enabling services to MSIC located at Redstone Arsenal," and lists the Defense Intelligence Agency among its customers.[^27]
### Bid protests, 2020 to 2025
The [[Government Accountability Office]] bid protest docket lists the following protests by Ignite:
| File | Solicitation | Agency | Filed | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-418689.1 | FA8771-19-R-0008 | [[U.S. Air Force]] | April 27, 2020 | Withdrawn June 10, 2020 |
| B-422622.4 | W31P4Q-23-Q-0005 | United States Army Materiel Command | November 12, 2024 | Withdrawn January 16, 2025 |
| B-423562.1 | 80MSFC25Q0006 | NASA | May 27, 2025 | Withdrawn July 2, 2025 |
The Army Materiel Command solicitation W31P4Q-23-Q-0005 drew four protests: [[PPT Solutions]], Inc. (B-422622.1, filed May 28, 2024, dismissed June 25, 2024), [[Navigator Development Group]], Inc. (B-422622.2, filed May 28, 2024, withdrawn June 7, 2024), [[nou Systems]], Inc. (B-422622.3, filed November 12, 2024, dismissed December 13, 2024) and Ignite (B-422622.4).[^28]
Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. v. United States, No. 1:25-cv-00132 (U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Judge [[Robin Meriweather]]), a bid protest, was filed on January 23, 2025, seven days after the withdrawal of B-422622.4. The docket lists the complaint (entry 1), a motion to seal (2), a protective order (3) and a Rule 7.1 disclosure statement (4), and an entry of February 19, 2025 reading "Portable Storage Disc/Drive or File Share Documents Received." A notice of voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a) was entered on March 14, 2025. Later entries dated October 30, 2025 (an order) and November 12, 2025 (a notice and the administrative record) appear on the docket of the closed case.[^29]
### Political committee contributions
Ignite's second committee, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. Federal Political Action Committee (C00830901, registered January 6, 2023), reported contributions to [[Citizens for Turner]] ($2,500, June 18, 2024), the Letlow Victory Fund ($2,500, August 26, 2024), Securing the Republic for Our Next Generation ($5,000, September 25, 2024), the Calvert Victory Fund ($5,000, March 6, 2025), [[Susie Lee]] for Congress ($2,500, May 8, 2025), the Scalise Leadership Fund ($5,000, August 19, 2025) and Conservative Louisiana ($5,000, March 26, 2026). The Radiance Technologies committee reported contributions to Citizens for Turner on June 18, 2024 and to Susie Lee for Congress on May 8, 2025, the same dates as the Ignite committee's. Hinchman personally contributed to [[Mike Rogers]] committees from November 14, 2023 to June 1, 2026 and $2,500 to Citizens for Turner on June 27, 2024.[^10]
Ignite's second committee, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. Federal Political Action Committee (C00830901, registered January 6, 2023), reported contributions to [[Citizens for Turner]] ($2,500, June 18, 2024), the Letlow Victory Fund ($2,500, August 26, 2024), Securing the Republic for Our Next Generation ($5,000, September 25, 2024), the Calvert Victory Fund ($5,000, March 6, 2025), [[Susie Lee]] for Congress ($2,500, May 8, 2025), the Scalise Leadership Fund ($5,000, August 19, 2025) and Conservative Louisiana ($5,000, March 26, 2026). The Radiance Technologies committee reported contributions to Citizens for Turner on June 18, 2024 and to Susie Lee for Congress on May 8, 2025, the same dates as the Ignite committee's. Hinchman personally contributed to [[Mike Rogers]] committees from November 14, 2023 to June 1, 2026 and $2,500 to Citizens for Turner on June 27, 2024.[^11]
The [[Federal Election Commission]] lists contributions by R. Clayton Hinchman, identified as chief executive officer of Ignite, to Mike Rogers committees as follows: $5,000 to [[Mike Rogers Victory]] (C00610055, a joint fundraising committee) on November 14, 2023, reported on the committee's year-end report (image 202401299600583865); $1,600 to Mike Rogers for Congress on March 11, 2024; $1,500 and $3,500 on March 20, 2025; and $2,000 on June 1, 2026, a total of $13,600 in five entries. On November 14, 2023 Trenton A. Poff, identified as Ignite's chief financial officer, gave $1,000 to Mike Rogers Victory on the same report (image 202401299600583866). Memo-coded entries dated January 2, 2024 on the pre-primary report of Mike Rogers for Congress list Hinchman ($3,300 and $1,700) and Poff ($1,000) with the same employer. The Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. Federal Political Action Committee (C00830901) reports eight disbursements, none to a Rogers committee, the first of them $2,500 to Citizens for Turner on June 18, 2024; an earlier committee of the company, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. Federal PAC (C00610691), reported 11 disbursements from May 18, 2017 to October 24, 2018, among them $425 to Mike Rogers for Congress on April 30, 2018.[^30]
### Radiance Ignite Technologies
Radiance Technologies and Ignite announced the joint venture Radiance Ignite Technologies, headquartered in Huntsville, on October 14, 2024. The announcement named Hinchman, chief executive officer of Ignite, as president and chairman of the venture and [[Bill Bailey]], chief executive officer of Radiance, as vice chairman, and said the venture would offer capabilities in technical intelligence, directed energy, space operations, electromagnetic spectrum operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and systems engineering.[^7] The Alabama record for Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC (entity 001-144-448) gives a formation date of July 10, 2024, about three months before the announcement, and shows a Certificate of Formation of that date (4 pages), Hinchman as registered agent with a registered office on The Bridge Street in Huntsville, and no principal address or nature of business.[^24] A USAspending search for the recipient name returned no awards on October 3, 2026.[^21]
Radiance Technologies and Ignite announced the joint venture Radiance Ignite Technologies, headquartered in Huntsville, on October 14, 2024. The announcement named Hinchman, chief executive officer of Ignite, as president and chairman of the venture and [[Bill Bailey]], chief executive officer of Radiance, as vice chairman, and said the venture would offer capabilities in technical intelligence, directed energy, space operations, electromagnetic spectrum operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and systems engineering.[^7] The Alabama record for Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC (entity 001-144-448) gives a formation date of July 10, 2024, about three months before the announcement, and shows a Certificate of Formation of that date (4 pages), Hinchman as registered agent with a registered office on The Bridge Street in Huntsville, and no principal address or nature of business.[^31] A USAspending search for the recipient name returned no awards on October 3, 2026.[^22]
### Footnotes
@ -207,21 +252,27 @@ Radiance Technologies and Ignite announced the joint venture Radiance Ignite Tec
[^5]: Alabama Secretary of State, document copies for The Sol Foundation, entity 001-041-463 (name reservation RES036922; Certificate of Formation filed September 23, 2022; Statement of Intent to Dissolve and Articles of Dissolution filed September 15, 2023), purchased October 3, 2026.
[^6]: "Newly Merged Huntsville Tech Company is Just Warming Up," Business Alabama (BCA Today), July 20, 2017. https://www.bcatoday.org/newly-merged-huntsville-tech-company-is-just-warming-up/
[^7]: "Radiance Technologies and Ignite Announce Joint Venture," PR Newswire, October 14, 2024, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-and-ignite-announce-joint-venture-302275375.html ; carried the same day by 256 Today, https://256today.com/radiance-technologies-and-ignite-announce-joint-venture ; read October 3, 2026.
[^8]: "Our Leadership," Ignite Impossible, https://igniteimpossible.com/our-leadership/
[^9]: "Hinchman CEO of Ignite," Ignite, May 22, 2020, https://igniteimpossible.com/hinchman-ceo-of-ignite/ ; Radiance Ignite Technologies, "About Us," https://radianceignite.com/about/
[^10]: Federal Election Commission API, schedules A and B and candidate and committee records for H8AL05208, C00648162, C00610691, C00830901 and C00372979, queried October 3, 2026.
[^11]: "Clayton Hinchman," Boots for the Brave, October 8, 2022, https://bootsforthebrave.org/clayton-hinchman/
[^12]: Ignite Fueling Innovation, "Our Leadership," https://igniteimpossible.com/our-leadership/ ; "Ignite Welcomes Julie Praino as Senior Vice President," August 31, 2026, https://igniteimpossible.com/news/
[^13]: Alabama Secretary of State, "2018 Republican Primary Results," https://www.sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/election-2018/2018%20Republican%20Primary%20Results.xlsx (sheet Summary, CD 5)
[^14]: U.S. Patent Application Publication 2020/0407525 A1 (application 16/767,507; WO 2019/104313 A1), including its legal events listing. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200407525A1/en
[^15]: American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics 2017, session E14.5. https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD17/Session/E14.5
[^16]: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, "Innovative Nanotube Membrane Helps Protect Soldiers in Hazardous Environments." https://gs.llnl.gov/biosecurity-center/second-skin
[^17]: Joshua "Logan" Grumbach, curriculum vitae, University of Alabama in Huntsville, https://www.uah.edu/images/fsdir/cv/5172/logan-grumbach-cv-5172.pdf
[^18]: "Soldiers hold touchpoint with SMD Center of Excellence experts," Army.mil. https://www.army.mil/article/274602/soldiers_hold_touchpoint_with_smd_center_of_excellence_experts
[^19]: USAspending.gov, recipient profile, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/recipient/bfaed4e4-6d4d-c02d-4f49-a5d0d96f41ce-C/ , and spending by awarding agency since fiscal 2008, queried October 3, 2026.
[^20]: Alatec, Inc., "About Us," Internet Archive capture of July 17, 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20140717055729/http://alatecinc.com/about-us ; home page capture of August 1, 2015, alatecinc.com.
[^21]: USAspending.gov API, endpoints search/spending_over_time, search/spending_by_category/awarding_subagency (per fiscal year, October 1 to September 30) and search/spending_by_award (recipient name searches "Ignite Fueling Innovation," "Alatec" and "Radiance Ignite"), run October 3, 2026. Obligations are as reported to USAspending; order numbers shown without a prefix are the order numbers printed in the award record. A recipient of a similar name, Alatech Healthcare, L.L.C., is a different entity and is excluded.
[^22]: USAspending.gov API, spending_by_award with subawards=true, recipient search "Ignite Fueling Innovation" and "Alatec"; awards CONT_AWD_0003_9700_W9113M13D0006_9700, CONT_AWD_FA860426FB159_9700_FA860422DB008_9700 and CONT_AWD_W31P4Q25F0049_9700_GS00Q14OADS606_4732, queried October 3, 2026.
[^23]: Ignite Impossible, "Capabilities," https://igniteimpossible.com/capabilities/ ; "Ignite Named Awardee on MSIC COMET through Joint Venture," September 24, 2026, https://igniteimpossible.com/ignite-named-awardee-on-msic-comet-through-joint-venture/
[^24]: Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entity Records, Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC, entity 001-144-448, fetched October 3, 2026. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001144448&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^25]: Alabama Secretary of State, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., registered agent field, fetched October 3, 2026 (see note 1); "Radiance Technologies and Ignite Announce Joint Venture," PR Newswire, October 14, 2024 (see note 9); Business Alabama, July 20, 2017 (see note 2).
[^8]: Alabama Secretary of State, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., registered agent field, fetched October 3, 2026; "Radiance Technologies and Ignite Announce Joint Venture," PR Newswire, October 14, 2024; Business Alabama, July 20, 2017.
[^9]: "Our Leadership," Ignite Impossible, https://igniteimpossible.com/our-leadership/
[^10]: "Hinchman CEO of Ignite," Ignite, May 22, 2020, https://igniteimpossible.com/hinchman-ceo-of-ignite/ ; Radiance Ignite Technologies, "About Us," https://radianceignite.com/about/
[^11]: Federal Election Commission API, schedules A and B and candidate and committee records for H8AL05208, C00648162, C00610691, C00830901 and C00372979, queried October 3, 2026.
[^12]: "Clayton Hinchman," Boots for the Brave, October 8, 2022, https://bootsforthebrave.org/clayton-hinchman/
[^13]: Ignite Fueling Innovation, "Our Leadership," https://igniteimpossible.com/our-leadership/ ; "Ignite Welcomes Julie Praino as Senior Vice President," August 31, 2026, https://igniteimpossible.com/news/
[^14]: Alabama Secretary of State, "2018 Republican Primary Results," https://www.sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/election-2018/2018%20Republican%20Primary%20Results.xlsx (sheet Summary, CD 5)
[^15]: U.S. Patent Application Publication 2020/0407525 A1 (application 16/767,507; WO 2019/104313 A1), including its legal events listing. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200407525A1/en
[^16]: American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics 2017, session E14.5. https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD17/Session/E14.5
[^17]: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, "Innovative Nanotube Membrane Helps Protect Soldiers in Hazardous Environments." https://gs.llnl.gov/biosecurity-center/second-skin
[^18]: Joshua "Logan" Grumbach, curriculum vitae, University of Alabama in Huntsville, https://www.uah.edu/images/fsdir/cv/5172/logan-grumbach-cv-5172.pdf
[^19]: "Soldiers hold touchpoint with SMD Center of Excellence experts," Army.mil. https://www.army.mil/article/274602/soldiers_hold_touchpoint_with_smd_center_of_excellence_experts
[^20]: USAspending.gov, recipient profile, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/recipient/bfaed4e4-6d4d-c02d-4f49-a5d0d96f41ce-C/ , and spending by awarding agency since fiscal 2008, queried October 3, 2026.
[^21]: Alatec, Inc., "About Us," Internet Archive capture of July 17, 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20140717055729/http://alatecinc.com/about-us ; home page capture of August 1, 2015, alatecinc.com.
[^22]: USAspending.gov API, endpoints search/spending_over_time, search/spending_by_category/awarding_subagency (per fiscal year, October 1 to September 30) and search/spending_by_award (recipient name searches "Ignite Fueling Innovation," "Alatec" and "Radiance Ignite"), run October 3, 2026. Obligations are as reported to USAspending; order numbers shown without a prefix are the order numbers printed in the award record. A recipient of a similar name, Alatech Healthcare, L.L.C., is a different entity and is excluded.
[^23]: USAspending.gov, award CONT_AWD_FA877125F0010_9700_47QTCH18D0024_4732 and its transactions, fetched October 4, 2026, https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_FA877125F0010_9700_47QTCH18D0024_4732/ ; U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, justification for other than full and open competition (control number 2017-55), TRAC-WSMR bridge, 2017, SAM.gov notice c0541d162e1d3db391df275c0b98d89e, https://sam.gov/opp/c0541d162e1d3db391df275c0b98d89e/view ; SAM.gov, "Award Notice to Radiance Technologies" (SPRRA226C0009), https://sam.gov/opp/3e1690a8ce514f1680c451b320a3ecf5/view
[^24]: USAspending.gov API, spending_by_award with subawards=true, recipient search "Ignite Fueling Innovation" and "Alatec"; awards CONT_AWD_0003_9700_W9113M13D0006_9700, CONT_AWD_FA860426FB159_9700_FA860422DB008_9700 and CONT_AWD_W31P4Q25F0049_9700_GS00Q14OADS606_4732, queried October 3, 2026.
[^25]: U.S. Small Business Administration, "Active Mentor-Protege Agreements," file "Active Firm List 10-1-26 with Details including Mentors (Exportable)," effective October 1, 2026, updated October 2, 2026; rows for protege Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (UEI MU8VTWFS9QP8), protege JBS Solutions, Inc. (UEI CNHNJGHL4GN5) and protege Offset Strategic Services, LLC (UEI JS5WBZAD8NV6); Radiance Ignite Technologies, "About," https://radianceignite.com/about/. https://legacy.sba.gov/document/support-active-mentor-protege-agreements
[^26]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Virginia Contracting Activity, presolicitation notice HHM402-25-R-0025, "Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET)," posted September 23, 2025 (naics 541715; product service code AC23). https://sam.gov/opp/c3462f4d4988435694f9d28fc53b7127/view
[^27]: Ignite Impossible, "Capabilities," https://igniteimpossible.com/capabilities/ ; "Ignite Named Awardee on MSIC COMET through Joint Venture," September 24, 2026, https://igniteimpossible.com/ignite-named-awardee-on-msic-comet-through-joint-venture/
[^28]: Government Accountability Office, Bid Protest Docket, files B-418689.1, B-422622.1, B-422622.2, B-422622.3, B-422622.4, B-423562.1 (read October 4, 2026). https://www.gao.gov/docket/b-422622.4 ; https://www.gao.gov/docket/b-418689.1 ; https://www.gao.gov/docket/b-423562.1
[^29]: Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. v. United States, No. 1:25-cv-00132 (Fed. Cl.), docket entries 1 to 16 as listed by CourtListener. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69571674/ignite-fueling-innovation-inc-v-united-states/
[^30]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A rows for contributor employer Ignite Fueling Innovation (committee C00610055, images 202401299600583865 and 202401299600583866, report type YE; committee C00367862, images 202406099648915655, 202504159756052335, 202607159885305277, and memo entries on images 202406099648915609 and 202406099648915610) and Schedule B disbursements of committees C00830901 and C00610691, fetched October 4, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?contributor_employer=Ignite%20Fueling%20Innovation ; https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_b/?committee_id=C00830901
[^31]: Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entity Records, Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC, entity 001-144-448, fetched October 3, 2026. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001144448&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=

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---
category: "Organizations"
tags:
- Organization
- PrivateCompany
- Texas
- SierraBlanca
- TestRange
- Raytheon
- UAP
alias:
- Mile High Resources LLC
- Mile High Resources, LLC
- Mile High Resources Range
- Mile High Ordnance LLC
- Mile High Ordnance, LLC
- T & M Aviation, Inc.
summary: "Texas limited liability company chartered February 26, 2014 at Sierra Blanca; the name appears in Raytheon's October 2015 Pike munition release and in 2025 and 2026 FCC filings for a range on Skunk Canyon Road."
location: "Sierra Blanca, Texas"
relations:
- type: hosted
with: "[[Raytheon]]"
start: 2015-10-12
role: "Pike 40 mm guided-munition flight tests 'at Mile High Resources in Texas' (Raytheon release datelined Tucson, October 12, 2015); Next Generation Short Range Interceptor radio filings of 2025 and 2026 naming the 'Mile High Resources Range, 2000 Skunk Canyon Rd.'"
fn: 3
- type: part_of
with: "[[Sierra Blanca, Texas]]"
start: 2014-02-26
role: "chartered with a Sierra Blanca taxpayer address; the Mile High Resources Range lies inside the airspace polygon of FAA notice 5/3497"
fn: 1
- type: hosted
with: "[[RADA Technologies]]"
start: 2023-07-14
role: "radar product tests at the 'Mile High Range in Texas' for customer BAE, special temporary authority WV9XWE (1443-EX-ST-2023, requested August 1, 2023 to January 1, 2024); earlier filing 0384-EX-ST-2023 (February 20, 2023) names 'Mile High'"
fn: 6
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Mile High Resources, LLC is a Texas limited liability company with a taxpayer address in [[Sierra Blanca, Texas]] ([[Hudspeth County, Texas]]). The [[Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts]] open dataset of active franchise tax permit holders gives its taxpayer number as 32053311828, its [[Texas Secretary of State]] file number as 0801941989, its charter date as February 26, 2014, and its status and right to transact business as active (code A); an industry-code field on the record reads 238912. The record gives no officers, managers or registered agent.[^1]
### Mile High Ordnance and T & M Aviation
The same dataset lists Mile High Ordnance, LLC, taxpayer number 32083235625, Secretary of State file number 0804452481, chartered February 14, 2022, status active, with the same Sierra Blanca mailing address as Mile High Resources, LLC. A query of the dataset for that mailing address in Sierra Blanca returns these two entities and no others.[^1]
The dataset also lists T & M Aviation, Inc., chartered January 17, 2013 with a taxpayer address of 2000 Skunk Canyon Road, Sierra Blanca, status active; that is the street address the Federal Communications Commission filings below give for the Mile High Resources Range. The record gives no officers.[^1]
The [[Hudspeth Central Appraisal District]] roll carries an 838-acre parcel at 2000 Skunk Canyon, in Section 5 of the Public School Land survey, owned by private individuals, about 7.5 miles from the town of Sierra Blanca. Four other appraisal accounts of about 2,600 acres in total, owned by private individuals, carry on the March 2026 roll the mailing address that the two Mile High limited liability companies give in the Comptroller dataset. Plotted against the national defense airspace polygon of [[Federal Aviation Administration]] notice 5/3497 (November 2025), the parcel lies inside it.[^2]
### Use as a test range
A [[Raytheon]] release datelined Tucson, October 12, 2015, reports that the company fired two [[Pike (munition)|Pike]] 40 mm precision-guided munitions from a standard tube grenade launcher "during flight tests at Mile High Resources in Texas," that both rounds landed within the target impact area, and that they flew more than 2,300 yards.[^3] A trade copy of the release is dated October 13, 2015.[^4]
The [[Federal Communications Commission]] experimental licensing records for Sierra Blanca list two Raytheon applications that name the site. File 1976-EX-ST-2025 (call sign WA9XGO) seeks authority for "a radio that is used in the development and testing of the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI)," states that "Raytheon needs to complete DOW testing with Army customer by the end of the year (2025)," requests 2200-2290 MHz, and limits the area of operations to the "Mile High Resources Range, 2000 Skunk Canyon Rd., Sierra Blanca, TX, 79851." File 0306-EX-ST-2026 (WA9XYW, received February 10, 2026) describes "DOW follow up testing with Army customer," requests 2272 MHz and flight levels up to 5,500 feet above ground level, and names the same range.[^5]
Earlier Raytheon experimental filings with a Sierra Blanca transmitter location are WK9XXY (0313-EX-ST-2017, 434-436 MHz rocket telemetry, "3 days of launches scheduled") and WI2XYN (0461-EX-CN-2017, with renewals through 0387-EX-CR-2022). Other licensees with Sierra Blanca locations since 2011 are [[SRC, Inc.]], [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Bell Textron]], [[Electronic Warfare Associates]], [[Dynetics]], [[RADA Technologies]], [[Numerica Corporation]] and [[Boots Consulting LLC]]; the filings are listed on Sierra Blanca, Texas.[^5]
### RADA Technologies Filings and Raytheon Telemetry Site
Two Federal Communications Commission experimental filings by RADA Technologies, LLC use the name "Mile High" in 2023. File 0384-EX-ST-2023 (call sign WV9XAV), received February 20, 2023, gives the reason "Short term requirement from customer that exceeds conventional timeline," the purpose "for RADA to use radars in demos/tests for threat protection at Mile High," a requested period of February 20 to August 20, 2023, the band 3300 to 3400 MHz and a Sierra Blanca site at 31 15 06 N, 105 19 35 W. File 1443-EX-ST-2023 (WV9XWE), received July 14, 2023, gives the reason "To meet August 3rd deadline requested by customer ([[BAE Systems|BAE]])," the purpose "Test of our product line at Mile High Range in Texas," a requested period of August 1, 2023 to January 1, 2024, bands including 3300 to 3500 MHz, 9201 to 9375.5 MHz and 9444.5 to 9956.5 MHz, and a site at 31 16 11 N, 105 24 34 W.[^6]
Raytheon files 1976-EX-ST-2025 (WA9XGO, received November 19, 2025, telemetry flight testing for the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor, December 5 to 31, 2025) and 0306-EX-ST-2026 (WA9XYW, received February 10, 2026, February 24 to August 24, 2026) both give the site 31 16 18 N, 105 24 46 W. The RADA WV9XWE site and the Raytheon site are 7 arc-seconds of latitude and 12 arc-seconds of longitude apart, about 0.4 kilometers. One narrative in the Raytheon filings reads "Testing will take place on a non-DoD range near Sierra Blanca, TX," and the area of operations is given as the Mile High Resources Range.[^7]
The Boots Consulting LLC filing 0231-EX-ST-2025 (WY9XUK, received February 6, 2025) requests one RADA-built RPS-42 radar on 3300 to 3400 MHz at three Sierra Blanca sites (31 16 14 N, 105 23 25 W; 31 15 04 N, 105 26 10 W; 31 14 01 N, 105 32 51 W) for March 6 to September 6, 2025; the first of these is about 2 kilometers from the RADA and Raytheon coordinates above.[^8]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "Active Franchise Tax Permit Holders" open dataset, https://data.texas.gov/resource/9cir-efmm.json , queried October 4, 2026 by taxpayer name ("MILE HIGH RES"), by mailing address in Sierra Blanca, and by county code 115 (Hudspeth).
[^2]: Texas Geographic Information Office, StratMap land parcels, Hudspeth County, rolls 2023-04, 2024-04 and 2026-03 (appraisal district account 30988, 62 1/2 Sec 5 PSL, 838.00 acres); polygon of FAA FDC 5/3497, https://tfr.faa.gov/tfrapi/getNotamText?notamId=5/3497
[^3]: "Raytheon's miniature Pike munitions go 2 for 2 in first guided tests," Raytheon, Tucson, October 12, 2015. https://raytheon.mediaroom.com/2015-10-12-Miniature-Pike-munitions-go-2-for-2-in-first-guided-tests
[^4]: ExecutiveBiz, Raytheon Pike guided-munition test report, October 13, 2015. https://executivebiz.com/?p=108481
[^5]: Federal Communications Commission, Office of Engineering and Technology, Experimental Licensing System, files 1976-EX-ST-2025, 0306-EX-ST-2026, 0313-EX-ST-2017 and 0461-EX-CN-2017 with later renewals, technical narratives and exhibits, https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/GenericSearch.cfm , read October 4, 2026.
[^6]: Federal Communications Commission, Experimental Licensing System, files 0384-EX-ST-2023 (WV9XAV) and 1443-EX-ST-2023 (WV9XWE), RADA Technologies, LLC, applications and narratives. https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/GenericSearch.cfm
[^7]: Federal Communications Commission, Experimental Licensing System, files 1976-EX-ST-2025 (WA9XGO) and 0306-EX-ST-2026 (WA9XYW), Raytheon Company, applications and narratives. https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/GenericSearch.cfm
[^8]: Federal Communications Commission, Experimental Licensing System, file 0231-EX-ST-2025 (WY9XUK), Boots Consulting LLC. https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/GenericSearch.cfm

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---
category: "Organizations"
tags:
- Organization
- DefenseContractor
- EmployeeOwned
- ESOP
- TechnicalIntelligence
- ForeignMaterielExploitation
- NASIC
- TestAndEvaluation
- SpecialAccessPrograms
- AlexandriaVirginia
alias:
- MTSI
- Modern Technology Solutions, Inc.
- Modern Technology Solutions Inc
- Modern Technology Solutions, Inc
- Modern Technology Solutions Inc.
- Modern Technology Solutions Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust
summary: "Alexandria, Virginia defense and intelligence contractor founded in 1993 by two retired Air Force officers, 100 percent employee-owned since 2017, with NASIC NOVASTAR task orders and a 2026 order under the ESOP pilot."
location: "Alexandria, Virginia"
relations:
- type: founded
with: "[[Phil Soucy]]"
reverse: true
start: 1993
role: "co-founder (with Tom McMahan); co-president and chief executive for 20 years, then chairman of the board"
fn: 1
- type: founded
with: "[[Tom McMahan]]"
reverse: true
start: 1993
role: "co-founder; co-president from 1993 until 2013 (per the company's biography, which states that he retired from the Air Force in 1993 as a colonel with 'oversight responsibility for all Air Force special access programs')"
fn: 1
- type: head_of
with: "[[Kevin Robinson]]"
reverse: true
start: 2014-02-10
role: "president and chief executive officer, succeeding Phil Soucy"
fn: 3
- type: member_of
with: "[[Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable]]"
start: 2019
end: 2023
role: "listed as an affiliated organization on Venn Strategies' lobbying reports for the Roundtable (amended reports for 2019 and 2020 filed December 2020, through the first-quarter 2023 report)"
fn: 16
- type: member_of
with: "[[Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable]]"
start: 2026
role: "listed on the Roundtable's 2026 Membership List"
fn: 15
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[National Air and Space Intelligence Center]]"
start: 2006
role: "supporter of the Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base since 2006 (per MTSI); holder of NOVASTAR indefinite-delivery contract FA860422DB007 (August 19, 2022) and prime on task orders from September 2022"
fn: 8
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[Missile and Space Intelligence Center]]"
start: 2026-09-02
role: "announced position on the Defense Intelligence Agency's Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) vehicle"
fn: 11
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[General Services Administration]]"
start: 2026-09-08
role: "order 47QFSA26F0035 (MES III) under OASIS+ contract 47QRCA25DU655, description citing the ESOP pilot authority of sections 874 and 872"
fn: 4
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[Missile Defense Agency]]"
start: 2017-10-30
role: "prime on contracts HQ014718C0003 (signed October 30, 2017) and HQ086020C0006 (signed September 17, 2020)"
fn: 12
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
### Founding and leadership
[[Phil Soucy]] and [[Tom McMahan]] founded Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. in 1993; the company's 2014 website says they did so "with a single defense contract and a few computers." The company's biography of Soucy states that he graduated from [[Norwich University]] with a commission in the [[United States Air Force]], served more than 20 years as an officer, first as a weapons systems officer, then as a flight test engineer, and finally as "a program manager for the [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force]] for Acquisition's Special Projects branch"; that he is a graduate of the [[United States Air Force Test Pilot School]]; and that he was co-president and chief executive of the company for 20 years before becoming chairman of the board. Its biography of McMahan states that he graduated from the [[Missouri University of Science and Technology]] (then University of Missouri-Rolla) and served 25 years in the Air Force, and that "When he retired in 1993 as a colonel, Tom had oversight responsibility for all Air Force special access programs and was a primary advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff regarding special technology programs with emphasis on stealth and counter stealth technology, development, and operational utilization," and that he served as co-president from 1993 until 2013. The 2014 founders page gives the shorter statement that "When he retired in 1993 as a colonel, Tom had oversight responsibility for all Air Force special access programs." The staff biographies of both founders list expertise in low observable and counter low observable technology and electronic countermeasures.[^1][^2]
[[Kevin Robinson]] was announced as president and chief executive officer on February 10, 2014, succeeding Soucy, who remained chairman. The announcement states that Robinson "joined MTSI in 1997 as an entrepreneur and director of the Acquisition and Technology group" after "multiple leadership roles at GRCI (now [[AT&T Federal]])," and that the company had "over 580 employees, based at nine offices across the [[United States]]."[^3] The headquarters address listed on federal award records is Shawnee Road, [[Alexandria, Virginia]].[^4]
### Employee Stock Ownership Plan
The Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust (Form 5500 plan 003, sponsor employer identification number 54-1670018) is described in its audited statements as "a leveraged employee stock ownership plan ('ESOP') established effective January 1, 2008," restated January 1, 2023. The audit for plan year 2024 records two purchases of company stock by the plan: "On December 5, 2008, the Plan purchased 295,203 shares of Company common shares at a purchase price of $10,978,600 or $37.19 per share," and "During April 2013, the Plan purchased 357,336 shares at a cost of $62.00 per share, for a total purchase price of $22,148,632." Both were financed by the company sponsor and collateralized by unallocated shares; the notes state that the plan purchased stock "financed by an installment loan that was due to the Company, and installment loans due to stockholders," and that "The loan has been repaid in full." The 2024 statements' schedule of investments lists the 2013 purchase as 357,236 shares, while the audits for plan years 2017 and 2019 give it as "368,862 shares at a cost of $62.00 per share, for a total purchase price of" $22,869,444.[^5] The plan's recordkeeper is [[Principal Financial Group]]; the plan's assets are "held by the trustees of the Plan," who are not named in the financial statements.[^6]
On May 2, 2017 the company announced that it was "now officially 100% employee owned," with the headline "MTSI Fulfills ESOP Promise Ahead of Schedule." The announcement describes the change as "the completion of an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) initiated in 2008" and quotes McMahan: "Many years ago, one of the best decisions in the company's history to date was made by opting against an opportunity to be bought out." It states that the company had "over 730 employees, based at 20 offices and field sites worldwide."[^7]
The audited statements give the per-share value of company stock at $78.50 (December 31, 2016), $100.25 (2017), $120.00 (2018), $171.75 (2019), $453.75 (2023) and $569.25 (2024). The fair value of the plan's holding of company common stock was $296,044,196 at December 31, 2023 and $371,400,901 at December 31, 2024, and the stated maximum put-option commitment was $293,544,196 and $366,400,901 for those dates. The company advanced the plan $2,500,000 in 2023 (repaid in 2024) and $5,000,000 in 2024 "to cover the Plan and Trust's repurchase obligations."[^6][^5] Form 5500 line 6a(2) active participants at the end of the plan year were 710 (2017), 837 (2018), 1,020 (2019), 1,178 (2020), 1,263 (2021), 1,433 (2022), 1,978 (2023) and 2,125 (2024).[^5]
### National Air and Space Intelligence Center work
The [[National Air and Space Intelligence Center]] (NASIC) selected five companies for NOVASTAR. MTSI's announcement of August 19, 2022, citing Defense.gov, describes it as "a 11-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ), small business set-aside contract providing Scientific and Technical Intelligence (S&TI) support services to NASIC," and states that "MTSI has supported [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] (WPAFB) in Beavercreek, Ohio since 2006," that "Over the past 16+ years, MTSI has had the privilege of supporting NASIC in the delivery of differentiated all-source intelligence analysis, threat Modeling and Simulation (M&S), and Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME)," and that for NOVASTAR it partnered with [[Ball Aerospace]], [[Leidos]] "and their wholly owned subsidiary" [[Dynetics]], [[Decibel Research]], [[Mile Two]], [[Awetomaton]] and [[AIS]]. The announcement quotes Robinson, [[Andrew Norton]] as NOVASTAR program manager and [[Austin Smith]] as senior director of the National Security Division.[^8] The federal procurement record for MTSI's NOVASTAR indefinite-delivery contract is FA860422DB007 ("NOVASTAR, NASIC S AND TI ANALYTIC CAPABILITY SUPPORT CONTRACT"), signed August 19, 2022, with a ceiling of $4,797,000,000 and performance through August 18, 2027; the parallel contracts FA860422DB005, FA860422DB006, FA860422DB008 and FA860422DB009 are held by [[Altamira Technologies]], [[Epsilon C5I]], [[Radiance Technologies]] and [[Xandar]].[^9] On February 16, 2023 MTSI posted that "NASIC awarded its first two Task Orders under the S&TI Analytic Capability Support (NOVASTAR) IDIQ Contract to MTSI and its teammates."[^10]
USAspending lists nine MTSI orders under the NOVASTAR and NASIC science and technical analytic capability descriptions, all awarded by [[Air Force Life Cycle Management Center]] contracting activity FA8604 (total obligated amounts as listed): FA860422FB357 ($5,000; September 2 to October 31, 2022); FA860423FB048 ($1,899,683.83; February 2, 2023 to February 1, 2024); FA860423FB055 ($4,657,246.68; March 1, 2023 to March 4, 2024); FA860423FB162 ($1,630,402.52; May 1 to December 31, 2023); FA860423FB335 ($7,251,000, with a potential value of $8,994,514; September 8, 2023 to September 7, 2027; funding office "NASIC GS"); FA860423FB383 ($1,046,016; September 22, 2023 to September 21, 2026); FA860423FB463 ($2,999,249; September 29, 2023 to September 28, 2024); FA860423FB472 ($2,796,558; September 29, 2023 to August 28, 2025); and FA860424FB099 ($5,318,807; March 5, 2024 to March 4, 2026). The descriptions of FA860423FB383 and FA860423FB463 read "NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE INTELLIGENCE CENTER SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL ANALYTIC CAPABILITY SUPPORT."[^9]
### Missile and Space Intelligence Center
MTSI announced on September 2, 2026 a position on the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]]'s Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) vehicle. [[GovConWire]] reported that MTSI "said Wednesday it will support MSIC in delivering foundational military intelligence and scientific and technical intelligence on foreign weapon systems for DIA, the [[Department of War]] and national-level intelligence organizations." Robinson is quoted: "This work strengthens our nation's ability to understand and counter foreign weapon threats."[^11] The [[Missile and Space Intelligence Center]] vehicle and its other awardees are described on the Radiance Technologies page.
### Other awards in federal records
USAspending lists the following among MTSI's larger awards (amounts are total obligations unless stated): [[General Services Administration]] order 47QFCA19F0067 under OASIS contract GS00Q14OADS721, awarded through the [[Federal Systems Integration and Management Center]] on September 18, 2019 and running to March 17, 2025, $386,142,022.69 obligated with a potential value of $403,430,846, described as "TO PROVIDE THE RSC-NCR WITH HIGH-QUALITY, RAPID RESPONSE, ENGINEERING, R&D, T&E, COLLECTION&ANALYSIS, LOGISTICS, TRAINING,&INTEGRATED PROF. SERV. TO DEVELOP&ANALYZE ADVANCED AIR WARFARE ISR COLLECTION&ADVANCED WEAPON SYSTEMS AND METHODS," with the funding office "F2QT04 363 ISR WG FM"; order 47QFSA25F0011, "THE OBJECTIVE OF THE [[ARCWERX]] ARTEMIS ACQUISITION IS TO PROVIDE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, INNOVATIVE R&D, SW DEVELOPMENT, DIGITAL ENGINEERING, AIRCRAFT AND AEROSPACE SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AND TESTING, MISSION CONCEPTS OF OPERATION, AND TRAINING," signed December 16, 2024, $219,496,406.81 obligated against a potential $750,078,700; order 47QFMA24F0023, "DIGITAL BLOODHOUND," signed July 30, 2024, $129,947,920.51 obligated against a potential $639,098,292.02, with the funding office "F2TS3A SMC RN"; [[Space Systems Command]] contract FA880625CB001, "TO PROTOTYPE AND DELIVER PROCESSES FOR THE SPACE COMMAND AND CONTROL MISSION AREA WITHIN BATTLE MANAGEMENT COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE PORTFOLIO," signed January 10, 2025, $112,384,007.68 obligated against a potential $232,359,755.21; and [[Missile Defense Agency]] contracts HQ014718C0003 ("SPECIALTY ENGINEERING," $124,875,814.28, 2017 to 2023) and HQ086020C0006 ("R&D CONCEPTS AND PERFORMANCE LAB (CAPL)," $55,481,647.71, September 17, 2020 to September 16, 2026).[^12]
Three successive orders carry the title "Special Programs Division" support: GST0512BM0078 (signed June 4, 2012; "TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS DIVISION ASC WNJ"; $20,035,810.89), 47QFLA20F0090 (signed March 25, 2020; "AWARD OF TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AFLCMC/WWG"; $27,707,420) and 47QFLA26F0021 (signed April 16, 2026; "TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS DIVISION AFLCMCWAG"; $23,214,194.70 obligated against a potential $226,537,939.54 through May 14, 2031, funded by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center office "F4FDBX AFLCMC XP OZ" under GSA contract 47QRAA20D0036).[^12]
The company's November 21, 2024 announcement states that the Air Force placed MTSI on the $33.16 billion [[Information Analysis Center]] multiple-award contract, Pool 1, and quotes Robinson: "We have a long history as a subcontractor on IAC MAC."[^13]
### Sole-source order under the ESOP pilot
General Services Administration order 47QFSA26F0035 to MTSI was signed September 8, 2026 with a period of performance beginning September 15, 2026, under OASIS+ indefinite-delivery contract 47QRCA25DU655 (awarded to MTSI on April 15, 2025). Its description reads: "MODERNIZATION & ENGINEERING SUPPORT (MES III) RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT EFFORT FOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD RESERVE COMMAND TEST CENTER STATUTORY AUTHORITY: EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN PILOT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED BY SEC 874 OF FY22 NDAA & SEC 872 OF FY24 NDAA." Obligated funds are $14,619,921.14 against a potential value of $152,786,536.43 through March 14, 2032; the contract type is time and materials, one offer was received, and the record codes the competition as "FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION" and "SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY." The funding office is listed as "162 FW AATC CORMIER."[^4]
The same funding office appears on the two earlier orders for modernization and engineering support: Army order W9133L16F0027 ("MODERNIZATION AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT," signed July 25, 2016, awarded by the [[Army National Guard Readiness Center]], $41,288,734.96, to July 26, 2021) and GSA order 47QFSA21F0098 ("MODERNIZATION AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT II - MES II," signed July 23, 2021, $74,766,753.59 obligated against a potential $97,651,727.90, performance to January 26, 2027, under OASIS contract GS00Q14OADS721).[^4] On October 2, 2026 GovConWire reported that MTSI "said Wednesday it received the order from the General Services Administration's Assisted Acquisition Services," that the order is for "testing and integration on Guard and Reserve aircraft and mission systems," with supported areas including "Joint Terminal Attack Controller and special warfare capabilities; command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; domestic operations; cybersecurity; logistics software; and test process training," and quoted [[Vance Drenkhahn]], executive vice president of MTSI's defense services division, on the company's work with "the [[Air National Guard]] [[Air Force Reserve Command]] Test Center, or AATC."[^14] The authority is described on [[DoD ESOP Pilot Program]]; the Roundtable podcast of October 21, 2023 gives Matt Pearce's account of the Roundtable's request that the pilot reach Defense Department contracts placed through General Services Administration vehicles.[^15]
[[Venn Strategies]], the lobbying registrant for the [[Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable]], listed Modern Technology Solutions among the "affiliated organizations" on its Roundtable reports for the first, second and fourth quarters of 2019 (amended reports filed December 4, 2020), the first and third quarters of 2020 (amended, December 2, 2020), the fourth quarter of 2020, the first through third quarters of 2021, the second quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. The Roundtable's reports for 2021 give as their issue "Promoting ESOP related small business procurement policies as part of the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act to provide incentives for 100% employee-owned businesses in federal contracting."[^16]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., "Our Founders," mtsi-va.com, as captured by the Internet Archive August 4, 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20140804032532/http://www.mtsi-va.com:80/about-mtsi/employees/founders/
[^2]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., staff pages "Phil Soucy" and "Tom McMahan," mtsi-va.com, as captured by the Internet Archive June 23, 2017 and May 30, 2017. http://web.archive.org/web/20170623220125/http://www.mtsi-va.com:80/staff-view/phil-soucy/ ; http://web.archive.org/web/20170530185033/http://www.mtsi-va.com:80/staff-view/tom-mcmahan/
[^3]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., "Modern Technology Solutions, Inc CEO Announcement," February 10, 2014, mtsi-va.com. https://www.mtsi-va.com/modern-technology-solutions-inc-ceo-announcement/
[^4]: USAspending.gov, awards CONT_AWD_47QFSA26F0035_4732_47QRCA25DU655_4732 (MES III), 47QFSA21F0098 (MES II) and W9133L16F0027, recipient location and funding-office fields, retrieved October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_47QFSA26F0035_4732_47QRCA25DU655_4732/
[^5]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust, Form 5500 filings and audited financial statements for plan years 2017, 2019 and 2024 (ACK_IDs 20181005091433P030241913137001, 20200729085504NAL0007643569001, 20250731124747NAL0006072289001) and the U.S. Department of Labor Form 5500 bulk data sets for plan years 2017 to 2024. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/public-disclosure/foia/form-5500-datasets
[^6]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust, Form 5500 (plan 003, EIN 54-1670018) with audited financial statements, plan year 2024, filed July 31, 2025, notes 1, 5, 6 and 7 (ACK_ID 20250731124747NAL0006072289001). https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2025/07/31/20250731124747NAL0006072289001.pdf
[^7]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., "Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. is now 100% Employee Owned: MTSI Fulfills ESOP Promise Ahead of Schedule," May 2, 2017, mtsi-va.com. http://web.archive.org/web/20170719201505/http://www.mtsi-va.com:80/modern-technology-solutions-inc-is-now-100-employee-owned/
[^8]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., "Modern Technology Solutions Inc., (MTSI) Awarded $5B NASIC S&TI Analytic Capability Support (NOVASTAR) IDIQ Contract," August 19, 2022, mtsi-va.com. https://www.mtsi-va.com/modern-technology-solutions-inc-mtsi-awarded-5b-nasic-sti-analytic-capability-support-novastar-idiq-contract/
[^9]: USAspending.gov, awards to Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. with keywords "NOVASTAR" and "NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE INTELLIGENCE" (FA860422FB357, FA860423FB048, FA860423FB055, FA860423FB162, FA860423FB335, FA860423FB383, FA860423FB463, FA860423FB472, FA860424FB099) and award CONT_IDV_FA860422DB007_9700 (NOVASTAR), retrieved October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_IDV_FA860422DB007_9700/
[^10]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., "NASIC Awards First Two S&TI Analytic Capability Support (NOVASTAR) IDIQ Contract Task Orders to MTSI and Team," February 16, 2023, mtsi-va.com. https://www.mtsi-va.com/nasic-awards-first-two-sti-analytic-capability-support-novastar-idiq-contract-task-orders-to-mtsi-and-team/
[^11]: Jane Edwards, "MTSI Wins Spot on DIA COMET Missile & Space Intel Support Contract," GovConWire, September 3, 2026. https://www.govconwire.com/articles/mtsi-dia-comet-missile-space-intel-contract-spot
[^12]: USAspending.gov, awards to Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. by obligated amount, 47QFCA19F0067, 47QFSA25F0011, 47QFMA24F0023, FA880625CB001, HQ014718C0003, HQ086020C0006, GST0512BM0078, 47QFLA20F0090 and 47QFLA26F0021, retrieved October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/
[^13]: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., "Air Force Awards $33.16 Billion Research and Development Contract," November 21, 2024, mtsi-va.com. https://www.mtsi-va.com/air-force-awards-33-16-billion-research-and-development-contract/
[^14]: Arthur McMiler, "MTSI Secures $153M Air Force Modernization & Engineering Support III Task Order," GovConWire, October 2, 2026. https://www.govconwire.com/articles/mtsi-air-force-mes-iii-task-order-guard-reserve-modernization
[^15]: Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, "About Us," 2026 Membership List, https://ecrcoalition.com/about-us/ ; Highlight Technologies, "Episode #36: Employee Ownership in Government Contracting," October 21, 2023, https://highlighttech.com/episode-36-employee-ownership-in-government-contracting/
[^16]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Venn Strategies reports for the client Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, affiliated-organization fields: 2019 amended reports (c3cc1cc3-b62d-4912-8f2a-1b9860a8f9b1, 009b449c-7468-4a0f-8c46-3fe923a39cc6, 9d6729fd-6e52-4087-b25a-006844aa9593), 2020 amended reports (ec57a71a-f736-4605-95fb-9ce9451779af, 6e730121-4948-46c2-ae6e-ed2404fa568f), fourth-quarter 2020 (b82fc02a-0133-4a1b-afb8-8b6fa34bcfb8), 2021 first through third quarters (385d74d8-5048-4ac0-b5b2-7474540b730f, 6e6ed7db-5fb1-44d4-ba93-05aaeefc5cbd, c94c47aa-b819-4f8b-9823-abc581d48539), second-quarter 2022 (f51307b7-af85-4cc1-9fa8-835333337351) and first-quarter 2023 (a15d3709-503a-4420-9d86-b1417e132890). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Employee-Owned+Contractors+Roundtable

97
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Radiance Ignite Technologies.md
View file

@ -20,34 +20,39 @@ relations:
reverse: true
start: 2024-10-14
role: "president and chairman; registered agent on the Alabama record"
fn: 4
fn: 5
- type: director_of
with: "[[Bill Bailey]]"
reverse: true
start: 2024-10-14
role: "vice chairman"
fn: 4
fn: 5
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[Missile and Space Intelligence Center]]"
start: 2026-07-21
role: "team on the Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing multi-award task order contract, per the Radiance release of September 9, 2026"
fn: 6
fn: 7
created: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Radiance Ignite Technologies is a Huntsville, Alabama joint venture of [[Radiance Technologies]] and [[Ignite Fueling Innovation]], Inc.; its website describes it as "An SBA Approved SDVOSB Mentor Protege Joint Venture" and states that "Radiance Technologies and Ignite have joined forces."[^1] No record opened states which of the two companies is the mentor and which the protege, and the Small Business Administration agreement is not publicly listed.
Radiance Ignite Technologies is a Huntsville, Alabama joint venture of [[Radiance Technologies]] and [[Ignite Fueling Innovation]], Inc.; its website describes it as "An SBA Approved SDVOSB Mentor Protege Joint Venture" and states that "Radiance Technologies and Ignite have joined forces."[^1] The [[Small Business Administration]] list of active mentor-protege agreements shows Radiance as mentor and Ignite as protege.[^2]
### Alabama record
The [[Alabama Secretary of State]] lists Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC as entity 001-144-448, a domestic limited liability company with status "Exists," place of formation Alabama and formation date July 10, 2024. The one scanned document is a Certificate of Formation of four pages dated July 10, 2024. The press announcement of the venture is dated October 14, 2024, three months and four days later; both dates are recorded here as they appear in their sources. The registered agent is [[Clayton Hinchman]], with a registered office in Huntsville. The principal address is "Not Provided" and the nature of business is blank; the record lists no members, managers or organizer.[^2]
The [[Alabama Secretary of State]] lists Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC as entity 001-144-448, a domestic limited liability company with status "Exists," place of formation Alabama and formation date July 10, 2024. The one scanned document is a Certificate of Formation of four pages dated July 10, 2024. The press announcement of the venture is dated October 14, 2024, three months and four days later; both dates are recorded here as they appear in their sources. The registered agent is [[Clayton Hinchman]], with a registered office in Huntsville. The principal address is "Not Provided" and the nature of business is blank; the record lists no members, managers or organizer.[^3]
The registered office is the same suite on The Bridge Street that the Alabama record gives for Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (entity 000-214-606, formerly Alatec, Inc.), while Radiance Technologies, Inc. lists a registered office on Bob Heath Drive in Huntsville. Ignite's record shows its registered agent's address as a Discovery Drive address until November 9, 2022; the Alabama corporation The Sol Foundation (001-041-463), formed September 23, 2022, gave Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. at that Discovery Drive address as its registered agent.[^2][^3]
The registered office is the same suite on The Bridge Street that the Alabama record gives for Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (entity 000-214-606, formerly Alatec, Inc.), while Radiance Technologies, Inc. lists a registered office on Bob Heath Drive in Huntsville. Ignite's record shows its registered agent's address as a Discovery Drive address until November 9, 2022; the Alabama corporation [[Sol Foundation|The Sol Foundation]] (001-041-463), formed September 23, 2022, gave Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. at that Discovery Drive address as its registered agent.[^3][^4]
### Announcement
On October 14, 2024 Radiance and Ignite announced "the formation of a new joint venture, Radiance Ignite Technologies." The release, issued by Radiance through PR Newswire, lists capabilities in technical intelligence, directed energy, space operations, electromagnetic spectrum operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and systems engineering, and states: "From developing advanced foreign materiel exploitation techniques to creating next-generation predictive analysis tools for space operations, Radiance Ignite Technologies will offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to meet the evolving needs of modern defense and intelligence communities."[^4]
On October 14, 2024 Radiance and Ignite announced "the formation of a new joint venture, Radiance Ignite Technologies." The release, issued by Radiance through PR Newswire, lists capabilities in technical intelligence, directed energy, space operations, electromagnetic spectrum operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and systems engineering, and states: "From developing advanced foreign materiel exploitation techniques to creating next-generation predictive analysis tools for space operations, Radiance Ignite Technologies will offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to meet the evolving needs of modern defense and intelligence communities."[^5]
[[Bill Bailey]], Radiance chief executive, is quoted as vice chairman of the venture: "Teaming up with Ignite will bring together the best of both worlds to tackle the toughest challenges our government faces." Clayton Hinchman, Ignite chief executive, is quoted as president and chairman: "This joint venture serves as an incredible opportunity to combine our collective expertise and capabilities while leveraging Ignite's SDVOSB status."[^4] The Huntsville outlet 256 Today carried the announcement the same day.[^5]
[[Bill Bailey]], Radiance chief executive, is quoted as vice chairman of the venture: "Teaming up with Ignite will bring together the best of both worlds to tackle the toughest challenges our government faces." Clayton Hinchman, Ignite chief executive, is quoted as president and chairman: "This joint venture serves as an incredible opportunity to combine our collective expertise and capabilities while leveraging Ignite's SDVOSB status."[^5] The Huntsville outlet 256 Today carried the announcement the same day.[^6]
### Small Business Administration agreement
The Small Business Administration list of active mentor-protege agreements (effective October 1, 2026, updated October 2, 2026) contains a row approved on May 23, 2024 with Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (UEI MU8VTWFS9QP8) as protege and Radiance Technologies, Inc. (UEI YXRLX5PDCWK4) as mentor, naics 541512, protege certifications "SDVOSB, VOSB." The Alabama certificate of formation of the venture is dated July 10, 2024. The same list shows Radiance as mentor to [[Offset Strategic Services]], LLC (approved November 4, 2024) and Ignite as mentor to [[JBS Solutions]], Inc. (approved July 29, 2024). The venture's own website describes it as "An SBA Approved SDVOSB Mentor Protege Joint Venture."[^2]
### Leadership
@ -57,47 +62,75 @@ The venture's About page lists Hinchman as president and chairman and Bailey as
The website lists six capability areas: intelligence (missile warning and tracking, threat modeling, all-source analysis), missile defense, space (including space domain awareness), artificial intelligence and machine learning (including a "Signals Intelligence Alert & Predication System"), electromagnetic spectrum operations and directed energy.[^1]
The only award attributed to the venture in the records opened is its position as one of three teams that include Radiance on the Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) multi-award task order contract of the [[Missile and Space Intelligence Center]], announced by Radiance on September 9, 2026, with a period of performance from July 21, 2026 to January 1, 2037 and a task area titled foreign materiel exploitation.[^6] A [[USAspending]] search of prime awards and subawards for "Radiance Ignite," "RI Tech" and "RITech" (October 3, 2026) returned no recipient of that name; the website does not state the venture's unique entity identifier.[^7]
The only award attributed to the venture in the records opened is its position as one of three teams that include Radiance on the Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) multi-award task order contract of the [[Missile and Space Intelligence Center]], announced by Radiance on September 9, 2026, with a period of performance from July 21, 2026 to January 1, 2037 and a task area titled foreign materiel exploitation.[^7] A [[USAspending]] search of prime awards and subawards for "Radiance Ignite," "RI Tech" and "RITech" (October 3, 2026) returned no recipient of that name; the website does not state the venture's unique entity identifier.[^8]
### Bid protest B-424401.1
The [[Government Accountability Office]] docket lists "Radiance Ignite Technologies, Inc." as the protester in file B-424401.1, solicitation number HHM40225R0025 of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], filed April 9, 2026 and dismissed April 22, 2026, with [[Glenn Wolcott]] as the GAO attorney. HHM40225R0025 is the form number printed on each page of the final Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing request for proposals (see below). The notice record of that solicitation (HHM40226COMET), last posted April 23, 2026, lists a response date of April 27, 2026. The protest was filed in the name "Radiance Ignite Technologies, Inc."; the Alabama record is for Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC (001-144-448).[^9]
### COMET solicitation
The Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) requirement of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center ([[Defense Intelligence Agency]], [[Redstone Arsenal]]) was advertised on [[SAM.gov]] through the [[Virginia Contracting Activity]]. A draft solicitation was posted on May 28, 2025 (HHM402-25-R-0025), a second draft on November 24, 2025, and the request for proposals (notice HHM40226COMET, form number HHM40225R0025) on March 2, 2026; the response date of April 3, 2026 was extended to April 10, 2026. The notices describe a multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year base ordering period and a five-year option, full and open competition, task orders of cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price and time-and-materials types, a Top Secret facility clearance and TS/SCI clearances for personnel. The contracting officer named in the notices is Noryem Maldonado.[^8]
The Contract Operations for Missile Evaluation and Testing (COMET) requirement of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (Defense Intelligence Agency, [[Redstone Arsenal]]) was advertised on [[SAM.gov]] through the [[Virginia Contracting Activity]]. A draft solicitation was posted on May 28, 2025 (HHM402-25-R-0025), a second draft on November 24, 2025, and the request for proposals (notice HHM40226COMET, form number HHM40225R0025) on March 2, 2026; the response date of April 3, 2026 was extended to April 10, 2026. The notices describe a multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year base ordering period and a five-year option, full and open competition, task orders of cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price and time-and-materials types, a Top Secret facility clearance and TS/SCI clearances for personnel. The contracting officer named in the notices is Noryem Maldonado.[^10]
The solicitation states that "Awards will be made to all Offerors determined to be 'Qualifying Offerors'", that no comparative ranking, tradeoff or best-value determination is made at the contract award level, that no cost or price evaluation is conducted for the award, and that "twenty (20%) of the IDIQ awards are set aside for Small Business", with a 30 percent small business participation requirement. Its clauses include the limitations on subcontracting provision stating that "In a joint venture comprised of a small business protege and its mentor approved by the Small Business Administration, the small business protege shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture."[^9]
The solicitation states that "Awards will be made to all Offerors determined to be 'Qualifying Offerors'", that no comparative ranking, tradeoff or best-value determination is made at the contract award level, that no cost or price evaluation is conducted for the award, and that "twenty (20%) of the IDIQ awards are set aside for Small Business", with a 30 percent small business participation requirement. Its clauses include the limitations on subcontracting provision stating that "In a joint venture comprised of a small business protege and its mentor approved by the Small Business Administration, the small business protege shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture."[^11]
### COMET solicitation, additional terms
The notices for the requirement (contracting office: Virginia Contracting Activity, 4545 Fowler Road, Redstone Arsenal; naics 541715; product service code AC23, "National Defense R&D Services; Atomic energy defense activities; Experimental Development"; contracting officer [[Noryem Maldonado]]) describe the set-aside differently over time. The presolicitation notice HHM402-25-R-0025, posted September 23, 2025 (planned release about October 20, 2025, planned closing November 19, 2025), reads under "Set-Aside Status": "Multiple Award IDIQ contract Full and Open Competition with a twenty percent (20%) Small Bussiness set-aside." The draft solicitation notice HHM40225RCOMET (created January 30, 2026, updated February 6, 2026) reads "Multiple Award IDIQ contract Full and Open Competition." The notice record for HHM40226COMET, created April 23, 2026 and modified May 31, 2026, carries the set-aside code "SBP" (small business, partial).[^12] Each of the first two notices states: "a TOP SECRET facility clearance is required and personnel working on Task Orders under the contract, whether or not performance is at MSIC facilities, must have a TS/SCI Clearance prior to working on the effort."[^12]
The final request for proposals (355 pages, form number HHM40225R0025) contains the following terms:
- Section H, after the off-ramping, graduation and on-ramping clause (H.12): "Existing contractors cannot hold more than one (1) COMET IDIQ contract at any given time" (page 81 of 355).[^13]
- Section G.16 on ordering: "Orders may be reserved exclusively for Small Business concerns. Other Than small Businesses will not be eligible to compete for TOS that have been set aside for Small Businesses. However, Small Businesses are permitted to submit proposals for Full and Open Requirements" (page 77).[^13]
- Section H.12 lists among the conditions that may lead to off-ramping that "a contractor is unable to recertify as a small business for option exercise and is on the small business segment of the contract" and that "a contractor loses its small business status due to a merger or acquisition," in which case the contractor "will be permitted to complete the current performance period(s) on previously awarded TO(s) but will not be eligible to compete for additional work" (pages 79 to 80). The same clause refers to "the small business or the other than small business pool" for on-ramping events (page 80).[^13]
- Section L, small business participation: "While twenty (20%) of the IDIQ awards are set aside for Small Business, the Minimum Quantitative Requirement (MQR) for Small Business Subcontracting is thirty (30%) of total contract value," with sub-goals of 5 percent for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and for women-owned small businesses, 5 percent for small disadvantaged businesses and 3 percent for HUBZone businesses (pages 336 to 337).[^13]
- Statement of work 5.2.1.1 (other than small business, "including small business"): an existing sensitive compartmented information facility meeting Intelligence Community Directive 705, with a minimum of 50 workstations "ready to be connected to the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS)," of which the prime owns no fewer than 20 and 50 percent lie within 180 miles of Redstone Arsenal (pages 27 to 28). Section 5.2.1.2 (small business) requires the same 50 workstations, of which the prime owns no fewer than five, with "No Prime Requirement" for the 50 percent within 180 miles of Redstone Arsenal.[^13]
- Section M, Factor I (Security, pass or fail): "The Prime Offeror must have the valid Top Secret facility clearance. If the Offeror is a Joint Venture (JV), the JV itself must hold the facility clearance. An Offeror that is a JV may not satisfy the facility clearance requirement by relying on facility clearances held by members of the JV," and the offeror must provide "their CAGE code identifying that the prime Offeror has a valid Top Secret facility clearance in accordance with the DD254" (page 348).[^13]
The Radiance release of September 9, 2026 states that "in addition to leading its own team, Radiance holds positions on two other winning COMET teams: one led by [[SAIC]] and one through its Radiance Ignite Technologies joint venture." Ignite Fueling Innovation's announcement of September 24, 2026 states that it was selected "through our joint venture with Radiance Technologies."[^14]
### Foreign materiel exploitation
The draft performance work statement for the contract ("PWS DIA MSIC MATOC Draft v1," posted February 13, 2025) lists five task areas and defines the second as follows: "Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME) involves the reverse engineering of foreign weapon systems to analyze and understand their capabilities and vulnerabilities. The Center's exploitation laboratories are equipped with advanced capabilities in several critical areas, including software reverse-engineering (SWRE), radiofrequency (RF), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) analysis, materials science, computed tomography (CT) imaging, and microelectronics." It adds that "A foundational component of FME is Explosive Ordnance Exploitation (EOE)", involving Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel, and that key support includes "transportation, storage, lifecycle management, and program management". The center's mission is stated as scientific and technical intelligence analysis of "foreign weapon systems".[^10] The Radiance release of September 9, 2026 names the same five task areas.[^6]
The draft performance work statement for the contract ("PWS DIA MSIC MATOC Draft v1," posted February 13, 2025) lists five task areas and defines the second as follows: "Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME) involves the reverse engineering of foreign weapon systems to analyze and understand their capabilities and vulnerabilities. The Center's exploitation laboratories are equipped with advanced capabilities in several critical areas, including software reverse-engineering (SWRE), radiofrequency (RF), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) analysis, materials science, computed tomography (CT) imaging, and microelectronics." It adds that "A foundational component of FME is Explosive Ordnance Exploitation (EOE)", involving Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel, and that key support includes "transportation, storage, lifecycle management, and program management". The center's mission is stated as scientific and technical intelligence analysis of "foreign weapon systems".[^15] The Radiance release of September 9, 2026 names the same five task areas.[^7]
### Foreign materiel exploitation, final solicitation wording
The final request for proposals of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) defines the second task area in these terms: "Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME) involves the reverse-engineering of foreign weapon systems to analyze and understand their capabilities and vulnerabilities. MSIC's exploitation laboratories are equipped with advanced capabilities in several critical areas, including software reverse-engineering (SWRE), radiofrequency (RF) and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) analysis, materials science, adversarial-AI, computed tomography (CT) imaging, and microelectronics" (pages 17 and 18 of 355). The paragraph before it states that the foundational and technical intelligence analysis "directly enables the development of U.S. weapons and countermeasures" and is vital for, among other things, "filling gaps when foreign materiel exploitation is not possible." Section M, Factor II (technical and management capability) requires offerors to "demonstrate the ability to perform Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME) as outlined in SOW paragraph 1.1.2" and to "clearly articulate the Offeror's expertise in reverse engineering of foreign weapon systems to characterize the capabilities, characteristics, performance, and vulnerabilities of the weapon systems," with descriptions of "the techniques and tools employed in software reverse engineering, RF analysis, EO/IR analysis, materials science, inertial measurement unit testing, 3D X-Ray computed tomography imaging, microelectronics, and Field Programable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)" (item 7.2.2.4, page 349 of 355).[^13]
### Other awardee announcements
[[Parsons]] announced a position on COMET on August 26, 2026 (trade press dated the announcement August 25 and 27), Modern Technology Solutions Inc. on September 2, 2026, Radiance Technologies on September 9, 2026, and Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation on September 17, 2026. [[SAIC]] is identified as the lead of one team in the Radiance release. The Radiance release states that the contract's period of performance runs from July 21, 2026 to January 1, 2037, and the Huntsville Business Journal of September 10, 2026 reported the Radiance award separately from the contract announcements of the [[United States Department of Defense]] for that week.[^11]
[[Parsons]] announced a position on COMET on August 26, 2026 (trade press dated the announcement August 25 and 27), Modern Technology Solutions Inc. on September 2, 2026, Radiance Technologies on September 9, 2026, and Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation on September 17, 2026. SAIC is identified as the lead of one team in the Radiance release. The Radiance release states that the contract's period of performance runs from July 21, 2026 to January 1, 2037, and the Huntsville Business Journal of September 10, 2026 reported the Radiance award separately from the contract announcements of the [[United States Department of Defense]] for that week.[^16]
### Earlier Radiance and Ignite contracts
USAspending lists two subawards from Radiance Technologies to Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (formerly Alatec, Inc.): $906,326.71 dated November 4, 2013 under an Army [[Space and Missile Defense Command]] contract (W9113M13D0006, order 0003) for "independent programmatic and engineering support" and related studies, and $98,665 dated June 11, 2026 under Air Force order FA860426FB159 (identity, credential and access management software sustainment). Ignite is also listed as a subawardee under prime contracts held by SAIC (2023 to 2026), Parsons Government Services (2024 to 2026) and Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (2025), three of the companies that announced COMET positions.[^12] In 2017 a profile published by the [[Business Council of Alabama]] reported that Ignite had entered a [[NASA]] Shared Services Center mentor-protege agreement with SAIC and had had an employee stock ownership plan since 2012.[^13]
USAspending lists two subawards from Radiance Technologies to Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc. (formerly Alatec, Inc.): $906,326.71 dated November 4, 2013 under an Army [[Space and Missile Defense Command]] contract (W9113M13D0006, order 0003) for "independent programmatic and engineering support" and related studies, and $98,665 dated June 11, 2026 under Air Force order FA860426FB159 (identity, credential and access management software sustainment). Ignite is also listed as a subawardee under prime contracts held by SAIC (2023 to 2026), Parsons Government Services (2024 to 2026) and Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (2025), three of the companies that announced COMET positions.[^17] In 2017 a profile published by the [[Business Council of Alabama]] reported that Ignite had entered a [[NASA]] Shared Services Center mentor-protege agreement with SAIC and had had an employee stock ownership plan since 2012.[^18]
In June 2023 Radiance announced that it had joined [[Peraton]] on the $284 million SIA 3 Countering Advanced Conventional Weapons Analytical Requirements task order for the same center; Karl Walli of Radiance said Radiance had supported the center for over 15 years.[^14]
In June 2023 Radiance announced that it had joined [[Peraton]] on the $284 million SIA 3 Countering Advanced Conventional Weapons Analytical Requirements task order for the same center; Karl Walli of Radiance said Radiance had supported the center for over 15 years.[^19]
### Federal registration
The Alabama Secretary of State record for entity 001-144-448 was fetched again on October 3, 2026 and was unchanged: formation date July 10, 2024, one scanned document (Certificate of Formation, four pages), no members or managers listed. USAspending contains no prime award or subaward under the venture's name.[^15] The company website describes an "SBA Approved SDVOSB Mentor Protege Joint Venture"; the [[Small Business Administration]] rules for such ventures are at 13 C.F.R. 125.8 (joint ventures) and 125.9 (mentor-protege program), the latter providing that SBA must approve the mentor-protege agreement before the two firms may submit an offer as a joint venture and receive the exclusion from affiliation.[^16]
The Alabama Secretary of State record for entity 001-144-448 was fetched again on October 3, 2026 and was unchanged: formation date July 10, 2024, one scanned document (Certificate of Formation, four pages), no members or managers listed. USAspending contains no prime award or subaward under the venture's name.[^20] The company website describes an "SBA Approved SDVOSB Mentor Protege Joint Venture"; the Small Business Administration rules for such ventures are at 13 C.F.R. 125.8 (joint ventures) and 125.9 (mentor-protege program), the latter providing that SBA must approve the mentor-protege agreement before the two firms may submit an offer as a joint venture and receive the exclusion from affiliation.[^21]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Radiance Ignite Technologies website (home, About Us, Capabilities), fetched October 3, 2026. https://radianceignite.com/
[^2]: Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entity Records, entity 001-144-448 (Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC) and entity 000-214-606 (Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc.), fetched October 3, 2026. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001144448&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^3]: Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entity Records, The Sol Foundation, entity 001-041-463, fetched October 3, 2026. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001041463&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^4]: "Radiance Technologies and Ignite Announce Joint Venture," PR Newswire, October 14, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-and-ignite-announce-joint-venture-302275375.html
[^5]: Bud McLaughlin, "Radiance Technologies and Ignite announce joint venture," 256 Today, October 14, 2024. https://256today.com/radiance-technologies-and-ignite-announce-joint-venture
[^6]: "Radiance Technologies Wins Position on $14B MSIC COMET Contract," PR Newswire, September 9, 2026. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-wins-position-on-14b-msic-comet-contract-302874291.html
[^7]: USAspending.gov API, spending_by_award (contract types, indefinite-delivery vehicles, grants) and recipient autocomplete queries for the three names, fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/
[^8]: SAM.gov opportunity notices HHM40225RCOMET (draft, posted May 28, 2025; updated February 6, 2026) and HHM40226COMET (March 2, March 9 and April 8, 2026) with attachment lists, retrieved October 3, 2026 from https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v2/opportunities/fe798b1b676243fcbd7259dc310cadef (also /80fbd320650b4030ae6690b9ee15bb24, /b94b4c2e3ecb4c64ab9ecda8713afd67, /c9a58d32cebd4bc8b545a8f92b6b08ac). Trade coverage: Elodie Collins, "DIA Issues $14B COMET Proposals Solicitation to Support Missile & Space Intelligence Center," GovConWire, March 4, 2026. https://www.govconwire.com/articles/dia-comet-14b-rfp-misc-missile-defense
[^9]: Defense Intelligence Agency, "UPDATED COMET Solicitation" (355 pages, posted March 9, 2026), Standard Form 33 and Sections A, I, L (4.5) and M (2.1), SAM.gov resource 360893303db9408a993d38d9270da5fd.
[^10]: Defense Intelligence Agency, "PWS DIA MSIC MATOC Draft v1" (44 pages, posted February 13, 2025), sections 1.1 to 1.1.5, SAM.gov resource 0354abfac6d94ecf93c5589637d7638b.
[^11]: "Parsons Awarded Position on $14B Billion COMET Missile and Space Intelligence Effort," GlobeNewswire, August 26, 2026 (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/26/3351158/0/en/parsons-awarded-position-on-14b-billion-comet-missile-and-space-intelligence-effort.html); Loren Blinde, "Parsons wins spot on COMET contract," Intelligence Community News, August 28, 2026 (https://intelligencecommunitynews.com/parsons-wins-spot-on-comet-contract/); Jane Edwards, "MTSI Wins Spot on DIA COMET Missile & Space Intel Support Contract," GovConWire, September 3, 2026 (https://www.govconwire.com/articles/mtsi-dia-comet-missile-space-intel-contract-spot); "INTUITIVE Awarded Position on DIA MISC COMET IDIQ," Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, September 17, 2026 (https://irtc-hq.com/intuitive-awarded-position-on-dia-misc-comet-idiq/); "Defense contract roundup: Radiance Technologies wins position on $14B MSIC COMET contract," Huntsville Business Journal, September 10, 2026 (https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2026/09/10/defense-contract-roundup-radiance-technologies-wins-position-on-14b-msic-comet-contract/); Sawyer Knowles, "Huntsville's Radiance Technologies secures $14 billion missile intelligence contract," 256 Today, September 14, 2026 (https://256today.com/huntsvilles-radiance-technologies-secures-14-billion-missile-intelligence-contract/).
[^12]: USAspending.gov API, spending_by_award with subawards=true, keyword "Ignite Fueling Innovation", 185 subaward rows, retrieved October 3, 2026. Rows cited: 13S-3010 (prime W9113M13D0006 order 0003, Radiance Technologies, Inc., November 4, 2013, $906,326.71); IDIQ-00038 TO 26FB159 (prime FA860426FB159, Radiance Technologies Inc, June 11, 2026, $98,665). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/
[^13]: "Newly Merged Huntsville Tech Company is Just Warming Up," Business Council of Alabama, July 20, 2017. https://www.bcatoday.org/newly-merged-huntsville-tech-company-is-just-warming-up/
[^14]: "Radiance Technologies Joins Peraton to Deliver S&TI Solutions to MSIC," PR Newswire, June 2, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-joins-peraton-to-deliver-sti-solutions-to-msic-301841456.html
[^15]: Alabama Secretary of State, entity 001-144-448, fetched October 3, 2026; USAspending.gov API recipient and subaward searches, October 3, 2026.
[^16]: Radiance Ignite Technologies website, https://radianceignite.com/ (fetched October 3, 2026); 13 C.F.R. 125.8 and 125.9, eCFR text as of September 30, 2026. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/part-125
[^2]: U.S. Small Business Administration, "Active Mentor-Protege Agreements," file "Active Firm List 10-1-26 with Details including Mentors (Exportable)," effective October 1, 2026, updated October 2, 2026 (rows approved May 23, 2024, July 29, 2024 and November 4, 2024); Radiance Ignite Technologies, "About," https://radianceignite.com/about/ ; Alabama Secretary of State, entity 001-144-448. https://legacy.sba.gov/document/support-active-mentor-protege-agreements
[^3]: Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entity Records, entity 001-144-448 (Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC) and entity 000-214-606 (Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc.), fetched October 3, 2026. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001144448&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^4]: Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entity Records, The Sol Foundation, entity 001-041-463, fetched October 3, 2026. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001041463&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^5]: "Radiance Technologies and Ignite Announce Joint Venture," PR Newswire, October 14, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-and-ignite-announce-joint-venture-302275375.html
[^6]: Bud McLaughlin, "Radiance Technologies and Ignite announce joint venture," 256 Today, October 14, 2024. https://256today.com/radiance-technologies-and-ignite-announce-joint-venture
[^7]: "Radiance Technologies Wins Position on $14B MSIC COMET Contract," PR Newswire, September 9, 2026. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-wins-position-on-14b-msic-comet-contract-302874291.html
[^8]: USAspending.gov API, spending_by_award (contract types, indefinite-delivery vehicles, grants) and recipient autocomplete queries for the three names, fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/
[^9]: Government Accountability Office, Bid Protest Docket, file B-424401.1, "Radiance Ignite Technologies, Inc.," solicitation HHM40225R0025, Defense Intelligence Agency, filed April 9, 2026, outcome "Dismissed," decision date April 22, 2026, read October 4, 2026; SAM.gov notice HHM40226COMET, https://sam.gov/opp/89a9fc7e2aeb4a1191c75a3bb38e3bd7/view . https://www.gao.gov/docket/b-424401.1
[^10]: SAM.gov opportunity notices HHM40225RCOMET (draft, posted May 28, 2025; updated February 6, 2026) and HHM40226COMET (March 2, March 9 and April 8, 2026) with attachment lists, retrieved October 3, 2026 from https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v2/opportunities/fe798b1b676243fcbd7259dc310cadef (also /80fbd320650b4030ae6690b9ee15bb24, /b94b4c2e3ecb4c64ab9ecda8713afd67, /c9a58d32cebd4bc8b545a8f92b6b08ac). Trade coverage: Elodie Collins, "DIA Issues $14B COMET Proposals Solicitation to Support Missile & Space Intelligence Center," GovConWire, March 4, 2026. https://www.govconwire.com/articles/dia-comet-14b-rfp-misc-missile-defense
[^11]: Defense Intelligence Agency, "UPDATED COMET Solicitation" (355 pages, posted March 9, 2026), Standard Form 33 and Sections A, I, L (4.5) and M (2.1), SAM.gov resource 360893303db9408a993d38d9270da5fd.
[^12]: SAM.gov notices: presolicitation HHM402-25-R-0025, https://sam.gov/opp/c3462f4d4988435694f9d28fc53b7127/view ; draft solicitation HHM40225RCOMET, https://sam.gov/opp/b94b4c2e3ecb4c64ab9ecda8713afd67/view ; solicitation HHM40226COMET, https://sam.gov/opp/89a9fc7e2aeb4a1191c75a3bb38e3bd7/view (opportunity records retrieved October 4, 2026).
[^13]: Defense Intelligence Agency, "UPDATED COMET Solicitation," 355 pages, form number HHM40225R0025 (Standard Form 33; Sections A through M; statement of work), attached to SAM.gov notice HHM40226COMET, retrieved October 4, 2026. https://sam.gov/opp/89a9fc7e2aeb4a1191c75a3bb38e3bd7/view
[^14]: "Radiance Technologies Wins Position on $14B MSIC COMET Contract," PR Newswire, September 9, 2026, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-wins-position-on-14b-msic-comet-contract-302874291.html ; "Ignite Named Awardee on MSIC COMET through Joint Venture," September 24, 2026, https://igniteimpossible.com/ignite-named-awardee-on-msic-comet-through-joint-venture/
[^15]: Defense Intelligence Agency, "PWS DIA MSIC MATOC Draft v1" (44 pages, posted February 13, 2025), sections 1.1 to 1.1.5, SAM.gov resource 0354abfac6d94ecf93c5589637d7638b.
[^16]: "Parsons Awarded Position on $14B Billion COMET Missile and Space Intelligence Effort," GlobeNewswire, August 26, 2026 (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/26/3351158/0/en/parsons-awarded-position-on-14b-billion-comet-missile-and-space-intelligence-effort.html); Loren Blinde, "Parsons wins spot on COMET contract," Intelligence Community News, August 28, 2026 (https://intelligencecommunitynews.com/parsons-wins-spot-on-comet-contract/); Jane Edwards, "MTSI Wins Spot on DIA COMET Missile & Space Intel Support Contract," GovConWire, September 3, 2026 (https://www.govconwire.com/articles/mtsi-dia-comet-missile-space-intel-contract-spot); "INTUITIVE Awarded Position on DIA MISC COMET IDIQ," Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, September 17, 2026 (https://irtc-hq.com/intuitive-awarded-position-on-dia-misc-comet-idiq/); "Defense contract roundup: Radiance Technologies wins position on $14B MSIC COMET contract," Huntsville Business Journal, September 10, 2026 (https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2026/09/10/defense-contract-roundup-radiance-technologies-wins-position-on-14b-msic-comet-contract/); Sawyer Knowles, "Huntsville's Radiance Technologies secures $14 billion missile intelligence contract," 256 Today, September 14, 2026 (https://256today.com/huntsvilles-radiance-technologies-secures-14-billion-missile-intelligence-contract/).
[^17]: USAspending.gov API, spending_by_award with subawards=true, keyword "Ignite Fueling Innovation", 185 subaward rows, retrieved October 3, 2026. Rows cited: 13S-3010 (prime W9113M13D0006 order 0003, Radiance Technologies, Inc., November 4, 2013, $906,326.71); IDIQ-00038 TO 26FB159 (prime FA860426FB159, Radiance Technologies Inc, June 11, 2026, $98,665). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/
[^18]: "Newly Merged Huntsville Tech Company is Just Warming Up," Business Council of Alabama, July 20, 2017. https://www.bcatoday.org/newly-merged-huntsville-tech-company-is-just-warming-up/
[^19]: "Radiance Technologies Joins Peraton to Deliver S&TI Solutions to MSIC," PR Newswire, June 2, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-joins-peraton-to-deliver-sti-solutions-to-msic-301841456.html
[^20]: Alabama Secretary of State, entity 001-144-448, fetched October 3, 2026; USAspending.gov API recipient and subaward searches, October 3, 2026.
[^21]: Radiance Ignite Technologies website, https://radianceignite.com/ (fetched October 3, 2026); 13 C.F.R. 125.8 and 125.9, eCFR text as of September 30, 2026. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/part-125

400
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Radiance Technologies.md
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@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ relations:
reverse: true
start: 2022-04-22
role: "principal research scientist"
fn: 12
fn: 13
- type: founded
with: "[[Radiance Ignite Technologies]]"
start: 2024-07-10
@ -50,53 +50,148 @@ relations:
with: "[[Tim Tinsley]]"
reverse: true
role: "president, as described in releases and reports of 2022"
fn: 14
fn: 15
- type: funded
with: "[[Mike Rogers]]"
start: 2003-09-09
role: "disbursements by the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee to Mike Rogers for Congress (C00367862, Alabama, candidate H2AL03032)"
fn: 17
fn: 18
- type: funded
with: "[[Mike Turner]]"
start: 2007-08-10
role: "disbursements by the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee to Citizens for Turner (C00373001, Ohio, candidate H2OH03067)"
fn: 17
fn: 18
- type: founded
with: "[[George Clark]]"
reverse: true
start: 1999-03-15
role: "founder and later president, with John Dennis and Scott Dublin"
fn: 19
fn: 20
- type: founded
with: "[[John Dennis]]"
reverse: true
start: 1999-03-15
role: "founder; incorporator on the 2014 restated articles"
fn: 19
fn: 20
- type: founded
with: "[[Scott Dublin]]"
reverse: true
start: 1999-03-15
role: "founder"
fn: 19
fn: 20
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Curtis Rowland]]"
reverse: true
start: 2018-11-20
role: "chief intelligence strategist, then executive vice president and chief strategy officer (March 2, 2020); previously chief scientist of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center"
fn: 28
fn: 29
- type: funded
with: "[[Clayton Hinchman]]"
start: 2018-03-21
role: "Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee disbursement of $5,000 to Hinchman for Congress (C00648162), Alabama 5th District candidacy, 2018 cycle"
fn: 47
fn: 77
- type: funded
with: "[[Robert Aderholt]]"
start: 2002-04-05
role: "Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee disbursements totaling $65,300 in 22 records to Robert Aderholt for Congress through October 27, 2023"
fn: 42
fn: 63
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[Honeywell]]"
start: 2023
role: "alleged in Radiance's complaints against Heath Berry and Jade Baker: subcontract negotiations and preliminary work with Honeywell on a program called Looking Glass, ended by a Honeywell stop-work order after Baker left Radiance in 2023"
fn: 60
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[Air Force Research Laboratory]]"
start: 2022-06-08
role: "holder of Agile Cyber Technology 3 indefinite-delivery contract FA875022D1005 ($950,000,000 ceiling) and of its order FA875023F1005, URIEL (signed April 19, 2023)"
fn: 38
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[Air Force Life Cycle Management Center]]"
start: 2024-02-28
role: "holder of position FA868424DB013 on the Anti-Tamper Executive Agent multiple-award contract ($499,000,000 ceiling, March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2034)"
fn: 40
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[Defense Logistics Agency]]"
start: 2024-07-12
role: "sole-source awards SPRRA224C0020 ($15 million ceiling, July 12, 2024) and SPRRA226C0009 ($149,683,593.02, April 10, 2026) for range work at the Reagan Test Site"
fn: 43
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[Ignite Fueling Innovation]]"
start: 2024-05-23
role: "mentor in an SBA mentor-protege agreement (NAICS 541512, protege certifications SDVOSB and VOSB); Ignite subawardee to Radiance in 2013 and 2026"
fn: 12
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[Offset Strategic Services]]"
start: 2024-11-04
role: "mentor in an SBA mentor-protege agreement (NAICS 541715, protege certifications SDVOSB and VOSB)"
fn: 12
- type: funded
with: "[[Turner Victory Fund]]"
start: 2020-10-01
role: "Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee, five disbursements of $5,000 (October 1, 2020; October 24, 2022; July 21, 2023; September 11, 2024; June 23, 2025)"
fn: 69
- type: funded
with: "[[Wicker for Senate]]"
start: 2023-11-21
role: "Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee, $5,000 reported on the year-end 2023 report"
fn: 69
- type: represented
with: "[[Venn Strategies]]"
reverse: true
start: 2024-06-06
role: "registered lobbying firm for Radiance (registration posted June 6, 2024; $100,000 for the third quarter of 2024, $60,000 per quarter after)"
fn: 71
- type: represented
with: "[[Maynor & Stiers]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-06-14
role: "registered lobbying firm for Radiance (registration posted June 14, 2022; $80,000 per quarter in 2023 and 2024)"
fn: 71
- type: represented
with: "[[Adams and Reese]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-04-05
role: "registered lobbying firm for Radiance (registration posted April 5, 2022; $20,000 per quarter in 2023)"
fn: 71
- type: represented
with: "[[Maynard Nexsen]]"
reverse: true
start: 2014-07-09
end: 2022-07-08
role: "registered lobbying firm for Radiance (registration posted July 9, 2014; $50,000 per quarter in 2017, $60,000 per quarter in 2018 from the second quarter, $80,000 per quarter from the second quarter of 2019 through the second quarter of 2022); lobbyists Linda Maynor and William Stiers"
fn: 72
- type: represented
with: "[[Skipper Group]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-01-10
end: 2024-03-31
role: "registered lobbying firm for Radiance (registration posted January 10, 2022; termination date March 31, 2024, report posted April 15, 2024)"
fn: 71
- type: represented
with: "[[Williams and Jensen]]"
reverse: true
start: 2025-02-03
role: "registered lobbying firm for Radiance (registration posted February 3, 2025)"
fn: 71
- type: represented
with: "[[McKinnon Group]]"
reverse: true
start: 2025-04-03
role: "registered lobbying firm for Radiance (registration posted April 3, 2025; an earlier registration for Radiance was posted March 4, 2010)"
fn: 71
- type: member_of
with: "[[Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable]]"
start: 2019
end: 2023
role: "listed as an affiliated organization on Venn Strategies' lobbying reports for the Roundtable (amended 2019 reports filed December 4, 2020 through the first-quarter 2023 report)"
fn: 75
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[Warren Averett]]"
start: 2016
role: "independent accountant for the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan on Schedule H of the Form 5500 for plan years 2016 through 2024 (spelled Warren Averitt on the 2020 to 2024 filings)"
fn: 50
created: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Radiance Technologies is a 100 percent employee-owned prime contractor headquartered in [[Huntsville]], [[Alabama]], that describes its work as cybersecurity, systems engineering, prototyping and integration, and operational and strategic intelligence, including scientific and technical intelligence.[^1] Its Alabama corporate record shows incorporation in Madison County on June 1, 1998 under the name CDES, Inc., with a legal name change to Radiance Technologies, Inc. on February 2, 1999; company releases give 1999 as the founding year.[^2] A release dated September 9, 2026 gives more than 1,200 employee-owners.[^3]
@ -108,7 +203,7 @@ The website of the joint venture [[Radiance Ignite Technologies]] describes Will
### Federal awards
The [[USAspending]] award search for the recipient name "Radiance Technologies" (queried October 3, 2026; contract award types; October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2026) returned 499 prime award records. Summed by awarding agency, the listed award amounts are: [[U.S. Army]] $1,644,356,533; [[U.S. Air Force]] $774,964,427; [[Defense Contract Management Agency]] $111,297,241; [[DARPA]] $86,496,102; [[Defense Logistics Agency]] $51,410,244; Department of the Interior $20,589,351; [[U.S. Navy]] $19,948,933; [[NASA]] $15,851,589; [[Missile Defense Agency]] $6,361,339; General Services Administration $2,727,219; Department of Homeland Security $896,246. The sum is of per-award totals with no de-duplication of indefinite-delivery vehicles and their orders.[^7]
The [[USAspending]] award search for the recipient name "Radiance Technologies" (queried October 3, 2026; contract award types; October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2026) returned 499 prime award records. Summed by awarding agency, the listed award amounts are: [[U.S. Army]] $1,644,356,533; [[U.S. Air Force]] $774,964,427; [[Defense Contract Management Agency]] $111,297,241; [[DARPA]] $86,496,102; [[Defense Logistics Agency]] $51,410,244; Department of the Interior $20,589,351; [[U.S. Navy]] $19,948,933; [[NASA]] $15,851,589; [[Missile Defense Agency]] $6,361,339; General Services Administration $2,727,219; [[Department of Homeland Security]] $896,246. The sum is of per-award totals with no de-duplication of indefinite-delivery vehicles and their orders.[^7]
The largest records are an Army systems engineering and technical assistance task order (W50RAJ20F0014, $280,784,689, September 30, 2020 to September 30, 2025), an Army task order for 2016 to 2021 (0007, $92,337,830), an Air Force contract for Distributed, Automated, and Intelligent Hardware and Software Security (FA875019C1508, $91,915,261, August 20, 2019 to August 19, 2025), a Defense Contract Management Agency record for Cyber Platforms and Capabilities-Efficiency (FA875018F0024, $87,351,560) and a series of Army space, missile defense and high-energy laser task orders (identifiers beginning W9113M, 45 records, $558,301,239).[^7]
@ -118,7 +213,7 @@ Records with identifiers beginning FA8604 number 141 and total $391,367,960; the
A Radiance release dated October 6, 2014 states that Radiance, "along with its Dayton partners," was awarded a $960,000,000 indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for the Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II (ATEP II), covering research, development, system sustainment and intelligence production using geospatial-intelligence and non-nuclear measurement and signature intelligence data at NASIC at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]]. The release quotes Radiance president Bill Bailey.[^8]
A September 23, 2019 report in the [[Huntsville Business Journal]] states that Radiance was awarded a General Services Administration blanket purchase agreement for scientific and technical intelligence support to NASIC, with a five-year base period, five one-year options and a $997 million ceiling, most work to be performed at Wright-Patterson in [[Beavercreek, Ohio]]. The team named is [[Battelle Memorial Institute]], [[COLSA Corp.]], [[Northrop Grumman]], [[Parsons Government Services]] and [[Teledyne Brown Engineering]]. Bryan Johnson, then Radiance chief operating officer, is quoted: "Our win is the culmination of years of hard work that started with a single task supporting NASIC as a subcontractor in 2001."[^9] NASIC is the successor organization to the Foreign Technology Division, whose history at Wright-Patterson includes [[Project Blue Book]].
A September 23, 2019 report in the [[Huntsville Business Journal]] states that Radiance was awarded a General Services Administration blanket purchase agreement for scientific and technical intelligence support to NASIC, with a five-year base period, five one-year options and a $997 million ceiling, most work to be performed at Wright-Patterson in [[Beavercreek, Ohio]]. The team named is [[Battelle Memorial Institute]], [[COLSA Corp.]], [[Northrop Grumman]], [[Parsons Government Services]] and [[Teledyne Brown Engineering]]. [[Bryan Johnson]], then Radiance chief operating officer, is quoted: "Our win is the culmination of years of hard work that started with a single task supporting NASIC as a subcontractor in 2001."[^9] NASIC is the successor organization to the Foreign Technology Division, whose history at Wright-Patterson includes [[Project Blue Book]].
### Missile and Space Intelligence Center and the COMET contract
@ -128,93 +223,210 @@ On September 9, 2026 Radiance announced that it had been selected as an awardee
Radiance and [[Ignite Fueling Innovation]], Inc. are the members of the joint venture Radiance Ignite Technologies (Alabama entity 001-144-448; formation date on the Alabama record July 10, 2024; announced October 14, 2024), which has its own page.[^11]
### Mentor-protege agreements
The [[Small Business Administration]] list of active mentor-protege agreements (effective October 1, 2026) shows Radiance as mentor in two agreements and Ignite Fueling Innovation as protege in one: approved May 23, 2024, protege Ignite (certifications SDVOSB and VOSB; naics 541512), mentor Radiance Technologies, Inc.; approved November 4, 2024, protege [[Offset Strategic Services]], LLC (SDVOSB and VOSB; naics 541715), mentor Radiance. A third row, approved July 29, 2024, lists [[JBS Solutions]], Inc. (EDWOSB, WOSB and 8(a); naics 541715) as protege and Ignite as mentor.[^12] The Alabama certificate of formation of Radiance Ignite Technologies is dated July 10, 2024. A February 2025 news item on the website of Bright Path Research LLC, headed "A Bright Path Ahead" and referring to the "SBA SDVOSB Mentor-Protege JV Program," quotes Bailey as chief executive of Radiance: "Our vision is to redefine innovation by delivering groundbreaking solutions now, not later."[^12]
### Hires from the UAP Task Force
Radiance announced on April 22, 2022 (a Friday) that [[Travis Taylor]], described in the announcement as a scientist, author, engineer and television star, had joined as a principal research scientist. Chief executive Bill Bailey was quoted: "Dr. Taylor is an outstanding and highly qualified scientist whose inventive way of thinking will be a great asset for Radiance."[^12]
Radiance announced on April 22, 2022 (a Friday) that [[Travis Taylor]], described in the announcement as a scientist, author, engineer and television star, had joined as a principal research scientist. Chief executive Bill Bailey was quoted: "Dr. Taylor is an outstanding and highly qualified scientist whose inventive way of thinking will be a great asset for Radiance."[^13]
A Radiance release dated May 12, 2022, "John F. Stratton Jr. Joins Radiance Technologies as SME for Intel Strategy," announced the hiring of [[Jay Stratton]] (John F. Stratton Jr.), "recently retired" from his role as Defense Intelligence Senior Executive with the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], as a member of the chief executive's strategy team for scientific and technical intelligence work. It describes him as "the first Director of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force (UAPTF)," and quotes Radiance president [[Tim Tinsley]]: "Jay's extensive experience in the Intelligence Community will be valuable in identifying and cultivating new strategic teaming opportunities within both industry and government."[^13] [[George Knapp]] of [[KLAS-TV]] wrote on May 24, 2022 that "In January 2021 ... Stratton was surprisingly transferred out of the job" at the [[UAP Task Force]], and that Taylor said of Stratton, "he and I have been colleagues for a long time." Knapp wrote that Stratton "has never spoken publicly about his work and is not commenting now."[^14]
A Radiance release dated May 12, 2022, "John F. Stratton Jr. Joins Radiance Technologies as SME for Intel Strategy," announced the hiring of [[Jay Stratton]] (John F. Stratton Jr.), "recently retired" from his role as Defense Intelligence Senior Executive with the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], as a member of the chief executive's strategy team for scientific and technical intelligence work. It describes him as "the first Director of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force (UAPTF)," and quotes Radiance president [[Tim Tinsley]]: "Jay's extensive experience in the Intelligence Community will be valuable in identifying and cultivating new strategic teaming opportunities within both industry and government."[^14] [[George Knapp]] of [[KLAS-TV]] wrote on May 24, 2022 that "In January 2021 ... Stratton was surprisingly transferred out of the job" at the [[UAP Task Force]], and that Taylor said of Stratton, "he and I have been colleagues for a long time." Knapp wrote that Stratton "has never spoken publicly about his work and is not commenting now."[^15]
### Statements by company officials
In an 8 News Now report by Knapp posted October 13, 2022 (Pacific time), Tinsley was asked whether the company would take a contract to take apart a UFO and learn how it works. He answered: "Why not. I'm waiting for one of those." Of work at [[Nellis Air Force Base]] he said, "I can't tell you a lot. I can tell is you is we've supported the Las Vegas community, Nellis Air Force Base, for over 20 years." Asked whether the company worried about the perception that it reverse engineers UFOs, he said, "No, we provide customer solutions. Whatever our customers want us to work on and support, then that's what we'll do." Knapp wrote that Radiance "isn't able to confirm the allegations" about crash retrievals, that Stratton urged Radiance to hire Taylor, and that when Radiance announced the two hires "the news releases didn't hide the connection." Taylor told Knapp: "Jay and I are working on growing the capabilities, doing reverse engineering of foreign materials. If we were to get something to reverse engineer, we would absolutely want to do that."[^15]
In an 8 News Now report by Knapp posted October 13, 2022 (Pacific time), Tinsley was asked whether the company would take a contract to take apart a UFO and learn how it works. He answered: "Why not. I'm waiting for one of those." Of work at [[Nellis Air Force Base]] he said, "I can't tell you a lot. I can tell is you is we've supported the [[Las Vegas]] community, Nellis Air Force Base, for over 20 years." Asked whether the company worried about the perception that it reverse engineers UFOs, he said, "No, we provide customer solutions. Whatever our customers want us to work on and support, then that's what we'll do." Knapp wrote that Radiance "isn't able to confirm the allegations" about crash retrievals, that Stratton urged Radiance to hire Taylor, and that when Radiance announced the two hires "the news releases didn't hide the connection." Taylor told Knapp: "Jay and I are working on growing the capabilities, doing reverse engineering of foreign materials. If we were to get something to reverse engineer, we would absolutely want to do that."[^16]
### Allegation by Daniel Sheehan
On December 3, 2023 [[Liberation Times]] published an interview with the attorney [[Daniel Sheehan]], whom it identified as president of the [[New Paradigm Institute]], about opposition to the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act]] in the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Sheehan said that Representatives [[Mike Rogers]] and [[Mike Turner]] had faced pressure from private defense contractors and the intelligence community, and, asked to name the entities, named [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Raytheon]], Radiance Technologies and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] Directorate of Operations. An Internet Archive copy of the article from December 2023 adds, after "Directorate of Operations," the words "run by David Marlowe, its current Deputy Director"; the present version of the article does not carry them. Sheehan said that the CIA disperses non-human materials to aerospace companies and that Radiance is one of its newest customers: "Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and, now Radiance Technologies, are given particular discrete aspects of the technology to try to figure it out."[^16]
On December 3, 2023 [[Liberation Times]] published an interview with the attorney [[Daniel Sheehan]], whom it identified as president of the [[New Paradigm Institute]], about opposition to the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act]] in the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Sheehan said that Representatives [[Mike Rogers]] and [[Mike Turner]] had faced pressure from private defense contractors and the intelligence community, and, asked to name the entities, named [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Raytheon]], Radiance Technologies and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] Directorate of Operations. An Internet Archive copy of the article from December 2023 adds, after "Directorate of Operations," the words "run by David Marlowe, its current Deputy Director"; the present version of the article does not carry them. Sheehan said that the CIA disperses non-human materials to aerospace companies and that Radiance is one of its newest customers: "Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and, now Radiance Technologies, are given particular discrete aspects of the technology to try to figure it out."[^17]
The same article states that Liberation Times "has been unable to further substantiate the involvement of these organisations", that "there is no evidence to suggest that Radiance Technologies, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin or the CIA are influencing Representatives Turner or Rogers", and that "multiple sources have told Liberation Times that the allegations made regarding Radiance Technologies are untrue and that two of its employees, Jay Stratton and Travis Taylor are long-time advocates for more transparency on this topic and are in no way involved in any coverup." It reports that Radiance maintains an office in Beavercreek, Ohio, in Turner's district, and cites a 2016 ribbon cutting there by Turner and a 2020 opening of a 104,000 square foot Huntsville facility at which Rogers was a guest of honour.[^16]
The same article states that Liberation Times "has been unable to further substantiate the involvement of these organisations", that "there is no evidence to suggest that Radiance Technologies, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin or the CIA are influencing Representatives Turner or Rogers", and that "multiple sources have told Liberation Times that the allegations made regarding Radiance Technologies are untrue and that two of its employees, Jay Stratton and Travis Taylor are long-time advocates for more transparency on this topic and are in no way involved in any coverup." It reports that Radiance maintains an office in Beavercreek, Ohio, in Turner's district, and cites a 2016 ribbon cutting there by Turner and a 2020 opening of a 104,000 square foot Huntsville facility at which Rogers was a guest of honour.[^17]
### Political contributions
The [[Federal Election Commission]] lists Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee (C00372979, nonqualified PAC, first filed February 12, 2002). Its Schedule B disbursements to Mike Rogers for Congress (C00367862, an Alabama committee whose candidate identifier H2AL03032 is that of Michael Rogers, Alabama, House district 3) total $37,100 across 15 records from September 9, 2003 to February 5, 2024, the last four of $5,000 each (March 13, 2019; February 19, 2020; October 12, 2021; February 5, 2024). Disbursements to [[Citizens for Turner]] (C00373001, an Ohio committee whose candidate identifier H2OH03067 is that of Michael R. Turner, Ohio, House district 10) total $51,250 across 20 records (August 10, 2007 to June 18, 2024). Disbursements to Turner Victory Fund (C00611962, registered in Georgia as a joint fundraising committee, no sponsoring candidate listed in the FEC record) total $25,000 across 5 records (October 1, 2020 to June 23, 2025); no record opened ties that committee to Mike Turner. Two other recipients matched the search term "Rogers," Hal Rogers for Congress ($10,000) and an individual-named committee ($1,000), and are excluded. Liberation Times stated that "since 2010, over $30,000 was given by Radiance Technologies to Representative Rogers and over $60,000 to Representative Turner."[^16][^17]
The [[Federal Election Commission]] lists Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee (C00372979, nonqualified PAC, first filed February 12, 2002). Its Schedule B disbursements to Mike Rogers for Congress (C00367862, an Alabama committee whose candidate identifier H2AL03032 is that of Michael Rogers, Alabama, House district 3) total $37,100 across 15 records from September 9, 2003 to February 5, 2024, the last four of $5,000 each (March 13, 2019; February 19, 2020; October 12, 2021; February 5, 2024). Disbursements to [[Citizens for Turner]] (C00373001, an Ohio committee whose candidate identifier H2OH03067 is that of Michael R. Turner, Ohio, House district 10) total $51,250 across 20 records (August 10, 2007 to June 18, 2024). Disbursements to Turner Victory Fund (C00611962, registered in Georgia as a joint fundraising committee, no sponsoring candidate listed in the FEC record) total $25,000 across 5 records (October 1, 2020 to June 23, 2025); no record opened ties that committee to Mike Turner. Two other recipients matched the search term "Rogers," Hal Rogers for Congress ($10,000) and an individual-named committee ($1,000), and are excluded. Liberation Times stated that "since 2010, over $30,000 was given by Radiance Technologies to Representative Rogers and over $60,000 to Representative Turner."[^17][^18]
### Bid protest
The [[Government Accountability Office]] docket B-422615.1 lists Radiance Technologies, Inc. as protester on solicitation TORFP-24-005 of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, filed May 24, 2024, with the outcome "Denied" and a decision date of August 30, 2024.[^18]
The [[Government Accountability Office]] docket B-422615.1 lists Radiance Technologies, Inc. as protester on solicitation TORFP-24-005 of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, filed May 24, 2024, with the outcome "Denied" and a decision date of August 30, 2024.[^19]
### Founding and early customers
The Alabama record shows incorporation as CDES, Inc. in 1998, while the company's own pages give March 15, 1999 as the date operations began; the 2017 About Us page names [[George Clark]], [[John Dennis]] and [[Scott Dublin]] as the founders, who "launched operations in a 3,000 square foot facility in Executive Plaza" in [[Huntsville, Alabama]] with an initial subcontract supporting the [[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]] through the NRC SETAC contract. The page states that the founders' goal "was to be employee-owned" and that the company ended its first calendar year with 11 employees and $1.2 million in revenue.[^19] A 2005 company release quotes Clark as president.[^20] A 2002 company page lists a Hattiesburg, Mississippi signal research facility, an Oxford, Mississippi office and an office in Fairfax, Virginia.[^21]
The Alabama record shows incorporation as CDES, Inc. in 1998, while the company's own pages give March 15, 1999 as the date operations began; the 2017 About Us page names [[George Clark]], [[John Dennis]] and [[Scott Dublin]] as the founders, who "launched operations in a 3,000 square foot facility in Executive Plaza" in [[Huntsville, Alabama]] with an initial subcontract supporting the [[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]] through the NRC SETAC contract. The page states that the founders' goal "was to be employee-owned" and that the company ended its first calendar year with 11 employees and $1.2 million in revenue.[^20] A 2005 company release quotes Clark as president.[^21] A 2002 company page lists a Hattiesburg, Mississippi signal research facility, an Oxford, Mississippi office and an office in Fairfax, Virginia.[^22]
### Foreign materiel exploitation pages, 2001 to 2006
A Radiance web page captured on October 27, 2001 is titled "Foreign Materiel Exploitation." It states that Radiance "assists the government in understanding the operations of foreign sensor and weapon systems, to ensure that Free World military forces can exploit weaknesses of foreign systems and can avoid strengths," and lists "Reverse Engineering," "RTSS Development," "Capability/Vulnerability Analysis," "Algorithm Analysis" and "Data Link Exploitation," with Bryan Johnson as the contact.[^22] A page captured on September 27, 2002, titled "Intelligence Community Support," lists "Foreign Material Exploitation," "Software Reverse Engineering," "Hardware Reverse Engineering" and "ELINT, COMINT, FISINT, and MASINT Analysis," with Bill Bailey as the contact.[^21]
A Radiance web page captured on October 27, 2001 is titled "Foreign Materiel Exploitation." It states that Radiance "assists the government in understanding the operations of foreign sensor and weapon systems, to ensure that Free World military forces can exploit weaknesses of foreign systems and can avoid strengths," and lists "Reverse Engineering," "RTSS Development," "Capability/Vulnerability Analysis," "Algorithm Analysis" and "Data Link Exploitation," with Bryan Johnson as the contact.[^23] A page captured on September 27, 2002, titled "Intelligence Community Support," lists "Foreign Material Exploitation," "Software Reverse Engineering," "Hardware Reverse Engineering" and "[[ELINT]], COMINT, FISINT, and MASINT Analysis," with Bill Bailey as the contact.[^22]
A Dayton office page captured in January 2004 describes the office as a branch of the company's Intelligence Systems Division at 2900 Presidential Drive in Fairborn, Ohio: "Our primary customers are the intelligence and research organizations at Wright-Patterson AFB. We specialize in the analysis of foreign weapon systems and the development and implementation of emerging technologies to advance US weapon systems."[^23] A December 2005 programs page lists "Foreign Electronic Systems Capabilities (FESC)" for the [[National Air and Space Intelligence Center]] as a subcontract to Syracuse Research.[^24] A job posting captured May 16, 2006 (HR328, Senior Engineer, Dayton) describes "FME" duties: "Candidate will process, exploit, report and disseminate data collected on various threat systems."[^25]
A Dayton office page captured in January 2004 describes the office as a branch of the company's Intelligence Systems Division at 2900 Presidential Drive in Fairborn, Ohio: "Our primary customers are the intelligence and research organizations at Wright-Patterson AFB. We specialize in the analysis of foreign weapon systems and the development and implementation of emerging technologies to advance US weapon systems."[^24] A December 2005 programs page lists "Foreign Electronic Systems Capabilities (FESC)" for the [[National Air and Space Intelligence Center]] as a subcontract to Syracuse Research.[^25] A job posting captured May 16, 2006 (HR328, Senior Engineer, Dayton) describes "FME" duties: "Candidate will process, exploit, report and disseminate data collected on various threat systems."[^26]
### Open Source Publishing and Eliot Jardines
On August 19, 2005 Radiance announced the acquisition of Open Source Publishing, Incorporated of Leesburg, Virginia, founded in 1996 by [[Eliot Jardines]]; the unit became the Open Source Intelligence Division.[^20] The [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] announced on December 7, 2005 that Jardines had been named the first Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Open Source, and the release states that the firm "was acquired by Radiance Technologies, Inc., where he served as the director of the Radiance Open Source Intelligence Division."[^26] A Congressional Record declaration of September 21, 2009 lists a request by Representative Mike Turner under H.R. 2647 (Air Force research, development, test and evaluation) titled "Open Source Research Centers," with Radiance Technologies at 3100 Presidential Drive, Fairborn, Ohio as the requesting entity; the amount is not stated.[^27]
On August 19, 2005 Radiance announced the acquisition of Open Source Publishing, Incorporated of Leesburg, Virginia, founded in 1996 by [[Eliot Jardines]]; the unit became the Open Source Intelligence Division.[^21] The [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] announced on December 7, 2005 that Jardines had been named the first Assistant Deputy [[Director of National Intelligence]] for Open Source, and the release states that the firm "was acquired by Radiance Technologies, Inc., where he served as the director of the Radiance Open Source Intelligence Division."[^27] A Congressional Record declaration of September 21, 2009 lists a request by Representative Mike Turner under H.R. 2647 (Air Force research, development, test and evaluation) titled "Open Source Research Centers," with Radiance Technologies at 3100 Presidential Drive, Fairborn, Ohio as the requesting entity; the amount is not stated.[^28]
### Former National Air and Space Intelligence Center and Missile and Space Intelligence Center officials
A Radiance release of November 20, 2018 announced that [[Curtis Rowland]] had joined as chief intelligence strategist. It states that he entered federal service in July 1982; that he held "board leadership roles, including on the [[Joint Foreign Materiel Board]] of Directors, Foreign Denial and Deception Committee and the Scientific and Technical Intelligence Committee"; and that from 2014 he was chief scientist of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, leading "a team of 3,000."[^28] A release of March 2, 2020 promoted him to executive vice president and chief strategy officer and corporate lead executive for the Dayton office and states that he "led a team of 4,000."[^29]
A Radiance release of November 20, 2018 announced that [[Curtis Rowland]] had joined as chief intelligence strategist. It states that he entered federal service in July 1982; that he held "board leadership roles, including on the [[Joint Foreign Materiel Board]] of Directors, Foreign Denial and Deception Committee and the Scientific and Technical Intelligence Committee"; and that from 2014 he was chief scientist of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, leading "a team of 3,000."[^29] A release of March 2, 2020 promoted him to executive vice president and chief strategy officer and corporate lead executive for the Dayton office and states that he "led a team of 4,000."[^30]
Company leadership pages captured in November 2019 give Bailey's background as fourteen years of military service including work as a research and development engineer at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and Phillips Laboratory, and describe Cindy Santy as having "led scientific and technical intelligence analysis of foreign weapon systems at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center." The page for president Dave Diaddario lists company expertise in "foreign materiel exploitation, anti-tampering technique development/implementation" and describes his earlier work at BAE Systems (formerly MEVATEC) with the Missile Defense Agency and NASA. The page for Bryan Johnson, chief operating officer, describes earlier work leading the Cyber Solutions Group in "system exploitation, software reverse engineering."[^30]
Company leadership pages captured in November 2019 give Bailey's background as fourteen years of military service including work as a research and development engineer at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and Phillips Laboratory, and describe Cindy Santy as having "led scientific and technical intelligence analysis of foreign weapon systems at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center." The page for president Dave Diaddario lists company expertise in "foreign materiel exploitation, anti-tampering technique development/implementation" and describes his earlier work at BAE Systems (formerly MEVATEC) with the Missile Defense Agency and NASA. The page for Bryan Johnson, chief operating officer, describes earlier work leading the Cyber Solutions Group in "system exploitation, software reverse engineering."[^31]
A release of January 20, 2022 announced Bill Jennings, with more than 35 years in the intelligence community and senior roles at the Missile and Space Intelligence Center, as senior intelligence advisor for the defense sector.[^31] Radiance announced on July 16, 2024 the hiring of Mark Tillman, who had served as a senior defense intelligence analyst in the Defense Intelligence Agency Directorate for Analysis from June 2020 to July 2024, and on March 31, 2025 named him president of the acquired Phased n Research.[^32] A release of April 2, 2026 announced Major General Timothy A. Sejba, United States Space Force (retired), formerly of the [[National Reconnaissance Office]], as a strategic consultant; a release of February 20, 2025 announced General Charles A. Flynn, United States Army (retired), as a strategic consultant.[^33]
A release of January 20, 2022 announced Bill Jennings, with more than 35 years in the intelligence community and senior roles at the Missile and Space Intelligence Center, as senior intelligence advisor for the defense sector.[^32] Radiance announced on July 16, 2024 the hiring of Mark Tillman, who had served as a senior defense intelligence analyst in the Defense Intelligence Agency Directorate for Analysis from June 2020 to July 2024, and on March 31, 2025 named him president of the acquired Phased n Research.[^33] A release of April 2, 2026 announced Major General Timothy A. Sejba, [[United States]] Space Force (retired), formerly of the [[National Reconnaissance Office]], as a strategic consultant; a release of February 20, 2025 announced General Charles A. Flynn, United States Army (retired), as a strategic consultant.[^34]
### Contract vehicles at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center
USAspending shows two multiple-award indefinite-delivery vehicles held by Radiance under Air Force contracting activity FA8604. The Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II vehicle FA860415D7976 had a ceiling of $1,240,000,000 from October 3, 2014 to October 2, 2023; the sibling vehicles were FA860415D7975 (KBR Wyle Services) and FA860415D7977 (Altamira Technologies). The NOVASTAR vehicle FA860422DB008 has a ceiling of $4,797,000,000 from August 19, 2022 to August 18, 2027; the parallel awards are FA860422DB005 (Altamira Technologies), DB006 (Epsilon C5I), DB007 (Modern Technology Solutions) and DB009 (Xandar).[^34] The Radiance release of August 19, 2022 states that NOVASTAR covers "research, development, sustainment, and production across all of NASIC's missions and disciplines" and the "creation, evaluation, and analysis of intelligence data on foreign developments in current and future weapon systems, subsystems, and technologies," and quotes [[Bill Bailey]]: "20 years of hard work by a lot of Radiance employee-owners with our customer, NASIC."[^35]
USAspending shows two multiple-award indefinite-delivery vehicles held by Radiance under Air Force contracting activity FA8604. The Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II vehicle FA860415D7976 had a ceiling of $1,240,000,000 from October 3, 2014 to October 2, 2023; the sibling vehicles were FA860415D7975 (KBR Wyle Services) and FA860415D7977 (Altamira Technologies). The NOVASTAR vehicle FA860422DB008 has a ceiling of $4,797,000,000 from August 19, 2022 to August 18, 2027; the parallel awards are FA860422DB005 (Altamira Technologies), DB006 (Epsilon C5I), DB007 (Modern Technology Solutions) and DB009 (Xandar).[^35] The Radiance release of August 19, 2022 states that NOVASTAR covers "research, development, sustainment, and production across all of NASIC's missions and disciplines" and the "creation, evaluation, and analysis of intelligence data on foreign developments in current and future weapon systems, subsystems, and technologies," and quotes [[Bill Bailey]]: "20 years of hard work by a lot of Radiance employee-owners with our customer, NASIC."[^36]
The 141 FA8604 records total $391,367,960. By place of performance, 52 records ($175,176,576) list Wright-Patterson Air Force Base ZIP 45433, 43 records ($162,220,419) list Huntsville ZIP 35806 and 37 records ($42,550,315) list Huntsville ZIP 35805. Competition fields on the sampled orders read "FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY," with one to four offers received. Descriptions of the 2015 to 2018 orders name subjects such as "FY15 SBIRS AUTOMATED PROCESSING R&D SUPPORT," "FY16 SAR CONTINGENCY OPERATIONAL SUPPORT," "PERSISTENT INFRARED ENHANCED ANALYTICS" and "GROUND TRUTH SUPPORT"; later orders carry titles such as "RF SIGNATURES PRODUCTION AND TOOL SUPPORT, NSC-24-083," "NASIC PLATFORM SERVICES SUSTAINMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, NSC-25-074" and "ICAM COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT" (FA860426FB159, $12,955,000, June 12, 2026 to March 11, 2029).[^34] A September 24, 2019 trade report states that Radiance won a GSA blanket purchase agreement for Intelligence Mission Data support to the center with a ceiling of $376 million, a five-year base and five one-year options, with work at Wright-Patterson, on a team with Battelle, COLSA, Leidos, Parsons and AT&T Government Solutions.[^36]
The 141 FA8604 records total $391,367,960. By place of performance, 52 records ($175,176,576) list Wright-Patterson Air Force Base ZIP 45433, 43 records ($162,220,419) list Huntsville ZIP 35806 and 37 records ($42,550,315) list Huntsville ZIP 35805. Competition fields on the sampled orders read "FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY," with one to four offers received. Descriptions of the 2015 to 2018 orders name subjects such as "FY15 SBIRS AUTOMATED PROCESSING R&D SUPPORT," "FY16 SAR CONTINGENCY OPERATIONAL SUPPORT," "PERSISTENT INFRARED ENHANCED ANALYTICS" and "GROUND TRUTH SUPPORT"; later orders carry titles such as "RF SIGNATURES PRODUCTION AND TOOL SUPPORT, NSC-24-083," "NASIC PLATFORM SERVICES SUSTAINMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, NSC-25-074" and "ICAM COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT" (FA860426FB159, $12,955,000, June 12, 2026 to March 11, 2029).[^35] A September 24, 2019 trade report states that Radiance won a GSA blanket purchase agreement for Intelligence Mission Data support to the center with a ceiling of $376 million, a five-year base and five one-year options, with work at Wright-Patterson, on a team with Battelle, COLSA, Leidos, Parsons and AT&T Government Solutions.[^37]
### Agile Cyber Technology 3 and the ARCHANGEL orders
Federal records list Radiance as a holder of indefinite-delivery contract FA875022D1005, "AGILE CYBER TECHNOLOGY 3," awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate at Rome, New York, signed June 8, 2022, with a ceiling of $950,000,000, an ordering period ending June 7, 2027, program acronym "ACT 3," a total small business set-aside, 17 offers received, naics code 541715 and funding office "F4HBGA AFRL RIGA." Four other firms hold sibling positions: [[Assured Information Security]] (FA875022D1001), [[CNF Technologies]] (D1002), [[Global Infotek]] (D1003) and [[Invictus International Consulting]] (D1004).[^38] Radiance's release of July 5, 2022 states that the contract has "a $950M ceiling with a 10-year period of performance and a 5-Year ordering period," that the Radiance team "consists of over 72 large companies, small companies, and University partners," that Radiance "was also a Prime contractor on ACT1 and ACT2," and that the effort "will be led out of our National Security Sector's Electronic Systems and Cyber Technologies (ESCT) Group." The release lists the technical requirements as "Cyber Threat Avoidance & Cyber Defense," "Full Spectrum Cyber Operations," "Cyber Network Exploitation," "Cyber Situational and Mission Awareness," "Cyber Command & Control," "Cyber Modeling, Simulation, & War Gaming," "Cyber Infrastructure" and "Cyber Mission Assurance."[^39]
Radiance's order under the vehicle is FA875023F1005, titled "URIEL," signed April 19, 2023 with an initial obligation of $13,006,250 and 22 modifications through P00022 (April 22, 2026), bringing obligations to $60,785,899 against a ceiling of $99,405,337; the order ends June 19, 2028, drew one offer, and carries the competition entry "FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES." Modification descriptions change over time. Through P00014 (August 15, 2024) the description is "URIEL." Modification P00015 (September 20, 2024, $3,100,709) reads "REMIEL." Modification P00016 (April 9, 2025, $800,000) reads "ARCHANGEL - URIEL IS TO DEVELOP, ENHANCE, INTEGRATE, AND TRANSITION CYBER PROTOTYPES FOR THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (AFRL), ITS PRODUCTS CENTERS, AND THE OPERATIONAL COMMUNITY," repeated through P00019 and P00022; P00020 (August 14, 2025, $4,600,000) carries the title "DIRECTIONAL AIRBORNE NETWORKS FOR CONTESTED ENVIRONMENTS (DANCE)" and P00021 (February 12, 2026, $6,873,673) "GEOINT NETWORK ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH FOR COLLABORATIVE MISSION UTILITY ENHANCEMENT."[^38] The vehicle's other holders received one large first order each between April 19 and June 1, 2023:
| Holder | Order | Code name | Signed | Obligated | Ceiling | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiance | FA875023F1005 | URIEL | April 19, 2023 | $60,785,899 | $99,405,337 | 1 |
| Assured Information Security | FA875023F1006 | AZRAEL | April 21, 2023 | $84,332,024 | $125,362,604 | 1 |
| Invictus International Consulting | FA875023F1004 | REMIEL | April 21, 2023 | $60,695,801 | $110,178,155 | 1 |
| CNF Technologies | FA875023F1002 | ARCHANGEL-CHAMUEL | May 12, 2023 | $49,632,856 | $98,301,406 | 1 |
| Global Infotek | FA875023F1003 | HANIEL | May 16, 2023 | $57,103,930 | $111,169,595 | 1 |
| CNF Technologies | FA875023F1007 | MYSTIC EAGLE | June 1, 2023 | $10,549,219 | $28,206,318 | 3 |
All six orders were awarded by the Rome contracting office (FA8750 AFRL RIK). The funding office is F4HBGA AFRL RIGA for all but two: AZRAEL lists "NC JTF6" and REMIEL lists "FY2044 AFRL RIK."[^38] The Baker complaint's reference to COINS as an ACT3 task order is described above; Radiance's prime award record lists one other order under the vehicle, FA875022F1011, "SYSTEMS ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT PLAN- AGILE CYBER TECHNOLOGY 3," $2,000, June 8 to September 7, 2022.[^38]
### Air Force Anti-Tamper Executive Agent contracts, 2024
On February 7, 2024 the [[Department of Defense]] announced that the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base had placed 17 companies on a multiple-award contract to design, develop, test and deliver anti-tamper systems, after receiving 20 offers; trade reports of February 8 and 12, 2024 give the ceiling as $499 million, the technology areas as secure processing, volume protection and sensors, and cryptographic protection, and expected work in the continental United States through February 28, 2030.[^40] USAspending lists the positions as indefinite-delivery contracts FA868424DB003 through DB019, titled "ATEA FPO MAC IDIQ" (Anti-Tamper Executive Agent Field Program Office multiple-award contract), each with a $499,000,000 ceiling, signed between February 27 and March 1, 2024, awarded through office FA8695 AFLCMC WAG AT. Radiance holds FA868424DB013 (signed February 28, 2024; period March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2034; funding office "F4FDAA AFLCMC XA BLDG 16"; solicitation FA868422RB009; 20 offers; no set-aside; product code 5962, electronic microcircuits). The holders include [[Honeywell]] International Inc. (DB010), [[Kratos]] SRE, Inc. (DB005), Lockheed Martin Corporation (DB009), Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (DB003), [[L3Harris]] Technologies (DB007), [[General Dynamics]] Mission Systems (DB006), [[GE Aviation]] Systems (DB008), [[Chip Scan]] (DB004), [[Microsemi]] SoC Corp. (DB011), Idaho Scientific (DB012), [[Draper Laboratory]] (DB014), Raytheon Company (DB015), [[Mercury Systems]] (DB016), [[Sabre Systems]] (DB017), Battelle Memorial Institute (DB018) and [[The Boeing Company]] (DB019).[^41] The only public order under Radiance's position is FA868424FB014, "ATEA FPO DELIVERY ORDER- WHITE PAPER," $1,000, signed March 11, 2024, with one offer.[^41]
### Integration Innovation subaward (2017 to 2018)
USAspending subaward records list Radiance as subawardee to [[Integration Innovation]], Inc. on prime order N0017317F2055, issued by the U.S. Navy under [[General Services Administration]] contract GS00Q14OADS416. The records are 19 cumulative subaward reports under two subaward numbers, 10107-17-0025-RDTI (reported December 1, 2017) and 10142-18-0048-RDTI (reported May 23, 2018), all with the same description. The subaward description reads: "RADIANCE PROVIDES REVERSE ENGINEERING OF EXPLOITED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE IN SUPPORT OF SIMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND CLOSED LOOP HWIL TESTS IN THE CENTRAL TARGET SIMULATION (CTS). THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDES REVERSE ENGINEERING FIRMWARE AND EMBEDDED SOFTWARE AND THE COMPUTERS ON WHICH THEY OPERATE. IN ADDITION, RADIANCE REVERSE ENGINEERS ELECTRONICS AT THE CIRCUIT BOARD LEVEL TO DETERMINE THE FUNCTION WITHIN THE OVERALL MISSILE SYSTEM." Reported amounts include $1,713,749.46 and repeated entries of $327,010.77 (December 1, 2017) and $1,546,246.66, $1,494,346.66 and $1,386,738.70 (May 23, 2018).[^42]
### National Air and Space Intelligence Center task order FA860426FB159
Order FA860426FB159, "ICAM COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT," was signed April 27, 2026 under Radiance's NOVASTAR contract FA860422DB008 by contracting office FA8604 AFLCMC PZI, with funding office F4FTBJ "NASIC WING STAFF A STAFF." The order text incorporates a performance work statement dated March 25, 2026. It records an obligation of $12,955,000, $19,214,890 with all options, a period from June 12, 2026 to March 11, 2029, two offers, multiple-award fair opportunity procedures (MAFO), place of performance Dayton, Ohio, and 11 subaward reports totaling $4,362,010.25. One is a subaward to Ignite Fueling Innovation of $98,665, reported June 11, 2026 under the subaward number "IDIQ-00038 TO 26FB159," described as "ENTITLEMENTS CORE SERVICE, ENTITLEMENTS RESOLUTION SERVICE, USER PROFILING SERVICE" and "THE MAINTENANCE, SUSTAINMENT, AND MINOR ENHANCEMENT (MS&E) OF DELIVERED OPERATIONAL SOFTWARE (O&M), REFERENCING THE ICAM COLLECTION VISION, AS IDENTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT."[^43]
### Capability statement of January 2022
A Radiance corporate overview dated January 13, 2022 (submitted to the National Advanced Mobility Consortium) lists, under the National Security Sector, "Microelectronics Exploitation," "Integrated Circuit Failure Analysis," "RF Material Interactions Studies," "Weapon System Exploitation" (including "Software/Hardware Exploitation," "FPGA and Complex Devices Exploitation," "Computer Forensics"), and under the Department of Defense Sector "Systems Engineering: Design/Re-Design Reverse Engineering." It lists laboratories named Space Technology Analysis and Concepts, Space Payload Demonstration, Space PNT Resiliency and Air and Missile System Integration; states that the company has "numerous cleared office, laboratory, prototyping and high bay facilities," over 950 employees and 24 indefinite-delivery contracts.[^37] A Radiance posting for an OPIR Extractions Analyst supporting the center at Wright-Patterson (Beavercreek; removed May 9, 2025) lists duties to "plan, conduct and accomplish OPIR extraction exploitation, production, and quality control," requires a TS/SCI clearance and desires being "NASIC certified in BRASS or SBIRS extractions"; a ClearanceJobs posting for a C4ISR Analyst (Beavercreek, Secret with SCI eligibility) describes "all-source analysis on foreign space and counterspace organizations, processes, facilities, equipment, and technologies."[^38]
A Radiance corporate overview dated January 13, 2022 (submitted to the National Advanced Mobility Consortium) lists, under the National Security Sector, "Microelectronics Exploitation," "Integrated Circuit Failure Analysis," "RF Material Interactions Studies," "Weapon System Exploitation" (including "Software/Hardware Exploitation," "FPGA and Complex Devices Exploitation," "Computer Forensics"), and under the Department of Defense Sector "Systems Engineering: Design/Re-Design Reverse Engineering." It lists laboratories named Space Technology Analysis and Concepts, Space Payload Demonstration, Space PNT Resiliency and Air and Missile System Integration; states that the company has "numerous cleared office, laboratory, prototyping and high bay facilities," over 950 employees and 24 indefinite-delivery contracts.[^44] A Radiance posting for an OPIR Extractions Analyst supporting the center at Wright-Patterson (Beavercreek; removed May 9, 2025) lists duties to "plan, conduct and accomplish OPIR extraction exploitation, production, and quality control," requires a TS/SCI clearance and desires being "NASIC certified in BRASS or SBIRS extractions"; a ClearanceJobs posting for a C4ISR Analyst (Beavercreek, Secret with SCI eligibility) describes "all-source analysis on foreign space and counterspace organizations, processes, facilities, equipment, and technologies."[^45]
### Employee ownership and the Berry v. Bailey litigation
The Department of Labor Form 5500 dataset lists the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (sponsor EIN 63-1204084, plan 003, effective January 1, 2008). Schedule H reports employer securities of $17,993,650 at the end of 2017, $50,834,346 (2018), $65,757,103 (2019), $94,399,503 (2020), $117,620,408 (2021), $119,038,268 (2022), $163,931,588 (2023) and $191,284,778 (2024), against total assets of $194,917,315 at the end of 2024 and distributions of $19,127,713 in 2024; beginning-of-year participants numbered 640 (2017) and 1,092 (2024).[^39]
The Department of Labor Form 5500 dataset lists the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (sponsor EIN 63-1204084, plan 003, effective January 1, 2008). Schedule H reports employer securities of $17,993,650 at the end of 2017, $50,834,346 (2018), $65,757,103 (2019), $94,399,503 (2020), $117,620,408 (2021), $119,038,268 (2022), $163,931,588 (2023) and $191,284,778 (2024), against total assets of $194,917,315 at the end of 2024 and distributions of $19,127,713 in 2024; beginning-of-year participants numbered 640 (2017) and 1,092 (2024).[^46]
In Berry v. Bailey (N.D. Ala. 5:24-cv-522, removed April 25, 2024), former employees sued Bailey, the board (Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, Jead Deason, Jim Poss, Jim Scanlon, Carol Tevepaugh, JT Thompson and John F. Thompson) and the trustee Argent Trust Company and its employee Stephen A. Martin. The second amended complaint alleges that in early 2023 Bailey began to "shop" Radiance, that an offer came from Axient (Sagewind) and a second in summer 2023 from BlueHalo, that the board retained Jefferies Financial Group, that about 14 offers were narrowed to five each "in a range of two times (2X) the ESOP's last appraised value," that Bailey dismissed president Tim Tinsley during due diligence, and that Bailey told the board of "product(s) and programs" that "did not even exist" and were "proverbial 'moon shots'." Judge Corey Maze dismissed all claims without prejudice on September 18, 2025 on standing, preemption and exhaustion grounds without reaching the merits; the opinion records that the plaintiffs were held to be beneficial stockholders with standing for derivative claims before those were dismissed on preemption.[^40][^41]
In Berry v. Bailey (N.D. Ala. 5:24-cv-522, removed April 25, 2024), former employees sued Bailey, the board ([[Bud Cramer|Robert E. "Bud" Cramer]], Jead Deason, Jim Poss, Jim Scanlon, Carol Tevepaugh, JT Thompson and John F. Thompson) and the trustee Argent Trust Company and its employee Stephen A. Martin. The second amended complaint alleges that in early 2023 Bailey began to "shop" Radiance, that an offer came from Axient (Sagewind) and a second in summer 2023 from BlueHalo, that the board retained Jefferies Financial Group, that about 14 offers were narrowed to five each "in a range of two times (2X) the ESOP's last appraised value," that Bailey dismissed president Tim Tinsley during due diligence, and that Bailey told the board of "product(s) and programs" that "did not even exist" and were "proverbial 'moon shots'." Judge Corey Maze dismissed all claims without prejudice on September 18, 2025 on standing, preemption and exhaustion grounds without reaching the merits; the opinion records that the plaintiffs were held to be beneficial stockholders with standing for derivative claims before those were dismissed on preemption.[^47][^48]
Radiance announced on December 21, 2015 that the former congressman Robert E. "Bud" Cramer had joined its board of directors.[^49]
### Employee Stock Ownership Plan: administration, trustee and plan-year ledger
The Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan is plan number 003 under sponsor employer identification number 63-1204084 and, by the plan's own statements, was established effective January 1, 2008 (the audits state that "the Company established the Plan effective as of January 1, 2008"). The Form 5500 bulk files for plan years 2016 through 2020 carry the plan name as "EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHP PLAN." The same employer identification number files a 401(k) profit sharing plan (plan 001), an employee benefits plan and a health insurance plan. The audits state that the plan "is administered by the Company's management" and that "[[Argent Trust Company]] is the Plan's Trustee." Schedule H lists the accountant as [[Warren Averett]] (spelled "Warren Averitt" in the 2020 through 2024 filings). The 2024 audit states: "Administrative expenses for the Trustees fees are paid directly by the Company." The 2024 audit describes the valuation process as "selecting a qualified appraiser under a three-year contract that can be canceled at any time," with a report of the estimated per-share value that "Plan management and the Trustee then review in detail, discuss and approve" (the audits for plan years 2018 to 2021 say "Plan management, along with the ESOP trustee, reviews in detail, discusses and approves"); no filing names the appraisal firm. The audit for plan year 2018 states that the plan's loan "was paid off as of December 31, 2017."[^50]
The table gives each plan year as filed with the [[Employee Benefits Security Administration]]. Participant counts are the beginning-of-year totals in the Form 5500 bulk files; share counts are the "number of shares" of company common stock in the investment note of the audited statements; the price per share is the fair value of employer securities divided by that share count (arithmetic, not a filed field).
| Plan year | Filed | Filing acknowledgment | Participants, start of year | Employer securities, end of year | Total assets, end of year | Shares | Implied price per share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | September 11, 2017 | 20170911110245P040130674071001 | 506 | $15,343,767 | $16,301,641 | | |
| 2017 | October 12, 2018 | 20181012095956P040162859357001 | 640 | $17,993,650 | $20,591,719 | 1,439,492 | $12.50 |
| 2018 | September 27, 2019 | 20190927144949P040027478461001 | 766 | $50,834,346 | $53,268,129 | 2,353,442 | $21.60 |
| 2019 | October 14, 2020 | 20201014123349NAL0006234513001 | 727 | $65,757,103 | $68,826,705 | 2,272,188 | $28.94 |
| 2020 | September 15, 2021 | 20210915114334NAL0012907985001 | 865 | $94,399,503 | $95,911,498 | 2,273,042 | $41.53 |
| 2021 | October 11, 2022 | 20221011112025NAL0014141923001 | 1,051 | $117,620,408 | $117,620,409 | 2,135,059 | $55.09 |
| 2022 | October 13, 2023 | 20231013120338NAL0021775411001 | 1,013 | $119,038,268 | $120,092,479 | 1,824,005 | $65.26 |
| 2023 | September 29, 2024 | 20240929225624NAL0005032737001 | 939 | $163,931,588 | $168,105,591 | 1,659,899 | $98.76 |
| 2024 | October 14, 2025 | 20251014121241NAL0001356787001 | 1,092 | $191,284,778 | $194,917,315 | 1,657,006 | $115.44 |
The implied prices for 2023 and 2024 correspond to a statement in the 2024 audit that purchases in the 2024 internal market "were purchased at $98.76, the share price as of December 31, 2023." The plan's allocated share count fell in each plan year from 2019 to 2023, from 2,272,188 to 1,659,899. The Schedule H distributions were $2,581,737 (2018), $2,671,131 (2019), $3,714,771 (2020), $7,256,764 (2021), $18,517,358 (2022), $11,022,914 (2023) and $19,127,713 (2024). Employer cash contributions on Schedule H were $2,344,015 (2020), $4,404,348 (2021), $3,331,332 (2022), $1,202,383 (2023) and $2,096,627 (2024), with noncash contributions on Schedule H of $2,598,069 (2017), $2,433,373 (2018), $3,069,179 (2019), $1,197,752 (2020), $1,054,209 (2022), $4,174,001 (2023) and $3,630,575 (2024). The audits' investment notes record "unrealized appreciation in estimated fair value" of $22,422,500 (2018), $16,924,941 (2019), $29,284,799 (2020), $29,250,748 (2021), $19,934,332 (2022), $54,859,573 (2023) and $27,640,821 (2024) for those years. Plan year 2025 had not been posted to the public Form 5500 datasets as of October 4, 2026.[^51] Documents 43-3 and 57-1 in [[Berry v. Bailey]], filed by the Radiance defendants, are the Form 5500 filings for plan years 2022 and 2023 and show the same share counts.[^52]
### February 1, 2018 transition to sole ESOP ownership
The audit for plan year 2018 (filed September 27, 2019, Note 1) states: "On February 1, 2018, the Plan became the sole shareholder of the Company. This transaction included the Company purchasing all outstanding shares of common stock held outside the ESOP (2,617,594 shares), the Company assuming $10,800,000 in shareholder notes, and a transfer of funds into the ESOP from participants' 401(k) plan balances in the amount of $11,542,350 to purchase additional common stock shares within the ESOP." The plan's share count rose from 1,439,492 at December 31, 2017 to 2,353,442 at December 31, 2018, and the audit's statement of changes records "Transfers from 401(k)" of $11,542,350. Schedule H lists the $11,542,350 purchase of common stock as a reportable transaction. The audit does not name the holders outside the ESOP or state a price per share for the 2,617,594 shares. The 2024 audit refers to "the transfer account" holding shares "transferred from the 401k plan to the Plan in January 2018."[^53]
The first amended and restated complaint in Radiance Technologies, Inc. v. [[Heath Berry]] ([[Madison County, Alabama]] Circuit Court, CV-2024-900092), which the Radiance defendants filed as Exhibit 1 (Doc. 42-1) in Berry v. Bailey on September 4, 2024, states at paragraph 6: "Radiance is a 100% employee-owned company that has faithfully served its customers and the Huntsville community since 1999."[^54]
The trust agreement under which Argent serves is dated September 5, 2017, between Radiance and "Argent Trust Company, as successor trustee"; Argent's signature block is [[Stephen A. Martin]], Senior Vice President.[^55]
### IRS Voluntary Correction Program and the 2014 to 2019 redemptions
The audit for plan year 2020 (filed September 15, 2021, Note 2, "Voluntary Correction Program") states: "In 2020, representatives of the plan administrator discovered that several operational failures had occurred in the 2014 through 2019 plan years. During those plan years, the Company redeemed vested shares of Company stock using the most recent appraised fair market value instead of the appraised fair market value on the date of the redemption. The most recent appraised fair market value of company stock in such cases was the value determined as of the immediately preceding June 30 or December 31, as applicable. Participants whose vested Company stock was redeemed by the Company during those plan years may have experienced underpayments because the proceeds that were credited to their liquidated company stock accounts and transferred to the 401(k) Plan were likely less than the amounts that should have been credited and transferred under the terms of the Plan." The same audit records "other liabilities" of $788,368 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and its Note 10 reconciliation to the Form 5500 lists an "Employer contribution receivable for self-correction" of $1,099,798 and a "Payable to 401(k) for self-correction" of $788,368. Note 11 states: "The Company received approval of the Plan's Voluntary Correction Program (VCP) application, in accordance with the [[Internal Revenue Service]]'s Voluntary Correction Program under the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), concerning these operational failures." The audit for plan year 2021 states: "In June 2021, the Plans Voluntary Correction Program application was accepted and paid for by the Company."[^56] The audits do not state how many participants were affected or the total paid.
### 2024 internal market
The 2024 audit states that "during 2024, the Company established an internal market between the Companys 401k Plan and the Plan to allow participants to transfer funds from the 401k Plan to the Plan to purchase additional shares of Company stock"; active participants employed on or before May 1, 2024 could invest "up to 50% of their vested, pretax 401(k) account balance," the market "opened on May 15, 2024, and closed on June 17, 2024," and transfers totaled $13,540,671. Transfers from the plan to the 401(k) plan under two 2013 transfer agreements totaled $969,227 in 2024.[^57]
### Litigation papers and program names
Radiance's suits against departing employees, and one suit by their new employer, [[PeopleTec]], put program names and contract figures into public court files. The papers are the pleadings of the parties, filed by Radiance, by former employees and by the defendants in a related suit, and no court has made findings on the facts in them.[^58]
Radiance Technologies, Inc. v. Heath Berry, No. CV-2024-900092 (Circuit Court of Madison County, Alabama), was filed on January 19, 2024 and assigned to Judge [[D. Alan Mann]]; the case action summary lists a jury trial set for December 16, 2024, a subpoena to PeopleTec issued March 1, 2024 and served March 12, 2024, and an amended complaint e-filed August 9, 2024. Heath Berry, the defendant, is described in the First Amended and Restated Complaint as Radiance's senior vice president, "responsible for one of Radiance's business units," the Electronic Systems and Cyber Technology/National Security Management Division. The complaint's introduction states that "part of Radiance's business focuses on cutting edge technologies in the directed energy, hypersonic, space, aviation, test and evaluation, intelligence, microelectronics, cyber, and critical infrastructure markets" and that Radiance is "a 100% employee-owned company that has faithfully served its customers and the Huntsville community since 1999."[^58] It alleges that Berry's business unit "was deep in negotiations with Honeywell on a new, very lucrative contractual opportunity" in late 2023, that "the contract with Honeywell would have provided $6,500,000 in revenue in 2024, and $40,000,000 to $50,000,000 in revenue over the life of the contract," and that Berry's actions "cost Radiance the Looking Glass contract and the $40 to $50 million in future revenue it will generate." Count II alleges that Berry "interfered with Radiance's negotiations and ongoing work on Looking Glass" and Count III pleads civil conspiracy with non-Radiance employees at PeopleTec "to divert the Honeywell contract from Radiance to PeopleTec."[^58] The Radiance defendants in Berry v. Bailey later wrote that Berry and Baker "took Radiance's work and its trade secrets with them when they left. So Radiance has sued, and is still suing, them," and that the federal suit "was originally filed by Berry after Radiance sued him in Madison County Circuit Court."[^59]
Radiance Technologies, Inc. v. Jade Baker, No. 5:24-cv-00794 (N.D. Ala.), was filed on June 15, 2024 (docketed June 17) and reassigned to Judge [[Liles C. Burke]] on August 27, 2024; [[Jade Baker]] answered on July 11, 2024. The four counts are misappropriation of trade secrets under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy and violation of the Alabama Digital Crimes Act. The complaint (Doc. 42-1, Exhibit 2) states the following about the group Berry led:
- Paragraph 7: Baker, hired as chief scientist in 2018 and assistant vice president by 2021, worked in "Radiance's Electronic Systems and Cyber Technology group, led by then-senior vice president Heath Berry."
- Paragraph 8: the group's "work on federal government contracts focuses on anti-tamper microelectronics, a collection of countermeasures that protect security chips, like microchips, from being monitored or affected."
- Paragraph 9: Radiance "is working to build a facility in Louisiana to produce microelectronics CHIPS packages," a reference to the [[CHIPS and Science Act]] of August 2022.
- Paragraph 10: Radiance produces such packages "through various federal contracts, such as the Agile Cyber Technology 3 ('ACT3') indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity ('IDIQ') contract vehicle," and "protects the information about its ACT3 contract, and others, by using secured internal networks, marking documents as proprietary, requiring some of the work to be performed only in classified areas, and with non-disclosure agreements." A footnote states that an IDIQ contract "is often called a 'license to hunt' because it allows a company to bid on work in the future."
- Paragraphs 11 and 12: in 2023 Baker "was part of the Radiance team that negotiated a subcontract with Honeywell to perform work on a contract called 'Looking Glass,'" on which he was listed as key personnel, a program that "involved anti-tamper work for microchips on classified programs." The subcontract "would have guaranteed Radiance $6.5 million in revenue in 2024 and would have provided another $40 to $50 million over the life of the contract," and Honeywell "even let Radiance began performing some Looking Glass work, with preliminary funding, while subcontract negotiations were ongoing."
- Paragraph 42: "shortly after Baker left Radiance, Honeywell sent Radiance a stop work order on the work they were already performing for the Looking Glass effort and the subcontract negotiations ended," and on January 10, 2024 Berry "attended a meeting with the government customer and Honeywell representatives, on behalf of PeopleTec, for the Looking Glass work."
- Paragraphs 46 and 47: Radiance "is working to build a registered facility in Louisiana to produce secure microelectronic CHIPS packages"; "only (approximately) 5-10 of Radiance's 1,050 employees had access to those files" and "some of the work can only be performed in classified areas."[^60]
The complaint names the files Baker is alleged to have copied between November 1 and November 29, 2023. They include "Experimental_Slice_Interfacing_Released.pdf" from a folder path ending "from_APL" (paragraph 21, described as proprietary information "pertaining to the Looking Glass work"); 61 screenshots of "Radiance's CHIP technology" from a folder named "Parts_Initial_Inspection" (paragraph 22); "LOOKING_GLASS_AO4B_Technical-Volume.docx," described as "the technical solution and pricing documents for Radiance's effort to get work on the Looking Glass contract with Honeywell," followed by 19 files of the "Looking Glass" proposal technical volume, basis-of-estimate files ("LOOKING_GLASS_AO4B_BOE_Methodology-no-template.docx," "LOOKING_GLASS_A04B_BOE_Methodology.docx," "phase1b_boe.xlsx," "LG-AO4B_tool_lead_times.xlsx") and vendor quotations whose file names include "delidding-apparatus-estimate.pdf," "Nordson_Bondtest_4000PLUS.pdf," "hast_options.xlsx," "steam-ager_options.xlsx" and two Hentec test-system quotations (paragraphs 28, 29 and 40).[^60] On November 28 Baker allegedly saved "Quad Secure Microelectronic Interposer Technology FY24.pptx" after "FY23 Congressional Add Quad_Full Spectrum Protective Technologies for Cyber Mission Assurance_SED Submission_6February2023.pptx," which the complaint says "contain proprietary information about Radiance's process for obtaining and executing funding for contracts" (paragraph 38).[^60]
The complaint also describes a second contract vehicle in connection with PeopleTec. A message of November 7, 2023 from Baker to Berry is quoted as asking "what contract vehicle the COINS subs are currently using, what the PoP is, and the anticipated burn out," and paragraph 27 states that "Cyber Operation INSCOM Network Strategies, otherwise known as 'COINS,' is work on a task order under the ACT3 contract," on which "PeopleTec is a subcontractor to Radiance."[^60] Paragraph 13 of the complaint states that Tim Tinsley was Radiance's president "until Radiance fired him in September of 2023," and paragraph 24 alleges that [[Cahaba Federal Solutions]], which the complaint says Tinsley owns, "is currently doing work previously performed by Radiance as a subcontractor to Kratos" and "employs Mr. Wright and other former Radiance employees." Paragraph 14 names [[Chris Wright]] as "the senior vice president of Radiance's Emerging and Disruptive Technologies group" and quotes a document he is alleged to have written, titled "Fiduciary": "[s]enior leaders will be first order effect," "[n]ext level staff will get nervous and many will leave," "[c]ustomers will lose confidence" and "[s]hip will sink," followed by the sentence "Their plan was not limited to Radiance's directed energies group." Paragraph 32 identifies [[Karl Walli]] as executive vice president of Radiance's national security sector.[^60]
Baker's answer (Doc. 42-1, Exhibit 11, filed July 11, 2024) responds to paragraph 11 with the following: "Baker admits that he was involved in a Radiance project with Honeywell International. Baker admits that he was a part of the government funded research and planning team, Looking Glass 1A, to develop the technical approach for Looking Glass 1B. Baker admits that he was listed as key personnel for Looking Glass 1B." The answer states that Baker was without knowledge of the remaining allegations of that paragraph.[^61]
Radiance Technologies Inc v. Wright, No. 5:24-cv-00290 (N.D. Ala.), was opened in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama]] on March 7, 2024. The docket caption gives the defendant's surname only, and CourtListener lists a last filing date of March 5, 2025.[^62] PeopleTec, Inc. v. Radiance Technologies, Inc., No. 5:26-cv-00497 (N.D. Ala.), was filed on March 25, 2026 and assigned to Judge [[Harold Mooty III]].[^62]
Berry v. Bailey (No. 5:24-cv-00522, N.D. Ala.), classified on the CourtListener docket as a Labor: E.R.I.S.A. matter (cause 29:1132), is a suit by five former Radiance employees, individually and derivatively on behalf of Radiance, against Bill Bailey, the Radiance directors and the trustee of the employee stock ownership plan, Argent Trust Company; its docket is outlined on the page for Bailey. The plaintiffs' allegations are theirs alone, and the court dismissed all claims without prejudice. In that case the Radiance defendants' motion to dismiss attached the Berry and Baker pleadings as Exhibits 1, 2 and 11; the plaintiffs moved on October 7, 2024 to strike them, and the court's opinion of September 18, 2025 denied that motion in part and as moot in part "because the court did not consider the challenged materials, other than the ESOP Plan Summary, to reach its decision."[^59]
### Sole-source award under the ESOP pilot program
Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Huntsville awarded SPRRA226C0009 to Radiance on April 10, 2026 for range improvement and modernization at the [[Reagan Test Site]] (Kwajalein Atoll) for the Army Space and Missile Defense Command: $30,159,000 obligated against a ceiling of $149,683,593 through April 10, 2031, coded "NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION." The redacted justification and approval states the authority as "DFARS 206.302-5(b), Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) pilot program, NDAA Provision 874, and amended NDAA Provision 872," approved by an Office of the Under Secretary of War memorandum signed by Col. Steven R. Green Jr. on December 23, 2025. It states that Radiance has invested in "laboratory and integration spaces that meet ICD 705 requirements for classified facilities," that a sources-sought notice of January 20, 2026 drew no responses, and that two small businesses, McDonald Technical Solutions and Polaris Sensor Technologies, answered the synopsis, "Neither of these vendors are ESOP companies." The same document calls Radiance "an employee-owned small business" and states "Radiance, a small business, is the only known source with the current capability to successfully complete the range modernization."[^42]
Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Huntsville awarded SPRRA226C0009 to Radiance on April 10, 2026 for range improvement and modernization at the [[Reagan Test Site]] (Kwajalein Atoll) for the Army Space and Missile Defense Command: $30,159,000 obligated against a ceiling of $149,683,593 through April 10, 2031, coded "NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION." The redacted justification and approval states the authority as "DFARS 206.302-5(b), Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) pilot program, NDAA Provision 874, and amended NDAA Provision 872," approved by an Office of the Under Secretary of War memorandum signed by Col. Steven R. Green Jr. on December 23, 2025. It states that Radiance has invested in "laboratory and integration spaces that meet ICD 705 requirements for classified facilities," that a sources-sought notice of January 20, 2026 drew no responses, and that two small businesses, McDonald Technical Solutions and Polaris Sensor Technologies, answered the synopsis, "Neither of these vendors are ESOP companies." The same document calls Radiance "an employee-owned small business" and states "Radiance, a small business, is the only known source with the current capability to successfully complete the range modernization."[^63]
The Defense Logistics Agency award notice for SPRRA226C0009 (SAM.gov notice posted April 14, 2026) reads "AWARD NOTICE OF CONTRACT SPRRA226C0009 TO RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES, IAW 10 U.S.C. 2304(C)(1)FAR 6.302-5 AUTHORIZED OR REQUIRED BY STATUE," "SINGLE PURCHASE, COST PLUS FIXED FEE (CPFF) EFFORT" and "TOTAL AMOUNT OF CONTRACT: $149,683,593.02." Its justification states that the contract is a "sole source follow-on for the current SPRRA224C0020 contract with Radiance," which "was awarded as a bridge from a prior effort"; that Radiance developed its range-operations capability "much at their own expense, over a 6-year period"; and that funding is fiscal year 2025 and 2026 research, development, test and evaluation money of the USASMDC Program Office (United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command). It lists planned projects including replacement of the ALTAIR tracking radar ultra high frequency transmitter high voltage power supply and development of "a multi-band multi-static radar system," names the programs that plan missions at the Reagan Test Site (Air Force Minuteman III and LGM-35 Sentinel, Army Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, Navy Conventional Prompt Strike, Space Force "classified Space systems testing," and "Golden Dome"), and states that the program "was approved by the Secretary of War to have a DX priority rating." It lists the existing work as "upgrades to current sensor subsystems that will restore the systems to Full Mission Capability for critical major defense acquisition programs including the Air Force LGM-35A, Army Dark Eagle, Navy Conventional Prompt Strike."[^43] The predecessor SPRRA224C0020 was announced by an award notice of July 15, 2024 reading "UNUSUAL AND COMPELLING ONE TIME BUY" with a "CEILING ON CONTRACT: $15M"; a redacted justification for unusual and compelling urgency (solicitation SPRRA2-24-R-0063) was posted August 13, 2024.[^43]
Section 874 of the [[National Defense Authorization Act]] for Fiscal Year 2022 (Pub. L. 117-81; 10 U.S.C. 3204 note), as amended by section 872 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Pub. L. 118-31), authorizes the Department of Defense to award certain follow-on contracts noncompetitively to employee-owned businesses. The [[Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement]] implementation, published in the [[Federal Register]] on October 10, 2024 (Docket DARS-2024-0017, RIN 0750-AM01, effective November 25, 2024), defines a qualified business at 270.101 as "an S corporation as defined in 26 U.S.C. 1361(a)(1) for which 100 percent of the outstanding stock is held through an employee stock ownership plan as defined in 26 U.S.C. 4975(e)(7)." It limits awards to "[o]ne sole-source, follow-on contract per predecessor contract" unless waived, to qualified businesses with at least a satisfactory rating for the predecessor contract in the [[Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System]], and to businesses that certify they will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the government to subcontractors; the authority "expires on December 27, 2029." DFARS 206.302-5(b) lists the pilot among the statutory exceptions to full and open competition. In the rule's response to public comment, the Department stated that neither section waived the requirement for a justification and approval and that the [[Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment]] "implemented section 874 via a contract policy memorandum dated November 8, 2022, and limited participation in the pilot program to nine contractors."[^64]
The justification for SPRRA226C0009 (solicitation SPRRA226R0040) states that a synopsis ran on the Governmentwide Point of Entry from January 27, 2026 through February 10, 2026, and lists among Radiance's capabilities "investment in tools and fixtures that enable highly skilled technical personnel to design, develop and test candidate technologies for range improvements," "business processes that enable identification of vendors of unique, niche technologies required to execute RTR I&M projects" and "acquisition of companies to provide comprehensive radar technical expertise for hardware and software prototyping." It states that a new vendor would need "18 months to 2 years" to replace the capability. The federal procurement record for the award, signed April 10, 2026, lists one offer received, solicitation procedure "SSS" ("ONLY ONE SOURCE"), the Defense Logistics Agency as awarding agency, extent competed code "B" ("NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION"), a performance period of April 10, 2026 to April 10, 2031, and the description "material, other direct costs (ODC), total direct labor, and travel to meet the needs of the customer, US Army Space and Missile Defense Command's (SMDC) Reagan Test Site (RTS)."[^65]
### Size status and the Army RCCTO protest
Radiance protested a small-business recertification requirement in Army task order request for proposals 24-005 (systems engineering and technical assistance for the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office) before the Government Accountability Office (B-422615.1, denied August 30, 2024) and then in the [[United States Court of Federal Claims]] (No. 24-1375C). The court's opinion of December 5, 2024 states that Radiance, the incumbent, "was a small business when it was awarded its OASIS IDIQ contract but admits that it no longer meets that qualification," and dismissed the protest under the task-order bar.[^43] The joint venture Radiance Ignite Technologies was formed on July 10, 2024, between the May 2024 protest and the December 2024 opinion.
Radiance protested a small-business recertification requirement in Army task order request for proposals 24-005 (systems engineering and technical assistance for the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office) before the Government Accountability Office (B-422615.1, denied August 30, 2024) and then in the [[United States Court of Federal Claims]] (No. 24-1375C). The court's opinion of December 5, 2024 states that Radiance, the incumbent, "was a small business when it was awarded its OASIS IDIQ contract but admits that it no longer meets that qualification," and dismissed the protest under the task-order bar.[^66] The joint venture Radiance Ignite Technologies was formed on July 10, 2024, between the May 2024 protest and the December 2024 opinion.
### Political action committee, all recipients
The Federal Election Commission lists 367 Schedule B disbursements by Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee (C00372979). By recipient committee the largest totals are [[Robert Aderholt]] for Congress $65,300 (22 records, April 5, 2002 to October 27, 2023), the National Republican Senatorial Committee $55,000 (5), Citizens for Turner $51,250 (20), Terri Sewell for Congress $40,600 (13, to March 31, 2026), Mike Rogers for Congress $37,100 (15), Defend America PAC $33,850 (7), Scalise for Congress $27,700 (3), Turner Victory Fund $25,000 (5), Jo Bonner for Congress $25,000 (14) and Friends of Bud Cramer $25,000 (7, August 14, 2003 to April 9, 2007).[^44] A $10,000 disbursement on January 17, 2005 went to a "Reception Custodial Account (c/o Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc.)."[^44]
The Federal Election Commission lists 367 Schedule B disbursements by Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee (C00372979). By recipient committee the largest totals are [[Robert Aderholt]] for Congress $65,300 (22 records, April 5, 2002 to October 27, 2023), the National Republican Senatorial Committee $55,000 (5), Citizens for Turner $51,250 (20), Terri Sewell for Congress $40,600 (13, to March 31, 2026), Mike Rogers for Congress $37,100 (15), Defend America PAC $33,850 (7), Scalise for Congress $27,700 (3), Turner Victory Fund $25,000 (5), Jo Bonner for Congress $25,000 (14) and Friends of Bud Cramer $25,000 (7, August 14, 2003 to April 9, 2007).[^67] A $10,000 disbursement on January 17, 2005 went to a "Reception Custodial Account (c/o Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc.)."[^67]
Individual contributions listing Radiance as employer total $2,766,062 over 9,176 records, including $675,991 to the company PAC; William C. Bailey Jr. (name variants of "Bailey, William" with occupation listed as CEO; 230 records from April 25, 2019 to June 30, 2026; sum of itemized receipts as returned, net of 19 negative correction rows: $1,116,488; the FEC does not unify donors, a different William Bailey appears under other occupations, and earlier rows are not counted) gave the largest amounts to the National Republican Congressional Committee ($331,200), Grow the Majority ($270,000) and the Scalise Leadership Fund ($115,000).[^45]
Individual contributions listing Radiance as employer total $2,766,062 over 9,176 records, including $675,991 to the company PAC; William C. Bailey Jr. (name variants of "Bailey, William" with occupation listed as CEO; 230 records from April 25, 2019 to June 30, 2026; sum of itemized receipts as returned, net of 19 negative correction rows: $1,116,488; the FEC does not unify donors, a different William Bailey appears under other occupations, and earlier rows are not counted) gave the largest amounts to the National Republican Congressional Committee ($331,200), Grow the Majority ($270,000) and the Scalise Leadership Fund ($115,000).[^68]
House earmark declarations name Radiance as the requesting entity for $2,400,000 (Representative Jo Bonner, Navy anti-submarine camera system, September 24, 2008), $800,000 and $9 million (Army "Gunfire Detection System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles," Representative Terry Everett, 2008) and $2,000,000 (Representative Jack Kingston, Army, July 2009).[^27]
House earmark declarations name Radiance as the requesting entity for $2,400,000 (Representative Jo Bonner, Navy anti-submarine camera system, September 24, 2008), $800,000 and $9 million (Army "Gunfire Detection System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles," Representative Terry Everett, 2008) and $2,000,000 (Representative Jack Kingston, Army, July 2009).[^28]
The Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee reported to the Federal Election Commission six disbursements dated between July 21, 2023 and November 21, 2023, all on its year-end 2023 report (images 202401309600664855 and 202401309600664856): [[Turner Victory Fund]] $5,000 (July 21, 2023); [[Letlow Victory Fund]] $5,000 (August 1); [[Tuberville Victory Fund]] $3,000 (October 9); Robert Aderholt for Congress $5,000 (October 27); [[LaRose for Senate]] $2,500 (November 14); and [[Wicker for Senate]] $5,000 (November 21). The Turner Victory Fund payment is on image 202401309600664856, line 23, and the recipient is a joint fundraising committee (C00611962, registered in Georgia) with no candidate identifier in the FEC record. Between 2019 and 2025 the committee's disbursements to the Turner committees are $5,000 each on October 9, 2019 (Citizens for Turner, image 201911049165324401), October 1, 2020 (Turner Victory Fund, 202101209405240320), October 24, 2022 (Turner Victory Fund, 202212079547209468), July 21, 2023, June 18, 2024 (Citizens for Turner, 202407159653323303), September 11, 2024 (Turner Victory Fund, 202410149684954155) and June 23, 2025 (Turner Victory Fund, 202507229764196383), totaling $35,000. Its disbursements to [[Mike Rogers for Congress]] since 2019 are $5,000 each on March 13, 2019, February 19, 2020, October 12, 2021 and February 5, 2024, totaling $20,000.[^69]
### Lobbying disclosure filings
Records filed under the [[Lobbying Disclosure Act]] list Radiance Technologies as a client of the following registrants, with the quarterly reports of each year summed (income reported by the registrants): $300,000 in 2019, $320,000 in 2020, $320,000 in 2021, $406,000 in 2022, $464,000 in 2023, $560,000 in 2024, $670,000 in 2025 and $250,000 in the reports for the first two quarters of 2026.[^70] In 2023 the registrants were [[Maynor & Stiers]] ($80,000 per quarter; lobbyists [[Linda Maynor]] and [[William Stiers]]), [[Adams and Reese]] ($20,000 per quarter; [[Bradley Byrne]], [[Charles Bonner]] and [[Paula Zorensky]]) and the [[Skipper Group]] ($15,000 to $19,000 per quarter; [[Tripp Skipper]]). The Maynor & Stiers reports give the issue as "Research and development in directed energy technologies, protective electronics, AI/ML, modeling and simulation tools - FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (HR 2670; S2226) and FY24 Defense Appropriations Act (HR 4365; S 2587)" (second through fourth quarters, with the Senate appropriations bill unnumbered in the second), with a "Port Resiliency and Security" item on the homeland security appropriations bill in the first quarter; Adams and Reese report "Acquisition regulations, National Defense Authorization Act"; the Skipper Group reports "Facilitated congressional meetings."[^70]
[[Venn Strategies]] registered for Radiance on a filing posted June 6, 2024 (issues "Computer Industry" and "Defense": "Technology, CHIPS Act"), described its work in the first-quarter 2025 report as "Educate stakeholders on technology, semiconductor solutions, and capabilities," and reported $100,000 for the third quarter of 2024 and $60,000 in each quarter from the fourth quarter of 2024 through the first quarter of 2026. Its lobbyists with prior government positions as printed on the filings are [[Andrew Sigmon]] ("Legislative Director, Congressman Mike Turner (R Oh)" on the first filing, "Legislative Director Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH)" on later ones), [[Erik Olson]] ("Chief of Staff, Rep. [[Ron Kind]] (D-WI)") and [[Garrett Lukken]] ("Legislative Assistant - Rep. [[Ed Perlmutter]] (CO-07)"). [[Williams and Jensen]] registered on February 3, 2025 (issue text "Federal government and congressional engagement to grow business development") and lists [[Christopher Brinson]] ("Deputy Chief LD, COS/General Counsel, Rep. Mike Rogers") and [[Jordan Mills]] ("Regional Director, Senator [[Tommy Tuberville]]"); [[McKinnon Group]] registered on April 3, 2025 (issue text "Defense"; $30,000 per quarter from the second quarter of 2025 through the first quarter of 2026 and $60,000 for the second quarter of 2026) and lists [[Mark McKinnon]] ("National Security Advisor, Sen [[Katie Britt]]; National Security Advisor, Sen [[Richard Shelby]]; Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security").[^70][^71]
Radiance's earlier registrant, [[Maynard Nexsen]], registered on a filing posted July 9, 2014 (issue "FY15 Defense Appropriations (Aviation engineering and technology development for transition of advanced technologies to rotary wing aircraft)"; lobbyist Linda Maynor) and reported for Radiance each quarter through the second quarter of 2022 ($50,000 per quarter in 2017; $50,000 in the first quarter of 2018 and $60,000 in each later quarter of 2018; $60,000 in the first quarter of 2019; $80,000 per quarter from the second quarter of 2019 through the second quarter of 2022). The lobbyists on its 2019 reports are Maynor and William Stiers ("Legislative Director - Reps. William Dickinson and Terry Everett"). Its reports for the second quarter of 2019 through the fourth quarter of 2019 list two issues: "H.R.2022 - ESOP Business Act of 2019" under the small business issue code, and under defense "FY20 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 2968, S. 2474)- advanced protection technology, air and missile defense technologies; FY20 Defense Authorization (H.R. 2500, S. 1790)- provisions impacting employee owned companies, Army Futures Command" (the second-quarter report gives the appropriations bills as "H.R. 2968, unnumbered Senate"). The first-quarter 2019 report lists only "FY2020 Defense Appropriations (to be introduced) for advanced protection technology, air and missile defense technologies." The 2020 reports list "Directed energy systems, air and missile defense technologies, position navigation and timing resiliency" and "Port resiliency and security"; those for the third and fourth quarters of 2021 list "Air and Missile Defense Integration, directed energy development, position navigation timing laboratory - FY22 National Defense Authorizations (HR 4350, S.2792)." Its report for the second quarter of 2022 (posted July 8, 2022, $80,000) lists "Research and development in directed energy technologies, protective electronics, AI/ML, modeling and simulation tools - FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (HR 7900, Senate unnumbered)"; Maynor & Stiers registered on June 14, 2022 and reported $30,000 for the same quarter.[^72]
Adams and Reese's first quarterly report for Radiance (first quarter 2022, $20,000, posted April 7, 2022) gives the same issue text as its registration, "Acquisition regulations, National Defense Authorization Act," and the text is unchanged in each report from the first quarter of 2022 through 2026, at $20,000 per quarter through the fourth quarter of 2025 and $10,000 for the first quarter of 2026.[^73] The registration of [[The Halcrow Group]] for the [[Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable]] (posted March 15, 2022, with [[Stephanie Halcrow]] listed under the covered position "Professional Staff Member, House Armed Services Committee") and that firm's first report, which gives the issue "National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2022, Section 874," are described on the Roundtable page and on [[DoD ESOP Pilot Program]].[^74]
Radiance appears in the affiliated-organizations field of Venn Strategies' reports for the Roundtable, which also list [[Modern Technology Solutions]] and [[Torch Technologies]] among others: on the amended reports for 2019 (filed December 4, 2020) and the first three quarters of 2020 (filed December 2, 2020), on the fourth-quarter 2020 report, on each report for 2021, and on the reports for the first quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. The Roundtable's reports for 2021 give as their issue "Promoting ESOP related small business procurement policies as part of the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act to provide incentives for 100% employee-owned businesses in federal contracting." The Roundtable's 2026 Membership List does not include Radiance Technologies. The Roundtable's comment on the proposed rule implementing section 874 was received July 24, 2024 (Docket DARS-2024-0017, comment DARS-2024-0017-0013) and the final rule was published on October 10, 2024. Venn Strategies' report for Radiance for the second quarter of 2024 (filing 8ffd2c47-9cc1-4808-a2bb-b73a6d788e39, posted July 22, 2024, no income figure printed) reads "Educate stakeholders on technology, semiconductor solutions, and capabilities" and was posted the same day as the Roundtable's report for that quarter, which lists Erik Olson, [[Matt Scott]] and [[Teagan Poleykett]] under the issue "Improvement and expansion of ESOP policies that were passed in Sec. 874 of FY2022 NDAA. Provision for sole source procurement for follow on contracts through Department of Defense for businesses wholly owned through an employee stock ownership plan." The Roundtable's third-quarter 2024 report (no income figure printed) was posted October 16, 2024, the day Venn Strategies posted its third-quarter 2024 Radiance report.[^75]
### Clayton Hinchman's 2018 candidacy
[[Clayton Hinchman|Robert Clayton Hinchman]], listed in his own FEC filings as chief operating officer and later chief marketing officer of Ignite Fueling Innovation, is recorded by the Federal Election Commission as a 2018-cycle House candidate (party code GOP) for Alabama's 5th Congressional District (candidate H8AL05208, statement of candidacy first filed June 20, 2017).[^46] His committee (Hinchman for Congress, C00648162) reported $253,800 in receipts for 2018, including a $100,000 candidate loan (March 30, 2018), $2,700 from Ignite Fueling Innovation Inc Federal PAC (May 18, 2017), $5,000 from the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee (March 21, 2018), $1,500 from COLSA president Richard Amos, and contributions from Ignite's president and a human resources manager.[^47] Hinchman became president and chairman of Radiance Ignite Technologies in 2024.
[[Clayton Hinchman|Robert Clayton Hinchman]], listed in his own FEC filings as chief operating officer and later chief marketing officer of Ignite Fueling Innovation, is recorded by the Federal Election Commission as a 2018-cycle House candidate (party code GOP) for Alabama's 5th Congressional District (candidate H8AL05208, statement of candidacy first filed June 20, 2017).[^76] His committee (Hinchman for Congress, C00648162) reported $253,800 in receipts for 2018, including a $100,000 candidate loan (March 30, 2018), $2,700 from Ignite Fueling Innovation Inc Federal PAC (May 18, 2017), $5,000 from the Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee (March 21, 2018), $1,500 from COLSA president Richard Amos, and contributions from Ignite's president and a human resources manager.[^77] Hinchman became president and chairman of Radiance Ignite Technologies in 2024.
### Sheehan Twitter Space, December 2023
Daniel Sheehan described the company in a Twitter Space of early December 2023, transcribed by the writer Steve Skojec on December 7, 2023. Sheehan said Ohio's 10th District is "the chief field office for Radiance Technologies, which is a high tech aerospace industry that is working on a program called 'Prompt Global Strike,' which is the attempt to back engineer UFO technology which they have apparently secured from the ... another aerospace industry," and that Representative Mike Rogers is chair of the House Armed Services Committee with his "home district ... the 2nd district of Alabama." The Federal Election Commission lists the committee Mike Rogers for Congress (C00367862) under candidate identifier H2AL03032. Skojec wrote that he could not vouch for Sheehan.[^48]
Daniel Sheehan described the company in a Twitter Space of early December 2023, transcribed by the writer Steve Skojec on December 7, 2023. Sheehan said Ohio's 10th District is "the chief field office for Radiance Technologies, which is a high tech aerospace industry that is working on a program called 'Prompt Global Strike,' which is the attempt to back engineer UFO technology which they have apparently secured from the ... another aerospace industry," and that Representative Mike Rogers is chair of the House Armed Services Committee with his "home district ... the 2nd district of Alabama." The Federal Election Commission lists the committee Mike Rogers for Congress (C00367862) under candidate identifier H2AL03032. Skojec wrote that he could not vouch for Sheehan.[^78]
In June 2023 [[The War Zone]] reported that NASIC includes a Foreign Materiel Exploitation Squadron and quoted a Department of Defense Inspector General report on the point.[^49] That report, No. 98-005 of October 8, 1997, states that the Air Force Test and Evaluation Directorate's Foreign Materiel Office "had an ongoing initiative to involve contractors early in the exploitation process," that the initiative "pertained only to electronic warfare systems," and that the Air Force "had plans to expand the program to other systems"; it put Military Department spending on foreign materiel exploitation projects in fiscal 1996 at "about $117 million."[^50] The War Zone article names no Radiance, and cites a Pentagon statement of no evidence of "possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials."[^49]
In June 2023 [[The War Zone]] reported that NASIC includes a Foreign Materiel Exploitation Squadron and quoted a Department of Defense Inspector General report on the point.[^79] That report, No. 98-005 of October 8, 1997, states that the Air Force Test and Evaluation Directorate's Foreign Materiel Office "had an ongoing initiative to involve contractors early in the exploitation process," that the initiative "pertained only to electronic warfare systems," and that the Air Force "had plans to expand the program to other systems"; it put Military Department spending on foreign materiel exploitation projects in fiscal 1996 at "about $117 million."[^80] The War Zone article names no Radiance, and cites a Pentagon statement of no evidence of "possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials."[^79]
### Footnotes
@ -229,42 +441,72 @@ In June 2023 [[The War Zone]] reported that NASIC includes a Foreign Materiel Ex
[^9]: "Radiance Wins Contract to Support NASIC; Ceiling of $997M," Huntsville Business Journal, September 23, 2019. https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2019/09/23/radiance-wins-contract-to-support-nasic-ceiling-of-997m
[^10]: Sawyer Knowles, "Huntsville's Radiance Technologies secures $14 billion missile intelligence contract," 256 Today, September 14, 2026. https://256today.com/huntsvilles-radiance-technologies-secures-14-billion-missile-intelligence-contract/
[^11]: Alabama Secretary of State, entity 001-144-448, Radiance Ignite Technologies, LLC, fetched October 3, 2026; "Radiance Technologies and Ignite Announce Joint Venture," PR Newswire, October 14, 2024. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001144448&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city= ; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-and-ignite-announce-joint-venture-302275375.html
[^12]: "Radiance Technologies Appoints TV Personality Dr. Travis S. Taylor as a Principal Research Scientist; CEO Bill Bailey Quoted," ExecutiveGov, April 22, 2022. https://www.executivegov.com/?p=233066
[^13]: "John F. Stratton Jr. Joins Radiance Technologies as SME for Intel Strategy," Radiance Technologies, PR Newswire, May 12, 2022, read in the Internet Archive capture of the same date. https://web.archive.org/web/20220512145721/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-f-stratton-jr-joins-radiance-technologies-as-sme-for-intel-strategy-301546258.html
[^14]: George Knapp, "More UFO hearings? Congress might consider hearing from these 2 men," 8 News Now (KLAS), May 24, 2022. https://digital-release.8newsnow.com/?p=1136519
[^15]: George Knapp, "Is this company working with alien technology in Nevada?" KLAS 8 News Now, posted October 13, 2022 (Pacific time). https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/is-this-company-working-with-alien-technology-in-nevada/
[^16]: Christopher Sharp, "Daniel Sheehan Exposes Five Powerful Republicans Blocking UFO Disclosure Act, As The Clock Ticks Down," Liberation Times, December 3, 2023, read in the present version and in an Internet Archive capture of December 2023. Sole source for the Sheehan statements so cited. https://www.liberationtimes.com/home/daniel-sheehan-exposes-five-powerful-republicans-blocking-ufo-disclosure-act-as-the-clock-ticks-down ; https://web.archive.org/web/20231204/https://www.liberationtimes.com/home/daniel-sheehan-exposes-five-powerful-republicans-blocking-ufo-disclosure-act-as-the-clock-ticks-down
[^17]: Federal Election Commission API, committee C00372979, /schedules/schedule_b/ filtered by recipient names "ROGERS" and "TURNER," with committee records C00367862, C00373001 and C00611962 and candidate records H2AL03032 and H2OH03067, fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_b/?committee_id=C00372979
[^18]: Government Accountability Office, Bid Protest Docket, Radiance Technologies, Inc. (TORFP-24-005), file number B-422615.1, Internet Archive capture of February 6, 2025. https://www.gao.gov/docket/b-422615.1
[^19]: Radiance Technologies, "About Us" (George Clark, John Dennis, Scott Dublin; March 15, 1999), Wayback capture of July 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711221013/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/ ; "Who We Are," Wayback capture of September 23, 2020 (same three names). https://web.archive.org/web/20200923061034/https://www.radiancetech.com/who-we-are/
[^20]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Acquires Open Source Publishing," August 19, 2005, Wayback capture of October 24, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051024072949/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/company/press_releases.htm
[^21]: Radiance Technologies, "Intelligence Community Support" and "About Us" pages, Wayback captures of September 27, 2002 and April 8, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020927213934/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/ServicesForeignMaterialExp.html ; https://web.archive.org/web/20020408023258/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/AboutUs.htm
[^22]: Radiance Technologies, "Foreign Materiel Exploitation," Wayback capture of October 27, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20011027170543/http://radiancetech.com:80/ForeignExploit.htm
[^23]: Radiance Technologies, "Dayton Office," Wayback capture of January 3, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040103154403/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/dayton.html
[^24]: Radiance Technologies, "Programs Index," Wayback capture of December 15, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051215211203/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/programs/default.htm
[^25]: Radiance Technologies, careers posting HR328, Wayback capture of May 16, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060516112649/http://www.radiancetech.com/careers/hr328.shtm
[^26]: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, News Release No. 7-05, "Senior Leadership Positions Announced," December 7, 2005. https://irp.fas.org/news/2005/12/odni120705.html
[^27]: Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks: May 23, 2008 (E1095), September 25, 2008 (E1904, E1924), July 21, 2009 (E1857), July 29, 2009 (E2063), September 21, 2009 (E2321), earmark declarations. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2009-09-21/html/CREC-2009-09-21-pt1-PgE2321-3.htm
[^28]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Welcomes Defense Intelligence Senior Leader Mr. Curtis Rowland to the Team," November 20, 2018. https://www.radiancetech.com/radiance-technologies-welcomes-defense-intelligence-senior-leader-mr-curtis-rowland-to-the-team/
[^29]: "Radiance Technologies Promotes Mr. Curtis Rowland to Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer," Defense Daily, March 2, 2020. https://defensedaily.com/press-releases/radiance-technologies-promotes-mr-curtis-rowland-to-executive-vice-president-chief-strategy-officer
[^30]: Radiance Technologies leadership pages (William C. Bailey Jr., Cindy Santy, David L. Diaddario, Bryan Johnson, Peter Weiland, Paige Nix), Wayback captures of November 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191115103026/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/bill-bailey/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191115110855/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/david-diaddario/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191115095530/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/bryan-johnson/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191115103945/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/cindy-santy/
[^31]: "Bill Jennings joins Radiance Technologies as intel advisor," Intelligence Community News, January 20, 2022. https://intelligencecommunitynews.com/bill-jennings-joins-radiance-technologies-as-intel-advisor/
[^32]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Welcomes Dr. Mark Tillman as Vice President for Simulation Strategy," July 16, 2024; "Radiance Technologies Strengthens Innovation Capability with Strategic Acquisition of Phased n Research," PR Newswire, March 31, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-strengthens-innovation-capability-with-strategic-acquisition-of-phased-n-research-302416148.html
[^33]: "Radiance Technologies Announces Strategic Partnership with Major General (USSF, Ret.) Tim Sejba," PR Newswire, April 2, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-announces-strategic-partnership-with-major-general-ussf-ret-tim-sejba-302733113.html ; "Radiance Technologies Announces Strategic Partnership with Flynn Advisors LLC," February 20, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-announces-strategic-partnership-with-flynn-advisors-llc-302381834.html
[^34]: USAspending.gov, award detail and search records for IDVs FA860415D7976 and FA860422DB008 and 141 FA8604 prime contract records for recipient Radiance Technologies (UEI R52PJK8DM6T4, YXRLX5PDCWK4), queried October 3, 2026; raw rows in TEMP/RESEARCH/2026-10-03_uapmoney/data/DR1/. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_IDV_FA860422DB008_9700/
[^35]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Wins NOVASTAR Contract for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center," August 19, 2022. https://www.radiancetech.com/radiance-technologies-wins-novastar-contract-for-the-national-air-and-space-intelligence-center/
[^36]: Loren Blinde, "Radiance Technologies wins NASIC intelligence mission data BPA," Intelligence Community News, September 24, 2019. https://intelligencecommunitynews.com/radiance-technologies-wins-nasic-intelligence-mission-data-bpa/
[^37]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Overview," January 13, 2022 (National Advanced Mobility Consortium applicant capability file). https://www.namconsortium.org/sites/default/files/applicants_capabilities_pdfs/radiance-corporate-overview.pdf
[^38]: Built In, "OPIR Extractions Analyst - Radiance Technologies," https://builtin.com/job/opir-extractions-analyst/4836556 ; ClearanceJobs, "C4ISR Analyst," Radiance Technologies, https://api.clearancejobs.com/jobs/8984151/c4isr-analyst (both opened October 3, 2026).
[^39]: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 and Schedule H datasets for plan years 2017 to 2024 (Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, EIN 63-1204084, plan 003; 2024 filing acknowledgment 20251014121241NAL0001356787001, received October 14, 2025), fetched October 3, 2026. https://www.askebsa.dol.gov/FOIA%20Files/2024/Latest/F_5500_2024_Latest.zip ; https://www.askebsa.dol.gov/FOIA%20Files/2024/Latest/F_SCH_H_2024_Latest.zip
[^40]: Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-522 (N.D. Ala.), Doc. 33 (second amended complaint, filed August 21, 2024; allegations of the plaintiffs) and docket. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.33.0.pdf ; https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68716598/berry-v-bailey/
[^41]: Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-522-CLM, Doc. 68, Memorandum Opinion (September 18, 2025). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-alnd-5_24-cv-00522/pdf/USCOURTS-alnd-5_24-cv-00522-0.pdf
[^42]: SAM.gov, "Redacted J&A for Radiance Technologies," Notice ID SPRRA226R0040, published April 14, 2026, attachment SPRRA226R0040_Redacted.pdf; USAspending.gov award CONT_AWD_SPRRA226C0009_9700, queried October 3, 2026. https://sam.gov/opp/612f3034b1844db384f0f8f06d9e1dcf/view
[^43]: Government Accountability Office, Bid Protest Docket, B-422615.1, and decision B-422615 (published August 30, 2024); Radiance Technologies Inc. v. United States, No. 24-1375C (Fed. Cl. December 5, 2024). https://www.gao.gov/products/b-422615 ; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-cv-01375/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-cv-01375-0.pdf
[^44]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule B disbursements of committee C00372979, all records (367) fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_b/?committee_id=C00372979 ; recipient committee identifiers: Mike Rogers for Congress C00367862 (candidate H2AL03032), Citizens for Turner C00373001 (H2OH03067), Turner Victory Fund C00611962 (joint fundraising committee).
[^45]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A, individual contributions with contributor employer "Radiance Technologies" (name variants), 9,176 records fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?contributor_employer=Radiance%20Technologies
[^46]: Federal Election Commission, candidate record H8AL05208 (Robert Clayton Hinchman, Alabama 5th District, 2018, party GOP); WAFF, "Clayton Hinchman receives endorsements from local military, business leaders," 2018. https://www.waff.com/story/38320177/clayton-hinchman-receives-endorsements-from-local-military-business-leaders/ ; https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/candidate/H8AL05208/
[^47]: Federal Election Commission, Hinchman for Congress (C00648162), Schedule A and committee totals; Schedule B record of the Radiance PAC disbursement (image 201804239111724609). https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?committee_id=C00648162
[^48]: Steve Skojec, "The Banality of Ontological Shock," The Skojec File, December 7, 2023 (transcription of a Twitter Space statement by Daniel Sheehan). Sole source for the passages so cited. https://skojecfile.steveskojec.com/p/the-banality-of-ontological-shock
[^49]: Joseph Trevithick and Tyler Rogoway, "Aliens Or Not, Secret Crash Retrieval Programs Are A Very Real Thing," The War Zone, June 15, 2023. https://www.twz.com/aliens-or-not-secret-crash-retrieval-programs-are-a-very-real-thing
[^50]: Inspector General, Department of Defense, "Use of Foreign Materiel Exploitation Results," Audit Report No. 98-005, October 8, 1997, executive summary and Part I. https://media.defense.gov/1997/Oct/08/2001715489/-1/-1/1/98-005.pdf
[^12]: U.S. Small Business Administration, "Active Mentor-Protege Agreements," file "Active Firm List 10-1-26 with Details including Mentors (Exportable)," effective October 1, 2026, updated October 2, 2026. https://legacy.sba.gov/document/support-active-mentor-protege-agreements ; Bright Path Research LLC, news item of February 2025. https://brightpathresearch.com/news-BPR-SPA
[^13]: "Radiance Technologies Appoints TV Personality Dr. Travis S. Taylor as a Principal Research Scientist; CEO Bill Bailey Quoted," ExecutiveGov, April 22, 2022. https://www.executivegov.com/?p=233066
[^14]: "John F. Stratton Jr. Joins Radiance Technologies as SME for Intel Strategy," Radiance Technologies, PR Newswire, May 12, 2022, read in the Internet Archive capture of the same date. https://web.archive.org/web/20220512145721/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-f-stratton-jr-joins-radiance-technologies-as-sme-for-intel-strategy-301546258.html
[^15]: George Knapp, "More UFO hearings? Congress might consider hearing from these 2 men," 8 News Now (KLAS), May 24, 2022. https://digital-release.8newsnow.com/?p=1136519
[^16]: George Knapp, "Is this company working with alien technology in Nevada?" KLAS 8 News Now, posted October 13, 2022 (Pacific time). https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/is-this-company-working-with-alien-technology-in-nevada/
[^17]: Christopher Sharp, "Daniel Sheehan Exposes Five Powerful Republicans Blocking UFO Disclosure Act, As The Clock Ticks Down," Liberation Times, December 3, 2023, read in the present version and in an Internet Archive capture of December 2023. Sole source for the Sheehan statements so cited. https://www.liberationtimes.com/home/daniel-sheehan-exposes-five-powerful-republicans-blocking-ufo-disclosure-act-as-the-clock-ticks-down ; https://web.archive.org/web/20231204/https://www.liberationtimes.com/home/daniel-sheehan-exposes-five-powerful-republicans-blocking-ufo-disclosure-act-as-the-clock-ticks-down
[^18]: Federal Election Commission API, committee C00372979, /schedules/schedule_b/ filtered by recipient names "ROGERS" and "TURNER," with committee records C00367862, C00373001 and C00611962 and candidate records H2AL03032 and H2OH03067, fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_b/?committee_id=C00372979
[^19]: Government Accountability Office, Bid Protest Docket, Radiance Technologies, Inc. (TORFP-24-005), file number B-422615.1, Internet Archive capture of February 6, 2025. https://www.gao.gov/docket/b-422615.1
[^20]: Radiance Technologies, "About Us" (George Clark, John Dennis, Scott Dublin; March 15, 1999), Wayback capture of July 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711221013/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/ ; "Who We Are," Wayback capture of September 23, 2020 (same three names). https://web.archive.org/web/20200923061034/https://www.radiancetech.com/who-we-are/
[^21]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Acquires Open Source Publishing," August 19, 2005, Wayback capture of October 24, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051024072949/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/company/press_releases.htm
[^22]: Radiance Technologies, "Intelligence Community Support" and "About Us" pages, Wayback captures of September 27, 2002 and April 8, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020927213934/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/ServicesForeignMaterialExp.html ; https://web.archive.org/web/20020408023258/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/AboutUs.htm
[^23]: Radiance Technologies, "Foreign Materiel Exploitation," Wayback capture of October 27, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20011027170543/http://radiancetech.com:80/ForeignExploit.htm
[^24]: Radiance Technologies, "Dayton Office," Wayback capture of January 3, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040103154403/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/dayton.html
[^25]: Radiance Technologies, "Programs Index," Wayback capture of December 15, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051215211203/http://www.radiancetech.com:80/programs/default.htm
[^26]: Radiance Technologies, careers posting HR328, Wayback capture of May 16, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060516112649/http://www.radiancetech.com/careers/hr328.shtm
[^27]: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, News Release No. 7-05, "Senior Leadership Positions Announced," December 7, 2005. https://irp.fas.org/news/2005/12/odni120705.html
[^28]: Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks: May 23, 2008 (E1095), September 25, 2008 (E1904, E1924), July 21, 2009 (E1857), July 29, 2009 (E2063), September 21, 2009 (E2321), earmark declarations. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2009-09-21/html/CREC-2009-09-21-pt1-PgE2321-3.htm
[^29]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Welcomes Defense Intelligence Senior Leader Mr. Curtis Rowland to the Team," November 20, 2018. https://www.radiancetech.com/radiance-technologies-welcomes-defense-intelligence-senior-leader-mr-curtis-rowland-to-the-team/
[^30]: "Radiance Technologies Promotes Mr. Curtis Rowland to Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer," Defense Daily, March 2, 2020. https://defensedaily.com/press-releases/radiance-technologies-promotes-mr-curtis-rowland-to-executive-vice-president-chief-strategy-officer
[^31]: Radiance Technologies leadership pages (William C. Bailey Jr., Cindy Santy, David L. Diaddario, Bryan Johnson, Peter Weiland, Paige Nix), Wayback captures of November 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191115103026/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/bill-bailey/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191115110855/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/david-diaddario/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191115095530/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/bryan-johnson/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191115103945/https://www.radiancetech.com/about-us/leadership/cindy-santy/
[^32]: "Bill Jennings joins Radiance Technologies as intel advisor," Intelligence Community News, January 20, 2022. https://intelligencecommunitynews.com/bill-jennings-joins-radiance-technologies-as-intel-advisor/
[^33]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Welcomes Dr. Mark Tillman as Vice President for Simulation Strategy," July 16, 2024; "Radiance Technologies Strengthens Innovation Capability with Strategic Acquisition of Phased n Research," PR Newswire, March 31, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-strengthens-innovation-capability-with-strategic-acquisition-of-phased-n-research-302416148.html
[^34]: "Radiance Technologies Announces Strategic Partnership with Major General (USSF, Ret.) Tim Sejba," PR Newswire, April 2, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-announces-strategic-partnership-with-major-general-ussf-ret-tim-sejba-302733113.html ; "Radiance Technologies Announces Strategic Partnership with Flynn Advisors LLC," February 20, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiance-technologies-announces-strategic-partnership-with-flynn-advisors-llc-302381834.html
[^35]: USAspending.gov, award detail and search records for IDVs FA860415D7976 and FA860422DB008 and 141 FA8604 prime contract records for recipient Radiance Technologies (UEI R52PJK8DM6T4, YXRLX5PDCWK4), queried October 3, 2026; raw rows in TEMP/RESEARCH/2026-10-03_uapmoney/data/DR1/. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_IDV_FA860422DB008_9700/
[^36]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Wins NOVASTAR Contract for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center," August 19, 2022. https://www.radiancetech.com/radiance-technologies-wins-novastar-contract-for-the-national-air-and-space-intelligence-center/
[^37]: Loren Blinde, "Radiance Technologies wins NASIC intelligence mission data BPA," Intelligence Community News, September 24, 2019. https://intelligencecommunitynews.com/radiance-technologies-wins-nasic-intelligence-mission-data-bpa/
[^38]: USAspending.gov, award records for CONT_IDV_FA875022D1005_9700 (Agile Cyber Technology 3), CONT_AWD_FA875023F1005_9700_FA875022D1005_9700 (URIEL, with its 23 transaction records, base award through P00022), and the delivery orders FA875023F1002, F1003, F1004, F1006 and F1007 under vehicles FA875022D1001 to D1004, fetched October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_IDV_FA875022D1005_9700/ ; https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_FA875023F1005_9700_FA875022D1005_9700/
[^39]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Awarded the Air Force Research Lab Information Directorate's Agile Cyber Technologies 3 (ACT3) Contract," July 5, 2022. https://www.radiancetech.com/radiance-technologies-awarded-the-air-force-research-lab-information-directorates-agile-cyber-technologies-3-act3-contract/
[^40]: Jane Edwards, "Air Force Awards 17 Spots on $499M Anti-Tamper Tech Development IDIQ Contract," GovCon Wire, February 8, 2024. https://govconwire.com/2024/02/air-force-awards-17-spots-on-499m-anti-tamper-tech-development-idiq-contract/ ; "17 companies to develop anti-tamper enabling technologies in microprocessors, cryptography, and sensors," Military & Aerospace Electronics, February 12, 2024. https://militaryaerospace.com/trusted-computing/article/14304967/anti-tamper-microprocessors-cryptography
[^41]: USAspending.gov, award records for CONT_IDV_FA868424DB013_9700 (Radiance), IDVs FA868424DB003 to DB019 (holder names, dates, ceilings, awarding office), and CONT_AWD_FA868424FB014_9700_FA868424DB013_9700, fetched October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_IDV_FA868424DB013_9700/ ; https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_FA868424FB014_9700_FA868424DB013_9700/
[^42]: USAspending.gov, subawards search for subawardee Radiance Technologies (344 rows), prime award N0017317F2055 (prime recipient Integration Innovation, Inc.; parent GS00Q14OADS416), subaward number 10142-18-0048-RDTI, fetched October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/subawards/
[^43]: USAspending.gov, award CONT_AWD_FA860426FB159_9700_FA860422DB008_9700 and subaward IDIQ-00038 TO 26FB159, fetched October 4, 2026. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_FA860426FB159_9700_FA860422DB008_9700/ ; SAM.gov, "Award Notice to Radiance Technologies" (SPRRA226C0009), https://sam.gov/opp/3e1690a8ce514f1680c451b320a3ecf5/view ; "Redacted J&A for Radiance Technologies" (SPRRA226R0040), https://sam.gov/opp/612f3034b1844db384f0f8f06d9e1dcf/view ; "Award Notice, Sole Source to Radiance Technologies" (SPRRA224C0020), July 15, 2024, https://sam.gov/opp/f0f62f223a864c15b9093b5e6fe41530/view ; "Redacted JA, Sole Source to Radiance Technologies" (SPRRA224C0020), August 13, 2024, https://sam.gov/opp/545bdfdec1154db6a3f30fe242440bb2/view
[^44]: Radiance Technologies, "Radiance Technologies Overview," January 13, 2022 (National Advanced Mobility Consortium applicant capability file). https://www.namconsortium.org/sites/default/files/applicants_capabilities_pdfs/radiance-corporate-overview.pdf
[^45]: Built In, "OPIR Extractions Analyst - Radiance Technologies," https://builtin.com/job/opir-extractions-analyst/4836556 ; ClearanceJobs, "C4ISR Analyst," Radiance Technologies, https://api.clearancejobs.com/jobs/8984151/c4isr-analyst (both opened October 3, 2026).
[^46]: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 and Schedule H datasets for plan years 2017 to 2024 (Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, EIN 63-1204084, plan 003; 2024 filing acknowledgment 20251014121241NAL0001356787001, received October 14, 2025), fetched October 3, 2026. https://www.askebsa.dol.gov/FOIA%20Files/2024/Latest/F_5500_2024_Latest.zip ; https://www.askebsa.dol.gov/FOIA%20Files/2024/Latest/F_SCH_H_2024_Latest.zip
[^47]: Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-522 (N.D. Ala.), Doc. 33 (second amended complaint, filed August 21, 2024; allegations of the plaintiffs) and docket. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.33.0.pdf ; https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68716598/berry-v-bailey/
[^48]: Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-522-CLM, Doc. 68, Memorandum Opinion (September 18, 2025). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-alnd-5_24-cv-00522/pdf/USCOURTS-alnd-5_24-cv-00522-0.pdf
[^49]: "Former Congressman Bud Cramer joins Radiance board of directors," Radiance Technologies, December 21, 2015 (from AL.com), Wayback Machine capture of February 6, 2016, https://web.archive.org/web/20160206090857/https://www.radiancetech.com/former-congressman-bud-cramer-joins-huntsville-technology-company/ ; Berry v. Bailey, Doc. 33, paragraph 8(a), https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.33.0.pdf
[^50]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Form 5500 (plan 003, EIN 63-1204084), Schedule H, Schedule C and independent auditor's reports with notes, plan years 2016 to 2024, from the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration Form 5500 datasets (F_5500, F_SCH_H, F_SCH_C, files for 2016 through 2024) and the EFAST2 public filings (acknowledgment numbers in the table above). https://www.askebsa.dol.gov/FOIA%20Files/ ; https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2019/09/27/20190927144949P040027478461001.pdf
[^51]: Form 5500 datasets and EFAST2 filings as in note new2; audited statements of changes in net assets available for benefits and the investment note ("Company common stock, number of shares") for plan years 2017 to 2024, including https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2025/10/14/20251014121241NAL0001356787001.pdf (plan years 2024 and 2023) and https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2021/09/15/20210915114334NAL0012907985001.pdf (plan years 2020 and 2019).
[^52]: Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-00522-CLM (N.D. Ala.), Doc. 43-3 (Form 5500, plan year 2022) and Doc. 57-1 (Form 5500, plan year 2023), investment note. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.43.3.pdf ; https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.57.1.pdf
[^53]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, Note 1 and statement of changes, with Form 5500 Schedule H line 4j (EFAST2 acknowledgment 20190927144949P040027478461001, filed September 27, 2019); audit for plan years 2024 and 2023, Note 1 (diversification paragraph; acknowledgment 20251014121241NAL0001356787001). https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2019/09/27/20190927144949P040027478461001.pdf
[^54]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. v. Berry, amended complaint, paragraph 6, filed as Exhibit 1 to Doc. 42-1 in Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-00522-CLM (N.D. Ala.), September 4, 2024. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.42.1.pdf
[^55]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust, Trust Agreement dated September 5, 2017, between Radiance Technologies, Inc. and Argent Trust Company as successor trustee, Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-00522-CLM (N.D. Ala.), Doc. 43-2 (Exhibit B), filed September 4, 2024, signature page; plan audits for plan years 2018 to 2024, Note 1 ("Argent Trust Company is the Plan's trustee"). https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.43.2.pdf
[^56]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, audited financial statements for plan years 2020 and 2019, Notes 2, 10 and 11 (EFAST2 acknowledgment 20210915114334NAL0012907985001, filed September 15, 2021), and for plan year 2021, Notes 2 and 10 (acknowledgment 20221011112025NAL0014141923001, filed October 11, 2022). https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2021/09/15/20210915114334NAL0012907985001.pdf ; https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2022/10/11/20221011112025NAL0014141923001.pdf
[^57]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, audited financial statements for plan years 2024 and 2023, Note 1, "Transfers from the Plan" and "Internal Market" (acknowledgment 20251014121241NAL0001356787001, filed October 14, 2025). https://efast2-filings-public.s3.amazonaws.com/prd/2025/10/14/20251014121241NAL0001356787001.pdf
[^58]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. v. Berry, No. CV-2024-900092 (Madison Cnty., Ala., Cir. Ct.), First Amended and Restated Complaint, Introduction and paragraphs 6 to 10, 21, 31 to 38, and Alabama SJIS Case Action Summary (printed September 4, 2024), filed as Exhibits 1 and 4 to Doc. 42-1 in Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-00522-CLM (N.D. Ala.). https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.42.1.pdf
[^59]: Berry v. Bailey, No. 5:24-cv-00522-CLM (N.D. Ala.), Doc. 42 (Radiance defendants' motion to dismiss, September 4, 2024), Introduction and footnotes 4 and 20; Doc. 49 (plaintiffs' motion to strike, October 7, 2024); Doc. 68 (memorandum opinion, September 18, 2025), part D. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.42.0.pdf ; https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.49.0.pdf ; https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.68.0.pdf
[^60]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. v. Baker, No. 5:24-cv-00794 (N.D. Ala.), Complaint, paragraphs 7 to 14, 21 to 24, 26 to 29, 32, 38, 40, 42, 46 and 47, filed as Exhibit 2 to Doc. 42-1 in Berry v. Bailey. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.42.1.pdf
[^61]: Radiance Technologies, Inc. v. Baker, Answer of Jade Baker, July 11, 2024, paragraph 11, filed as Exhibit 11 to Doc. 42-1. https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482/gov.uscourts.alnd.189482.42.1.pdf
[^62]: Radiance Technologies Inc v. Wright, No. 5:24-cv-00290 (N.D. Ala.), https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68712999/radiance-technologies-inc-v-wright/ ; PeopleTec Inc v. Radiance Technologies Inc, No. 5:26-cv-00497 (N.D. Ala.), https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73007748/peopletec-inc-v-radiance-technologies-inc/ ; Baker docket sheet (Doc. 42-1, Exhibit 5, PACER receipt of September 4, 2024).
[^63]: SAM.gov, "Redacted J&A for Radiance Technologies," Notice ID SPRRA226R0040, published April 14, 2026, attachment SPRRA226R0040_Redacted.pdf; USAspending.gov award CONT_AWD_SPRRA226C0009_9700, queried October 3, 2026. https://sam.gov/opp/612f3034b1844db384f0f8f06d9e1dcf/view
[^64]: Department of Defense, "Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Pilot Program To Incentivize Contracting With Employee-Owned Businesses (Docket DARS-2024-0017)," Federal Register, October 10, 2024 (document 2024-23226; effective November 25, 2024), background, comment response and text of 270.100 to 270.102; DFARS 206.302-5(b), acquisition.gov. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/10/2024-23226/defense-federal-acquisition-regulation-supplement-pilot-program-to-incentivize-contracting-with-employee-owned
[^65]: Defense Logistics Agency Aviation (Huntsville), Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition, solicitation SPRRA226R0040 (redacted, SAM.gov opportunity 612f3034b1844db384f0f8f06d9e1dcf), sections IV and V; USAspending.gov award CONT_AWD_SPRRA226C0009_9700_-NONE-_-NONE-, https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_SPRRA226C0009_9700_-NONE-_-NONE-/ (data as retrieved October 4, 2026).
[^66]: Government Accountability Office, Bid Protest Docket, B-422615.1, and decision B-422615 (published August 30, 2024); Radiance Technologies Inc. v. United States, No. 24-1375C (Fed. Cl. December 5, 2024). https://www.gao.gov/products/b-422615 ; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-cv-01375/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-cv-01375-0.pdf
[^67]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule B disbursements of committee C00372979, all records (367) fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_b/?committee_id=C00372979 ; recipient committee identifiers: Mike Rogers for Congress C00367862 (candidate H2AL03032), Citizens for Turner C00373001 (H2OH03067), Turner Victory Fund C00611962 (joint fundraising committee).
[^68]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A, individual contributions with contributor employer "Radiance Technologies" (name variants), 9,176 records fetched October 3, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?contributor_employer=Radiance%20Technologies
[^69]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule B disbursements of committee C00372979 (Radiance Technologies, Inc. Political Action Committee), report type YE, report year 2023, line 23, images https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202401309600664855 and https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202401309600664856 ; other images as listed, same URL pattern; recipient committees C00611962 (Turner Victory Fund), C00373001 (Citizens for Turner), C00367862 (Mike Rogers for Congress), C00443218 (Wicker for Senate); fetched October 4, 2026. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_b/?committee_id=C00372979
[^70]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, filings for clients named "Radiance Technologies" and variants (246 filings, 2002 to 2026), quarterly reports with lobbyist covered positions as printed, fetched October 4, 2026; Venn Strategies registration, filing 0670b2fa-7a5f-4c78-8439-432cfeee800e. https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Radiance
[^71]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, registration filings (RR) posted January 10, 2022 (Skipper Group), April 5, 2022 (Adams and Reese), June 14, 2022 (Maynor & Stiers), June 6, 2024 (Venn Strategies), February 3, 2025 (Williams and Jensen) and April 3, 2025 (McKinnon Group); Skipper Group termination report posted April 15, 2024 (termination date March 31, 2024). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Radiance
[^72]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Maynard Nexsen PC for the client Radiance Technologies, Inc.: registration (8f81006f-d2e4-42a1-adc7-ed3d67fdb46b, posted July 9, 2014); 2019 reports, first quarter (69ed3143-8b51-4f44-98ae-691e22c387c8), second quarter (78bebaee-b0d9-4013-b056-c44386d26cea), third quarter (da4ef508-4d8e-4d28-a208-cea37d487edc), fourth quarter (39411551-54a7-4977-bf69-dcde8ae4adc2); 2020 reports (1cbf65cd-98f9-4d2d-90c8-befed0cd7347, a4c514b1-9017-4307-9bb4-07ad6495b4ee, 6817df54-b2b8-4dcb-9638-0cb22681bea7, b1855f7e-96a3-49b0-b381-7e2eb74d534c); 2021 reports (94193298-3103-401e-8ffc-1b3d054ef704, 26c791a3-0327-454c-88a3-d3ab95a2b3a9, df992b0d-020f-4ca6-b775-8900e1800c97, 8aee4c23-4634-4775-86d5-b4bfaa9046d5); 2022 reports (07705f53-cfa7-4e97-b625-7375cec511d0, ab399138-57ed-4a1b-8803-032f80aadd1d); Maynor & Stiers, LLC registration (fadaaa46-ba71-4040-85ec-a06d3346612a) and second-quarter 2022 report (9ccb4e86-fbdb-44af-b7cb-da7b72e9a92d). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Radiance
[^73]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Adams and Reese, LLP for the client Radiance Technologies, Inc.: registration (bd17c568-b322-4225-a354-e117d34e4676, posted April 5, 2022); first-quarter 2022 report (96851431-b942-49a5-8946-87b8594fd6ee, posted April 7, 2022); 2022 second through fourth quarter reports (4574c828-d712-494c-856c-3d3fecf91fb5, 6b8c0f79-794f-4561-adfc-034c5a307672, a4ada462-15ce-44a8-873c-60e67ca76837); reports for 2023 to 2026 (1ad0ac6b-9231-4165-a101-c7011e348fd8, b878bff9-42ef-4511-b4d8-d2ee8cb809c0, 4084162d-e5f4-4acc-8626-df78fd25587d, 56202c2f-72fc-4272-b5e1-cd9b13911897; 433d56f0-1342-4f4f-8c06-855094b8552d, f11c6ea3-b44d-4d7b-ae76-8102067071f8, 736b2517-712f-466e-a97c-03daf692ae6f, b57d969c-8b8f-419c-821f-08b1d4ed5e9c; 22921f6c-d5b6-4e0f-8f0f-6a4734fce6a7, d3953889-b7a8-4faa-ba9b-abb67968a089, b8ddacc8-d363-4f84-b253-c9dfadb2164d, 643ed1f9-1695-4206-bd92-e4d33d27cf98; f1040600-9ebb-4180-8245-e9f65d7e6443, 816d1345-d747-4266-a825-85e76f8226dd). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Radiance
[^74]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, The Halcrow Group LLC for the client "Venn Strategies on behalf of Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable": registration 39cdfee6-4f44-45ad-a082-349be5239b3f (posted March 15, 2022) and first-quarter 2022 report b563879c-2230-4538-9732-84678cb989e8 (posted April 14, 2022). https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/39cdfee6-4f44-45ad-a082-349be5239b3f/
[^75]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, Venn Strategies reports for the client Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, affiliated-organization fields: 2019 amended reports (c3cc1cc3-b62d-4912-8f2a-1b9860a8f9b1, 009b449c-7468-4a0f-8c46-3fe923a39cc6, 712e0254-257f-479f-bb15-e662062e948e, 9d6729fd-6e52-4087-b25a-006844aa9593), 2020 amended reports (ec57a71a-f736-4605-95fb-9ce9451779af, c4fa4e76-8351-477d-b6af-c731d194d637, 6e730121-4948-46c2-ae6e-ed2404fa568f), fourth-quarter 2020 (b82fc02a-0133-4a1b-afb8-8b6fa34bcfb8), 2021 reports (385d74d8-5048-4ac0-b5b2-7474540b730f, 6e6ed7db-5fb1-44d4-ba93-05aaeefc5cbd, c94c47aa-b819-4f8b-9823-abc581d48539, 88eb6018-3dea-4cac-a8fc-27ce4c07b6c9), first-quarter 2022 (2c310bce-8a23-41e0-8d75-270364d7dbbc) and first-quarter 2023 (a15d3709-503a-4420-9d86-b1417e132890); Roundtable second-quarter 2024 report (03ce544f-80b8-40f1-aaa5-ab75bb216774) and third-quarter 2024 report (2733b6d1-9f17-46be-b3de-8dd14dc20471); Venn Strategies for Radiance Technologies, Inc., second-quarter 2024 report (8ffd2c47-9cc1-4808-a2bb-b73a6d788e39) and third-quarter 2024 report (af9b42a2-b245-4019-bc3d-b7b8a648afb8); Employee-Owned Contractors Roundtable, "About Us," 2026 Membership List, https://ecrcoalition.com/about-us/ ; Regulations.gov, Docket DARS-2024-0017, comment DARS-2024-0017-0013, https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DARS-2024-0017-0013 ; Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement final rule, 89 Fed. Reg. 82183 (October 10, 2024), https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-10-10/html/2024-23226.htm
[^76]: Federal Election Commission, candidate record H8AL05208 (Robert Clayton Hinchman, Alabama 5th District, 2018, party GOP); WAFF, "Clayton Hinchman receives endorsements from local military, business leaders," 2018. https://www.waff.com/story/38320177/clayton-hinchman-receives-endorsements-from-local-military-business-leaders/ ; https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/candidate/H8AL05208/
[^77]: Federal Election Commission, Hinchman for Congress (C00648162), Schedule A and committee totals; Schedule B record of the Radiance PAC disbursement (image 201804239111724609). https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?committee_id=C00648162
[^78]: Steve Skojec, "The Banality of Ontological Shock," The Skojec File, December 7, 2023 (transcription of a Twitter Space statement by Daniel Sheehan). Sole source for the passages so cited. https://skojecfile.steveskojec.com/p/the-banality-of-ontological-shock
[^79]: Joseph Trevithick and Tyler Rogoway, "Aliens Or Not, Secret Crash Retrieval Programs Are A Very Real Thing," The War Zone, June 15, 2023. https://www.twz.com/aliens-or-not-secret-crash-retrieval-programs-are-a-very-real-thing
[^80]: Inspector General, Department of Defense, "Use of Foreign Materiel Exploitation Results," Audit Report No. 98-005, October 8, 1997, executive summary and Part I. https://media.defense.gov/1997/Oct/08/2001715489/-1/-1/1/98-005.pdf

120
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sol Foundation.md
View file

@ -42,51 +42,70 @@ relations:
with: "[[Jennifer Preston]]"
reverse: true
role: "chief operating officer, as listed on the foundation's website (viewed October 3, 2026; start date not given)"
fn: 16
fn: 25
- type: director_of
with: "[[Aneil Mallavarapu]]"
reverse: true
role: "'independent board member,' as listed on the foundation's website (viewed October 3, 2026; start date not given)"
fn: 16
fn: 25
- type: member_of
with: "[[Avi Loeb]]"
reverse: true
role: "Natural Sciences Advisory Board, as listed on the foundation's website (viewed October 3, 2026)"
fn: 16
fn: 25
- type: member_of
with: "[[Jacques Vallee]]"
reverse: true
role: "emeritus advisor, as listed on the foundation's website (viewed October 3, 2026)"
fn: 16
fn: 25
- type: director_of
with: "[[Garry Nolan]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-09-23
end: 2023-09-15
role: "incorporator, director and president of the Alabama corporation The Sol Foundation (AL SOS 001-041-463); name reserved for him July 28, 2022"
fn: 9
fn: 11
- type: director_of
with: "[[Saul Mercado]]"
reverse: true
start: 2022-09-23
end: 2023-09-15
role: "director and secretary of the Alabama corporation, of Wilton, Connecticut"
fn: 9
fn: 11
- type: member_of
with: "[[Peter Skafish]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023-09-07
end: 2023-09-15
role: "treasurer of the Alabama corporation on the Statement of Intent to Dissolve and Articles of Dissolution, September 2023"
fn: 9
fn: 11
- type: represented
with: "[[Adler & Colvin]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023-09-15
role: "San Francisco law firm; a paralegal of the firm prepared the Articles of Dissolution of the Alabama corporation"
fn: 11
- type: designator_of
with: "[[Garry Nolan]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023-08-17
role: "Designator of the California corporation under the Bylaws (Article III, Section 1); named in the amendment clause of the original Articles of July 7, 2023"
fn: 9
- type: designator_of
with: "[[Peter Skafish]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023-08-17
role: "Designator of the California corporation under the Bylaws (Article III, Section 1); named in the amendment clause of the original Articles of July 7, 2023; secretary signing the Certificate of Amendment and Restatement"
fn: 9
- type: named_approver_of
with: "[[David Grusch]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023-07-07
end: 2023-08-17
role: "named, as 'Dave Grusch,' with Nolan and Skafish in the amendment-approval clause of the original Articles of Incorporation (File No. 5810665); the clause was replaced on August 17, 2023"
fn: 9
created: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-03
updated: 2026-10-04
---
The Sol Foundation for Advanced Scientific and Policy Research is a [[California]] nonprofit public benefit corporation that described itself on its launch date, August 15, 2023, as established "to research the philosophical, policy, and scientific implications of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena." It was led at launch by [[Garry Nolan]] of the [[Stanford University]] School of Medicine and the sociocultural anthropologist [[Peter Skafish]].[^1] Its first public sign was a set of documents that surfaced in early August 2023 under the name "Sol Foundation for Advanced Studies," among them the résumé of [[David Grusch]] filed with the [[House Committee on Oversight and Accountability]].[^2][^3]
@ -101,27 +120,39 @@ The résumé that Grusch submitted to the House Committee on Oversight for its J
The Form CT-1 registration of the California corporation with the California Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts, stamped received May 2, 2024, lists Nolan as chair and director, Skafish as secretary and director and Berte as treasurer and director, gives January 22, 2024 as the date assets were first received, and answers "No" to line 3, which asks whether the organization "is under common control, does it have a close connection with, or is it related to, any other nonprofit or for-profit organization or trust." The Internal Revenue Service determination letter dated June 27, 2024, filed with the registry, gives an effective date of July 7, 2023.[^8]
The Original Articles of Incorporation of the California corporation, filed July 7, 2023 under file number 5810665 with Incorporating Services, Ltd. as registered corporate agent and signed electronically "Garry P. Nolan 07/07/2023," state that "The specific purpose of this corporation includes but is not limited to supporting research into and the understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena." An attachment provides: "Any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation shall require the written approval of each of Garry Nolan, Peter Skafish, and Dave Grusch, if they are still living, have not become incapacitated, and have not been declared dead by a court of law."[^9]
A Certificate of Amendment and Restatement of the Articles, filed August 17, 2023 (file number BA20231329692) and signed by Nolan as chair of the board and Skafish as secretary, states that the restatement was approved by the board, that the corporation has no members, and that it "has been duly approved by all of the Designators." Article V as restated reads: "Any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation shall require the written approval of each of the person(s) then holding the status of Designator of the corporation, as defined in the Bylaws of this corporation." The Bylaws, Article III, Section 1, provide that "Garry Nolan and Peter Skafish shall be the designators of this corporation," that a Designator serves "for life or until the Designator resigns or becomes incapacitated," and (Article IV, Section 4) that each Designator has the right to designate one director, with the Designators agreeing unanimously on the designation of any other directors. Vacancies may be filled by unanimous action of the Designators (Section 5), and the Designators may remove a director without cause (Section 6). The restatement does not name Grusch. Between the two filings fall the [[House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|House Committee on Oversight and Accountability]] hearing of July 26, 2023, for which Grusch's résumé listed him as the foundation's chief operating officer from May 2023, and the August 15, 2023 launch described above.[^9][^10]
### The Alabama corporation
The [[Alabama Secretary of State]] records a name reservation (RES036922) for "The Sol Foundation" for the exclusive use of Garry Nolan for one year beginning July 28, 2022, and a Certificate of Formation filed September 23, 2022 at 20:12 (fee $200) for a domestic nonprofit corporation, entity 001-041-463, that "has no Members." Its principal office and registered office are an address on Discovery Drive NW in [[Huntsville]] (Madison County), and its registered agent is [[Ignite Fueling Innovation]], Inc. The stated purpose is "The Sol Foundation supports research into and the understanding of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena." An attached mission statement reads "The Sol Foundation creates greater understanding of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena and their implications by supporting research in the sciences, humanities, technology, and policy as well as increased public awareness." The attached operation agreement directs assets on dissolution to 501(c)(3) purposes or a government, without naming a recipient.[^9]
The [[Alabama Secretary of State]] records a name reservation (RES036922) for "The Sol Foundation" for the exclusive use of Garry Nolan for one year beginning July 28, 2022, and a Certificate of Formation filed September 23, 2022 at 20:12 (fee $200) for a domestic nonprofit corporation, entity 001-041-463, that "has no Members." Its principal office and registered office are an address on Discovery Drive NW in [[Huntsville]] (Madison County), and its registered agent is [[Ignite Fueling Innovation]], Inc. The stated purpose is "The Sol Foundation supports research into and the understanding of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena." An attached mission statement reads "The Sol Foundation creates greater understanding of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena and their implications by supporting research in the sciences, humanities, technology, and policy as well as increased public awareness." The attached operation agreement directs assets on dissolution to 501(c)(3) purposes or a government, without naming a recipient.[^11]
The initial board of three is Garry P. Nolan, Ph.D. of Redwood City, "Cristopher Mellon" of Laughlintown, [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Saul Mercado]], Ph.D. of Wilton, Connecticut. Nolan signed as "Incorporator, Director" on September 23, 2022. The filings state no occupation or prior office for any director; the Pennsylvania locality is the one given for "Mellon, Christopher" in the [[Federal Election Commission]] entries described on the page of [[Christopher Mellon]].[^9]
The initial board of three is Garry P. Nolan, Ph.D. of Redwood City, "Cristopher Mellon" of Laughlintown, [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Saul Mercado]], Ph.D. of Wilton, Connecticut. Nolan signed as "Incorporator, Director" on September 23, 2022. The filings state no occupation or prior office for any director; the Pennsylvania locality is the one given for "Mellon, Christopher" in the [[Federal Election Commission]] entries described on the page of [[Christopher Mellon]].[^11]
A board written consent to dissolve was "fully executed on August 31, 2023." The Statement of Intent to Dissolve, signed in DocuSigned versions dated September 7 and September 12, 2023 and filed September 15, 2023 at 10:55, lists the officers as President Garry P. Nolan, Vice President "None," Secretary Saul Mercado and Treasurer Peter Skafish, and the directors as Nolan, "Christopher Mellon" (spelled with an h on this filing) and Mercado, all in care of the San Francisco office of the law firm [[Adler & Colvin]]. The Articles of Dissolution, filed September 15, 2023 at 10:56 and signed by Nolan as President, Mercado as Secretary and Skafish as Treasurer, have the box "No plan of distribution was adopted" checked and certify that debts were paid and any remaining property was "transferred, conveyed, or distributed in accordance with" the Alabama nonprofit corporation statute. They name no recipient of assets and do not state whether the corporation held any. A senior paralegal of Adler & Colvin is named as preparer. The record names no other officer, and Jonathan Berte does not appear on it.[^9]
A board written consent to dissolve was "fully executed on August 31, 2023." The Statement of Intent to Dissolve, signed in DocuSigned versions dated September 7 and September 12, 2023 and filed September 15, 2023 at 10:55, lists the officers as President Garry P. Nolan, Vice President "None," Secretary Saul Mercado and Treasurer Peter Skafish, and the directors as Nolan, "Christopher Mellon" (spelled with an h on this filing) and Mercado, all in care of the San Francisco office of the law firm [[Adler & Colvin]]. The Articles of Dissolution, filed September 15, 2023 at 10:56 and signed by Nolan as President, Mercado as Secretary and Skafish as Treasurer, have the box "No plan of distribution was adopted" checked and certify that debts were paid and any remaining property was "transferred, conveyed, or distributed in accordance with" the Alabama nonprofit corporation statute. They name no recipient of assets and do not state whether the corporation held any. A senior paralegal of Adler & Colvin is named as preparer. The record names no other officer, and Jonathan Berte does not appear on it.[^11]
The Alabama corporation was formed 47 days before the change recorded on November 9, 2022 in the registered-agent address of Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., which had given the same Discovery Drive address for its individual agent until that date.[^10] The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File extract for Alabama contains no row for a Sol Foundation.[^11] Alabama business-name searches run on October 3, 2026 returned no entity with "Sky Watcher," "Americans for Safe Aerospace," "Scientific Coalition" or "Paradigm Institute" in its name, and none for [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] among the entities matching "Stars Academy"; the search form matches names only.[^12]
The Alabama corporation was formed 47 days before the change recorded on November 9, 2022 in the registered-agent address of Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., which had given the same Discovery Drive address for its individual agent until that date.[^12] The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File extract for Alabama contains no row for a Sol Foundation.[^13] Alabama business-name searches run on October 3, 2026 returned no entity with "[[Sky Watcher]]," "Americans for Safe Aerospace," "Scientific Coalition" or "Paradigm Institute" in its name, and none for [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] among the entities matching "Stars Academy"; the search form matches names only.[^14]
The [[Congressional Record]] lists "SAUL MERCADO, of New York" among Department of State nominees for appointment as Foreign Service officers in three Senate nomination notices: July 11, 2011 (volume 157, number 102, pages S4490 to S4492, in the list of members of the Foreign Service to be consular officers and secretaries in the diplomatic service, under the heading [[United States Department of State|Department of State]]); July 8, 2015 (volume 161, number 105, pages S4896 to S4899, "for appointment as Foreign Service Officer of Class Four, Consular Officer and Secretary in the Diplomatic Service"); and September 21, 2015 (volume 161, number 136, pages S6855 to S6857, again in the Class Four list). The Alabama filings give the director's residence as Wilton, Connecticut and state no occupation.[^15] [[Jensine Andresen]] wrote in her book *Hyperconvergence: Religion, Politics, and UFOs* (posted September 14, 2023) in a passage on the Sol directors: "According to his LinkedIn, Saul Mercado, Ph.D., has been a Foreign Service Officer at the [[State Department|U.S. Department of State]] from May 2011 to the present."[^16]
### Huntsville conference before the Alabama incorporation
The [[Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies]] (SCU) held its Anomalous Aerospace Phenomena Conference (AAPC) 2022 on June 3 to 5, 2022 at the [[Rocket City Tavern and Conference Center]] in Huntsville, Alabama, in person and by live stream, with SCU as the only sponsor named on its pages.[^17] The Saturday, June 4 agenda has a panel at 12:50 p.m., "The National Security Implications of Scientifically Studying UAP," moderated by [[Joseph DiNoto]], with panelists [[Matthew Szydagis]], Garry Nolan, [[Joshua Pierson]] and [[Richard Hoffman]]; SCU's recording of the panel, uploaded November 19, 2022, lists the same five.[^18][^19] SCU's presenter biography describes Hoffman, the conference moderator and a member of SCU's executive board, as "a 25+ year Army Information Technology (IT) defense contractor with [[Chugach Government Solutions]]" and "a Senior Systems Engineer Analyst working in the [[United States Army Materiel Command]] Headquarters at [[Redstone Arsenal]], Huntsville, Alabama." The same document describes Nolan as the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine.[^20]
The Alabama name reservation for The Sol Foundation in Nolan's name begins July 28, 2022, 53 days after the conference ended, and the Certificate of Formation was filed September 23, 2022 with a Huntsville address as office and Ignite Fueling Innovation as agent.[^21]
### Officers and board
The Form 990 for the calendar year 2024 lists four people in Part VII: Garry Nolan, director, 0.00 hours a week, no compensation; Peter Skafish, secretary, 1.00 hour a week, reportable compensation $20,000 and other compensation $40,000; Jonathan Berte, treasurer, 0.00 hours, no compensation; and [[Maura Mindrila]], co-CEO, 0.00 hours, other compensation $40,000. Skafish signed the return as secretary on November 16, 2025 and is named as principal officer. The return reports three voting members of the governing body, all independent, no employees and an estimated 25 volunteers.[^7]
Press statements used other titles. Nolan was "Executive Director of the Board" and Skafish "Director of Research" in September 2023, and Skafish was "executive director" in December 2024.[^2][^13] Nolan said in 2023 that his Stanford appointment did not allow him to hold an officer role in an outside company and that he took no salary.[^2] [[Diana Walsh Pasulka]] posted on September 11, 2023 that she was joining the board, and the foundation named [[I. Charles McCullough III]], a former [[Inspector General of the Intelligence Community]], as its legal counsel.[^2] McCullough signed the November 12, 2024 letter to Congress on the review-board provisions of the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act]] under the heading "Former Inspector General of the Intelligence Community," as did Nolan, Skafish, Pasulka and Gallaudet.[^14] McCullough is also counsel to Grusch, whom he represented in a May 2022 urgent-concern complaint to the Intelligence Community Inspector General.[^15]
Press statements used other titles. Nolan was "Executive Director of the Board" and Skafish "Director of Research" in September 2023, and Skafish was "executive director" in December 2024.[^2][^22] Nolan said in 2023 that his Stanford appointment did not allow him to hold an officer role in an outside company and that he took no salary.[^2] [[Diana Walsh Pasulka]] posted on September 11, 2023 that she was joining the board, and the foundation named [[I. Charles McCullough III]], a former [[Inspector General of the Intelligence Community]], as its legal counsel.[^2] McCullough signed the November 12, 2024 letter to Congress on the review-board provisions of the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act]] under the heading "Former Inspector General of the Intelligence Community," as did Nolan, Skafish, Pasulka and Gallaudet.[^23] McCullough is also counsel to Grusch, whom he represented in a May 2022 urgent-concern complaint to the Intelligence Community Inspector General.[^24]
Berte founded the machine-vision company [[Robovision]], which was reported in March 2023 to be assisting Stanford with artificial-intelligence applications for the study of complex diseases.[^2] Mindrila hosted the 2024 symposium as Director of Strategy.[^13] Part IV of the 2024 Form 990 answers yes to maintaining an office, employees or agents outside the [[United States]].[^7]
Berte founded the machine-vision company [[Robovision]], which was reported in March 2023 to be assisting Stanford with artificial-intelligence applications for the study of complex diseases.[^2] Mindrila hosted the 2024 symposium as Director of Strategy.[^22] Part IV of the 2024 Form 990 answers yes to maintaining an office, employees or agents outside the [[United States]].[^7]
### Website roster
The foundation's website, read on October 3, 2026, lists under "Executive Leadership" Garry Nolan ("Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Board"), Peter Skafish ("Co-Founder & Executive Director"), [[Tim Gallaudet]] ("Senior Advisor"), [[Aneil Mallavarapu]] ("Independent Board Member"), [[Jennifer Preston]] ("Chief Operating Officer"), [[Matt Mason]] ("Chief Marketing Officer"), [[Lou Grossi]] ("Chief Information Officer") and [[Christian Peters]] ("Associate Director of Research"). Its "Advisory Board" lists [[Eric Davis]], [[Jeffrey J. Kripal]] and Pasulka (social sciences), Loeb and [[Beatriz Villarroel]] (natural sciences), [[Jacob Haqq-Misra]], [[Alexander Wendt]], [[Jim Semivan]], [[Kirk McConnell]] ("Senior Legislative Affairs Officer") and [[Jacques Vallee]] ("Emeritus Advisor"). The page does not list Grusch, Berte, Mindrila, McCullough or [[Karl Nell]], although Berte, Mindrila and Skafish appear on the 2024 Form 990 and Nell is the author of a Sol paper (see White papers).[^16]
The foundation's website, read on October 3, 2026, lists under "Executive Leadership" Garry Nolan ("Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Board"), Peter Skafish ("Co-Founder & Executive Director"), [[Tim Gallaudet]] ("Senior Advisor"), [[Aneil Mallavarapu]] ("Independent Board Member"), [[Jennifer Preston]] ("Chief Operating Officer"), [[Matt Mason]] ("Chief Marketing Officer"), [[Lou Grossi]] ("Chief Information Officer") and [[Christian Peters]] ("Associate Director of Research"). Its "Advisory Board" lists [[Eric Davis]], [[Jeffrey J. Kripal]] and Pasulka (social sciences), Loeb and [[Beatriz Villarroel]] (natural sciences), [[Jacob Haqq-Misra]], [[Alexander Wendt]], [[Jim Semivan]], [[Kirk McConnell]] ("Senior Legislative Affairs Officer") and [[Jacques Vallee]] ("Emeritus Advisor"). The page does not list Grusch, Berte, Mindrila, McCullough or [[Karl Nell]], although Berte, Mindrila and Skafish appear on the 2024 Form 990 and Nell is the author of a Sol paper (see White papers).[^25]
### Money
@ -131,25 +162,25 @@ The expense lines include $117,000 for management fees, $269,797 for conferences
Schedule I lists one grant to an individual: $10,000 as a "research grant for white paper on geopolitical implications of unidentified anomalous phenomena." Its supplemental statement says the organization grants funds to experts "in exchange for white papers," that grantees are selected by the board of directors and that the papers are published on its website. Schedule O describes the November 22 to 23, 2024 symposium at the [[Fort Mason Center]] in [[San Francisco]].[^7]
The [[UAP Disclosure Fund]], a San Francisco 501(c)(4) in care of [[Yuan Fung]] (EIN 99-2834592, IRS ruling date July 2025), has Fung as its executive director on the November 12, 2024 scientists' letter to Congress that Nolan, Skafish, Pasulka, Gallaudet and others signed, and Gallaudet's House biography lists him as an advisory board member of both the Fund and the Sol Foundation.[^17][^14] The [[Sol Foundation Inc]] of [[Carmel, Indiana]] (EIN 99-3863647; 1051 Oswego Road, in care of [[Lawrence Baker]]; IRS ruling date August 2024; private non-operating foundation) is a separate entity. Its Form 990-PF for the period December 24 to December 31, 2024 (submitted November 14, 2025; prepared by [[L M Henderson & Company LLP]] of [[Indianapolis]]) reports $25,000,000 in contributions received, $17,976 in interest and dividends, $89,482 in expenses, $24,928,494 in assets, no grants paid, and three directors, Lawrence Baker, [[Patricia Baker]] and [[Charles Hertlein]], each at one hour a week and unpaid. It lists no website and a telephone number in the 513 area code. Nothing in that filing refers to unidentified anomalous phenomena, to the California corporation or to any of its officers, and no document opened for this entry links the two organizations.[^18]
The [[UAP Disclosure Fund]], a San Francisco 501(c)(4) in care of [[Yuan Fung]] (EIN 99-2834592, IRS ruling date July 2025), has Fung as its executive director on the November 12, 2024 scientists' letter to Congress that Nolan, Skafish, Pasulka, Gallaudet and others signed, and Gallaudet's House biography lists him as an advisory board member of both the Fund and the Sol Foundation.[^26][^23] The [[Sol Foundation Inc]] of [[Carmel, Indiana]] (EIN 99-3863647; 1051 Oswego Road, in care of [[Lawrence Baker]]; IRS ruling date August 2024; private non-operating foundation) is a separate entity. Its Form 990-PF for the period December 24 to December 31, 2024 (submitted November 14, 2025; prepared by [[L M Henderson & Company LLP]] of [[Indianapolis]]) reports $25,000,000 in contributions received, $17,976 in interest and dividends, $89,482 in expenses, $24,928,494 in assets, no grants paid, and three directors, Lawrence Baker, [[Patricia Baker]] and [[Charles Hertlein]], each at one hour a week and unpaid. It lists no website and a telephone number in the 513 area code. Nothing in that filing refers to unidentified anomalous phenomena, to the California corporation or to any of its officers, and no document opened for this entry links the two organizations.[^27]
No filing under the client name Sol Foundation appears in the [[United States Senate]] lobbying disclosure database, and no contribution record under the names of Skafish, Berte or Mindrila appears in the [[Federal Election Commission]] database.[^19]
No filing under the client name Sol Foundation appears in the [[United States Senate]] lobbying disclosure database, and no contribution record under the names of Skafish, Berte or Mindrila appears in the Federal Election Commission database.[^28]
### Symposia
The first symposium, the "Sol Foundation Initiative for UAP Research and Policy," was held November 17 to 18, 2023 in [[Palo Alto, California]], hosted by the [[Nolan Laboratory]] and the Stanford School of Medicine, by invitation only. Nolan opened it with the words "The objective here is to legitimize and professionalize." Speakers included [[Avi Loeb]], Jacques Vallee, Pasulka, the Canadian member of Parliament [[Larry Maguire]], Tim Gallaudet, Karl Nell and [[Christopher Mellon]]. Grusch joined on the second day by video from Washington and said, "We need to basically create a parallel track of research and independent discovery that aren't necessarily dependent on the U.S. government."[^20] Nell's talk is catalogued as "The Schumer Amendment & Controlled Disclosure," a reference to the Senate UAP amendment sponsored by [[Chuck Schumer]].[^21] Skafish said of the audience, "That audience was as important to me in organizing as the lineup of speakers was," and that the organizers were "very deliberately careful in evaluating the requests for invitations."[^20]
The first symposium, the "Sol Foundation Initiative for UAP Research and Policy," was held November 17 to 18, 2023 in [[Palo Alto, California]], hosted by the [[Nolan Laboratory]] and the Stanford School of Medicine, by invitation only. Nolan opened it with the words "The objective here is to legitimize and professionalize." Speakers included [[Avi Loeb]], Jacques Vallee, Pasulka, the Canadian member of Parliament [[Larry Maguire]], Tim Gallaudet, Karl Nell and Christopher Mellon. Grusch joined on the second day by video from Washington and said, "We need to basically create a parallel track of research and independent discovery that aren't necessarily dependent on the U.S. government."[^29] Nell's talk is catalogued as "The Schumer Amendment & Controlled Disclosure," a reference to the Senate UAP amendment sponsored by [[Chuck Schumer]].[^30] Skafish said of the audience, "That audience was as important to me in organizing as the lineup of speakers was," and that the organizers were "very deliberately careful in evaluating the requests for invitations."[^29]
The second symposium, November 22 to 23, 2024 at Fort Mason Center, was opened by Mindrila. Speakers named in coverage were Nell, Eric Davis, the religious-studies scholar [[Stephen Finley]], Gallaudet, the journalist [[Leslie Kean]] with [[Ryan Graves]] of [[Americans for Safe Aerospace]], the former Senate staff member Kirk McConnell and the venture investor [[Rizwan Virk]]. Virk presented four funding models for "frontier science" (research grants, awards-based prizes, an incubator and venture funds) and said he was writing a Sol white paper on the subject. Skafish said that year's meeting was convened in light of "a divisive election season and the likely failure of the UAP Disclosure Act."[^13]
The second symposium, November 22 to 23, 2024 at Fort Mason Center, was opened by Mindrila. Speakers named in coverage were Nell, Eric Davis, the religious-studies scholar [[Stephen Finley]], Gallaudet, the journalist [[Leslie Kean]] with [[Ryan Graves]] of [[Americans for Safe Aerospace]], the former Senate staff member Kirk McConnell and the venture investor [[Rizwan Virk]]. Virk presented four funding models for "frontier science" (research grants, awards-based prizes, an incubator and venture funds) and said he was writing a Sol white paper on the subject. Skafish said that year's meeting was convened in light of "a divisive election season and the likely failure of the UAP Disclosure Act."[^22]
### White papers
The foundation's website lists twelve papers (read October 3, 2026). Volume 1: No. 1, Gallaudet, "Beneath the Surface: We May Learn More about UAP by Looking in the Ocean" (March 2024); No. 2, "UAP in Crowded Skies: Atmospheric and Orbital Threat Reduction in an Age of Geopolitical Uncertainty," credited to "The Sol Foundation" (March 2024); No. 3, [[Helen McCaw]], "[[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]]: Policy Implications for the Government of the [[United Kingdom]]" (May 2024); No. 4, "Anomalous Health Threats: Health Security Considerations for UAP," credited to "The Sol Foundation" (July 2024); No. 5, [[Paul Thigpen]], "NHI, UAP, and the Catholic Faith: How Will the Church Respond" (July 2024); No. 6, Skafish, "The Prospect of Executive Branch Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Secrecy: The Harm to Congress and Potential Remedies" (November 2024). Volume 2: No. 1, Rizwan Virk, "Investment in UAP Technology and Ventures: Opportunities, Challenges, and a Way Forward" (March 2025); Nell, "The UFO Enigma: A Call for US Government Disclosure" (May 2025; its cover reads "The Policy Papers of the Sol Foundation, Volume 2, No. 2, Spring 2025"); and three papers by [[Marik von Rennenkampff]]: "Robust Evidence of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena in Pre-Satellite Era Night-Sky Images" (January 2026), "First Peer-Reviewed Scientific Analysis of Possible UAP Materials Employs State-of-the-Art Technologies" (April 2026) and "The Civilizational Risks of a UAP Technology Arms Race: Nonhuman Technology and Global Security" (August 2026). The site also lists, under April 2026, McConnell's "UAP Whistleblower Restitution Fund Would Incentivize Disclosures to Congress." The numbering printed on the site for the 2026 items does not run consecutively with the earlier series.[^22]
The foundation's website lists twelve papers (read October 3, 2026). Volume 1: No. 1, Gallaudet, "Beneath the Surface: We May Learn More about UAP by Looking in the Ocean" (March 2024); No. 2, "UAP in Crowded Skies: Atmospheric and Orbital Threat Reduction in an Age of Geopolitical Uncertainty," credited to "The Sol Foundation" (March 2024); No. 3, [[Helen McCaw]], "[[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]]: Policy Implications for the Government of the [[United Kingdom]]" (May 2024); No. 4, "Anomalous Health Threats: Health Security Considerations for UAP," credited to "The Sol Foundation" (July 2024); No. 5, [[Paul Thigpen]], "NHI, UAP, and the Catholic Faith: How Will the Church Respond" (July 2024); No. 6, Skafish, "The Prospect of Executive Branch Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Secrecy: The Harm to Congress and Potential Remedies" (November 2024). Volume 2: No. 1, Rizwan Virk, "Investment in UAP Technology and Ventures: Opportunities, Challenges, and a Way Forward" (March 2025); Nell, "The UFO Enigma: A Call for US Government Disclosure" (May 2025; its cover reads "The Policy Papers of the Sol Foundation, Volume 2, No. 2, Spring 2025"); and three papers by [[Marik von Rennenkampff]]: "Robust Evidence of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena in Pre-Satellite Era Night-Sky Images" (January 2026), "First Peer-Reviewed Scientific Analysis of Possible UAP Materials Employs State-of-the-Art Technologies" (April 2026) and "The Civilizational Risks of a UAP Technology Arms Race: Nonhuman Technology and Global Security" (August 2026). The site also lists, under April 2026, McConnell's "UAP Whistleblower Restitution Fund Would Incentivize Disclosures to Congress." The numbering printed on the site for the 2026 items does not run consecutively with the earlier series.[^31]
Volume 1, No. 2 gives "Board Director: Dr. Garry Nolan" and "Executive Director: Dr. Peter Skafish" on its back page. Its executive summary says the foundation "commissioned" the report and that it does not present evidence for any theory of UAP. Its bibliography cites Senate Amendment 797 to S. 2226.[^23] Nell's paper argues for enactment of the review-board and eminent-domain provisions of the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act "or by executive order," credits [[Mike Rounds]] and Chuck Schumer with the 2024 reintroduction, and describes its author as a retired Army colonel whose last active-duty assignment was as Army director supporting the [[UAP Task Force]] and who is chief executive of [[StarDustX Materials]], Inc., "a multimillion-dollar VC-backed startup."[^24]
Volume 1, No. 2 gives "Board Director: Dr. Garry Nolan" and "Executive Director: Dr. Peter Skafish" on its back page. Its executive summary says the foundation "commissioned" the report and that it does not present evidence for any theory of UAP. Its bibliography cites Senate Amendment 797 to S. 2226.[^32] Nell's paper argues for enactment of the review-board and eminent-domain provisions of the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act "or by executive order," credits [[Mike Rounds]] and Chuck Schumer with the 2024 reintroduction, and describes its author as a retired Army colonel whose last active-duty assignment was as Army director supporting the [[UAP Task Force]] and who is chief executive of [[StarDustX Materials]], Inc., "a multimillion-dollar VC-backed startup."[^33]
### UAP Science Advisory Council
In June 2026 Loeb announced that he would lead a "UAP Science Advisory Council" and, in a list he supplied to the news outlet [[DefenseScoop]] (published June 17, 2026), named twelve other members with focus areas, among them Gallaudet (oceanography), Nolan (molecular biology and materials science) and Skafish (anthropology). An official of the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] told DefenseScoop that the office, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and the [[Department of Defense]] had established an interagency UAP Governance Board, that it "met for the first time yesterday" (June 16, 2026), and that the board is supported by outside advisory groups including the council. Loeb said the council would help the [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] "resolve the UAP mystery."[^25] The Sol Foundation described the council in a June 22, 2026 release as announced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence "with the support of the FBI"; Loeb wrote on June 16, 2026 that "I was tasked by the White House, the Pentagon's All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Intelligence Community, to assemble" it. A search of the Federal Register on October 3, 2026 returned no document naming the council, and no ODNI, AARO or White House release establishing it was located.[^26]
In June 2026 Loeb announced that he would lead a "UAP Science Advisory Council" and, in a list he supplied to the news outlet [[DefenseScoop]] (published June 17, 2026), named twelve other members with focus areas, among them Gallaudet (oceanography), Nolan (molecular biology and materials science) and Skafish (anthropology). An official of the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] told DefenseScoop that the office, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and the [[Department of Defense]] had established an interagency UAP Governance Board, that it "met for the first time yesterday" (June 16, 2026), and that the board is supported by outside advisory groups including the council. Loeb said the council would help the [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] "resolve the UAP mystery."[^34] The Sol Foundation described the council in a June 22, 2026 release as announced by the [[Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] "with the support of the FBI"; Loeb wrote on June 16, 2026 that "I was tasked by the [[White House]], the Pentagon's All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Intelligence Community, to assemble" it. A search of the Federal Register on October 3, 2026 returned no document naming the council, and no ODNI, AARO or White House release establishing it was located.[^35]
### Footnotes
@ -161,21 +192,30 @@ In June 2026 Loeb announced that he would lead a "UAP Science Advisory Council"
[^6]: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API, EIN 933649160, IRS Business Master File extract dated September 16, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933649160.json
[^7]: IRS Form 990 for 2024, EIN 93-3649160, object ID 202543269349300004, submitted November 22, 2025, with Schedules A, B, I and O, as rendered at https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/933649160/202543269349300004/full
[^8]: California Department of Justice, Registry of Charitable Trusts, registration CT0293168, document 1700 (Adler & Colvin cover letter of May 1, 2024 and Form CT-1, stamped received May 2, 2024), pages 1 to 3, and IRS determination letter of June 27, 2024 in registry document 9011. https://rct.doj.ca.gov/
[^9]: Alabama Secretary of State, entity 001-041-463, The Sol Foundation: name reservation RES036922 (July 28, 2022); Certificate of Formation (filed September 23, 2022); board consent (August 31, 2023); Statement of Intent to Dissolve and Articles of Dissolution (both filed September 15, 2023); document copies purchased October 3, 2026, and the entity page fetched the same day. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001041463&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^10]: Alabama Secretary of State, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., entity 000-214-606, Transactions entry of 11/09/2022 (registered agent changed from an individual agent at the Discovery Drive address). https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=000214606&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^11]: IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Alabama extract (eo_al.csv), downloaded October 3, 2026. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/eo_al.csv
[^12]: Alabama Secretary of State, business-name searches run October 3, 2026 (substring match, 200-row cap per query): UAP, Unidentified, "Sol ," Galileo, Anomal, UFO, Disclosure, Aerial Phenomena, Skywatch, Sky Watcher, Americans for Safe Aerospace, Scientific Coalition, Stars Academy, Paradigm Institute. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpname.mbr/output
[^13]: Chrissy Newton, "Academics, Investors, and UAP Seekers Unite at the 2024 Sol Foundation Symposium," *The Debrief*, December 20, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/academics-investors-and-uap-seekers-unite-at-the-2024-sol-foundation-symposium/
[^14]: "Biography of the Honorable Tim Gallaudet, PhD," House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, hearing of November 13, 2024, https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO12/20241113/117721/HHRG-118-GO12-Bio-GallaudetPhDRearAdmiralUSNavyRetT-20241113.pdf ; and the signatory letter of November 12, 2024 in his submitted statement, https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO12/20241113/117721/HHRG-118-GO12-Wstate-GallaudetPhDRearAdmiralUSNavyRetT-20241113-SD001.pdf; testimony of Gallaudet to Rep. Garcia, joint hearing of November 13, 2024, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-118hhrg57440/html/CHRG-118hhrg57440.htm ("the Sol Foundation as a senior strategic advisor")
[^15]: Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, "Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Non-Human Craft," *The Debrief*, June 5, 2023. https://thedebrief.org/intelligence-officials-say-u-s-has-retrieved-non-human-craft/
[^16]: The Sol Foundation, home page, "People" section (Executive Leadership and Advisory Board), https://thesolfoundation.org/ , read October 3, 2026.
[^17]: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API, EIN 992834592 (UAP Disclosure Fund). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/992834592.json
[^18]: IRS Form 990-PF for 2024, EIN 99-3863647, object ID 202533189349100938, submitted November 14, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/993863647
[^19]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database query, client_name "Sol Foundation," October 3, 2026 (fifteen returns, none for this organization); FEC Schedule A queries for the named individuals, October 3, 2026.
[^20]: Micah Hanks, "The Sol Foundation, Academia's New UAP Think Tank, Releases Videos of Lectures from Its Inaugural Symposium," *The Debrief*, February 12, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-academias-new-uap-think-tank-releases-videos-of-lectures-from-its-inaugural-symposium/
[^21]: Anomaly Archives, "Nell, Karl," listing a Sol Foundation video titled "Karl Nell on The Schumer Amendment & Controlled Disclosure." https://anomalyarchives.org/collections/file/nell-karl/
[^22]: The Sol Foundation, "All Publications," twelve papers with authors, volume and month, https://thesolfoundation.org/all-publications/ , and paper pages under https://thesolfoundation.org/publications/ , read October 3, 2026.
[^23]: "UAP in Crowded Skies," The White Papers of the Sol Foundation, vol. 1, no. 2, March 2024. https://thesolfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sol_WhitePaper_Vol1N2.pdf
[^24]: Karl E. Nell, "The UFO Enigma: A Call for US Government Disclosure," The Policy Papers of the Sol Foundation, Spring 2025, Executive Summary and "About the Author." https://thesolfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-UFO-Enigma_Sol-Foundation.pdf
[^25]: "New science advisory council forms to help US government 'resolve the UAP mystery,'" *DefenseScoop*, June 17, 2026. https://defensescoop.com/2026/06/17/new-science-advisory-council-forms-to-help-us-government-resolve-the-uap-mystery/
[^26]: Sol Foundation, release "Sol Foundation Co-Founders Named to UAP Science Advisory Council," June 22, 2026 (modified July 13, 2026), https://thesolfoundation.org/sol-foundation-co-founders-named-to-uap-science-advisory-council/ ; Avi Loeb, "More Details on the UAP Science Advisory Council," Medium (avi-loeb.medium.com), June 16, 2026, read in a Wayback Machine copy; Federal Register search for "UAP Science Advisory Council," https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents.json?conditions%5Bterm%5D=%22UAP+Science+Advisory+Council%22 (count 0 on October 3, 2026).
[^9]: California Secretary of State, The Sol Foundation for Advanced Scientific and Policy Research, entity 5810665: Articles of Incorporation (filed July 7, 2023), Certificate of Amendment and Restatement (file BA20231329692, filed August 17, 2023) and Bylaws, as filed with the Registry of Charitable Trusts, California Department of Justice, registration CT0293168, document 1700 (Form CT-1 filing of May 2, 2024). https://rct.doj.ca.gov/
[^10]: "David C. Grusch" résumé, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, hearing of July 26, 2023. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO06/20230726/116282/HHRG-118-GO06-Bio-GruschD-20230726.pdf
[^11]: Alabama Secretary of State, entity 001-041-463, The Sol Foundation: name reservation RES036922 (July 28, 2022); Certificate of Formation (filed September 23, 2022); board consent (August 31, 2023); Statement of Intent to Dissolve and Articles of Dissolution (both filed September 15, 2023); document copies purchased October 3, 2026, and the entity page fetched the same day. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=001041463&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^12]: Alabama Secretary of State, Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc., entity 000-214-606, Transactions entry of 11/09/2022 (registered agent changed from an individual agent at the Discovery Drive address). https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=000214606&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
[^13]: IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Alabama extract (eo_al.csv), downloaded October 3, 2026. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/eo_al.csv
[^14]: Alabama Secretary of State, business-name searches run October 3, 2026 (substring match, 200-row cap per query): UAP, Unidentified, "Sol ," Galileo, Anomal, UFO, Disclosure, Aerial Phenomena, Skywatch, Sky Watcher, Americans for Safe Aerospace, Scientific Coalition, Stars Academy, Paradigm Institute. https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpname.mbr/output
[^15]: Congressional Record, volume 157, number 102 (July 11, 2011), Senate, pages S4490 to S4492, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2011-07-11/html/CREC-2011-07-11-pt1-PgS4490-4.htm ; volume 161, number 105 (July 8, 2015), pages S4896 to S4899, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2015-07-08/html/CREC-2015-07-08-pt1-PgS4896-2.htm ; volume 161, number 136 (September 21, 2015), pages S6855 to S6857, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2015-09-21/html/CREC-2015-09-21-pt1-PgS6855-6.htm . Alabama Secretary of State entity 001-041-463 (note 9 of the live page).
[^16]: Jensine Andresen, *Hyperconvergence: Religion, Politics, and UFOs* (September 2023), https://www.academia.edu/107388360/Hyperconvergence_Religion_Politics_and_UFOs and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374170335_Hyperconvergence_Religion_Politics_and_UFOs . The statement is Andresen's.
[^17]: Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, "AAPC 2022," explorescu.org/aapc-2022b (Internet Archive copies of February 28, March 10 and May 26, 2022). https://web.archive.org/web/2022/https://www.explorescu.org/aapc-2022b
[^18]: Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, AAPC 2022 agenda. https://web.archive.org/web/20220524005545id_/https://www.explorescu.org/_files/ugd/8374d8_ff2696792d7d4d23b1354cf52b031941.pdf
[^19]: Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, "The National Security Implications of Scientifically Studying UAP - Panel," video uploaded November 19, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3TSFYj8nUw
[^20]: Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, AAPC 2022 presenters. https://web.archive.org/web/20220524005522id_/https://www.explorescu.org/_files/ugd/8374d8_1cadf190ff174763bc827f1884849c7a.pdf
[^21]: Alabama Secretary of State, entity 001-041-463, name reservation RES036922 (July 28, 2022) and Certificate of Formation (filed September 23, 2022); see note 9 of the live page.
[^22]: Chrissy Newton, "Academics, Investors, and UAP Seekers Unite at the 2024 Sol Foundation Symposium," *The Debrief*, December 20, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/academics-investors-and-uap-seekers-unite-at-the-2024-sol-foundation-symposium/
[^23]: "Biography of the Honorable Tim Gallaudet, PhD," House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, hearing of November 13, 2024, https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO12/20241113/117721/HHRG-118-GO12-Bio-GallaudetPhDRearAdmiralUSNavyRetT-20241113.pdf ; and the signatory letter of November 12, 2024 in his submitted statement, https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO12/20241113/117721/HHRG-118-GO12-Wstate-GallaudetPhDRearAdmiralUSNavyRetT-20241113-SD001.pdf; testimony of Gallaudet to Rep. Garcia, joint hearing of November 13, 2024, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-118hhrg57440/html/CHRG-118hhrg57440.htm ("the Sol Foundation as a senior strategic advisor")
[^24]: Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, "Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Non-Human Craft," *The Debrief*, June 5, 2023. https://thedebrief.org/intelligence-officials-say-u-s-has-retrieved-non-human-craft/
[^25]: The Sol Foundation, home page, "People" section (Executive Leadership and Advisory Board), https://thesolfoundation.org/ , read October 3, 2026.
[^26]: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API, EIN 992834592 (UAP Disclosure Fund). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/992834592.json
[^27]: IRS Form 990-PF for 2024, EIN 99-3863647, object ID 202533189349100938, submitted November 14, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/993863647
[^28]: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database query, client_name "Sol Foundation," October 3, 2026 (fifteen returns, none for this organization); FEC Schedule A queries for the named individuals, October 3, 2026.
[^29]: Micah Hanks, "The Sol Foundation, Academia's New UAP Think Tank, Releases Videos of Lectures from Its Inaugural Symposium," *The Debrief*, February 12, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-academias-new-uap-think-tank-releases-videos-of-lectures-from-its-inaugural-symposium/
[^30]: Anomaly Archives, "Nell, Karl," listing a Sol Foundation video titled "Karl Nell on The Schumer Amendment & Controlled Disclosure." https://anomalyarchives.org/collections/file/nell-karl/
[^31]: The Sol Foundation, "All Publications," twelve papers with authors, volume and month, https://thesolfoundation.org/all-publications/ , and paper pages under https://thesolfoundation.org/publications/ , read October 3, 2026.
[^32]: "UAP in Crowded Skies," The White Papers of the Sol Foundation, vol. 1, no. 2, March 2024. https://thesolfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sol_WhitePaper_Vol1N2.pdf
[^33]: Karl E. Nell, "The UFO Enigma: A Call for US Government Disclosure," The Policy Papers of the Sol Foundation, Spring 2025, Executive Summary and "About the Author." https://thesolfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-UFO-Enigma_Sol-Foundation.pdf
[^34]: "New science advisory council forms to help US government 'resolve the UAP mystery,'" *DefenseScoop*, June 17, 2026. https://defensescoop.com/2026/06/17/new-science-advisory-council-forms-to-help-us-government-resolve-the-uap-mystery/
[^35]: Sol Foundation, release "Sol Foundation Co-Founders Named to UAP Science Advisory Council," June 22, 2026 (modified July 13, 2026), https://thesolfoundation.org/sol-foundation-co-founders-named-to-uap-science-advisory-council/ ; Avi Loeb, "More Details on the UAP Science Advisory Council," Medium (avi-loeb.medium.com), June 16, 2026, read in a Wayback Machine copy; Federal Register search for "UAP Science Advisory Council," https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents.json?conditions%5Bterm%5D=%22UAP+Science+Advisory+Council%22 (count 0 on October 3, 2026).

48
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Southern Trust Company.md
View file

@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ tags:
- TaxFraud
- GovernmentCapture
- ShellCompany
- AdFin
- LeonBlack
alias:
- Southern Trust Company, Inc.
@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ alias:
summary: "Southern Trust Company was Jeffrey Epstein's U.S. Virgin Islands entity that obtained large territorial tax benefits by claiming to run a DNA-database and data-mining business the Virgin Islands later alleged it never actually conducted."
location: "St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands"
created: 2026-06-20
updated: 2026-09-25
updated: 2026-10-04
relations:
- type: owned
with: "[[Jeffrey Epstein]]"
@ -32,12 +33,22 @@ relations:
start: 2013-02-15
end: 2017-04
role: "payments under a 2013 service agreement and later ad hoc fees"
fn: 12
fn: 17
- type: funded
with: "[[Carbyne]]"
role: "limited partner in SUM (E.B.) Limited Partnership; 2.4 million dollars toward warrant exercise"
start: 2019-03
fn: 9
- type: funded
with: "[[AdFin Solutions]]"
role: "Series A preferred purchaser: 1,142,857 shares for $499,999.94 (April 10, 2013) and 285,714 shares for $124,999.87 (July 23, 2013); 4.50 percent of the company with options on January 4, 2018"
start: 2013-04-10
fn: 12
- type: contracted_with
with: "[[CVAFH I LLC]]"
role: "co-purchaser in the AdFin Series A closing set of July 23, 2013, and co-consenting holder on the December 26, 2013 bridge-loan stockholder consent"
start: 2013-07-23
fn: 13
---
Southern Trust Company was a [[U.S. Virgin Islands]] corporation controlled by [[Jeffrey Epstein]], incorporated on November 18, 2011 as Financial Informatics, Inc. and used from 2013 as the successor to his earlier territorial entity [[Financial Trust Company]]; it reported assets of about 391 million dollars in 2015.[^1] It applied to the [[Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority]] in October 2012 for benefits under the [[Economic Development Commission]] program and received a ten-year incentive package, on the representation that it would build a DNA-database and data-mining, or "informatics," business. A January 2020 civil enforcement complaint by the territory's [[Denise George|Attorney General]] alleged that the company conducted no such business and existed to fund Epstein's criminal activity and properties, and the 2022 settlement with his estate required repayment of roughly 80 million dollars in the benefits it had obtained.[^2][^3]
@ -60,17 +71,25 @@ In 2019 Southern Trust was a limited partner in SUM (E.B.) Limited Partnership,
On March 11, 2019 Toor wrote that the bank was making "requests ... to provide further information and explanation for its own anti money laundry regulations," including a "List of the controlling person(s) of each limited partner, name and his/her citizenship" and a recommendation letter from each partner's transferring bank. Epstein forwarded the request to Barak, who answered the same day: "That's the Israeli banks paranoia after they paid the penalties they've paid to the US authorities for past mistakes. According to our experience it was never leaked out of the banks. Just kept with them as an insurance policy. We have to follow on it. On a minimal but satisfying base."[^10] On March 12 Indyke asked Epstein, "Not sure how to respond. I thought we did not want your name associated with this Investment?" and noted that the transferring bank was "DB," [[Deutsche Bank]]. After Epstein answered "ok," Indyke wrote on March 14: "Am I correct that by your 'ok' you mean that I may confirm that you are the controlling person of the STC?" Epstein replied: "Yes."[^9] The next day Richard Kahn forwarded Epstein Carbyne's 2017 audited statements, its 2018 draft statements and a three-year projection, which Toor had sent "subject to the Partnership's and your consent not to further disclose it to any third party."[^11]
### AdFin Solutions
Southern Trust Company, Inc. was a Series A preferred holder of [[AdFin Solutions]], Inc., a [[Delaware]] advertising-analytics company. The Schedule of Purchasers to the Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2012 lists Southern Trust Company, Inc. for 1,142,857 shares at $499,999.94 in a closing of April 10, 2013, alongside [[Tom Glocer]] and other individuals, and for a further 285,714 shares at $124,999.87 in a closing of July 23, 2013, the date on which "CVAFH I LLC" bought 800,000 shares for $350,000. The counterpart signature pages for the purchase agreement, the Investors' Rights Agreement, the Right of Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement and the Voting Agreement read "Southern Trust Company, Inc.," "Name: Jeffrey Epstein," "Title: President," and the Voting Agreement's Schedule of Investors lists Southern Trust Company, Inc. with 1,428,571 shares. A July 2013 letter agreement on [[Cantor Ventures]], L.P. letterhead states that CVAFH I LLC "has been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares and the ultimate holding company of Cantor is [[Cantor Fitzgerald|Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.]]"[^12]
Southern Trust Company is named as a signing stockholder on the December 26, 2013 consent approving a $2,000,000 unsecured convertible note sold to CVAFH I, LLC. On January 13, 2014 [[Darren Indyke]] sent [[Lesley Groff]] the executed bridge-loan documents with the instruction to file them "in AdFin redweld in a folder called $2MM Bridge Note Financing December 2013."[^13] On March 21, 2013 the shareholder David Mitchell proposed to Jeffrey Epstein that the two of them split the 90 percent voting right on certain major decisions that Mitchell said he had negotiated; Epstein answered "Ok." On September 12, 2014 Mitchell asked Groff to arrange a meeting between Epstein and the company's new chief executive [[Andrew Altersohn]], writing "Andrew Jeffery is the principal behind AdFin's investor Southern Trust."[^14]
A cap table "as of 1.4.18" in a company presentation lists "Southern" with 6,409,679 shares, including 110,619 options, 4.50 percent of the company and $889,000 invested; "Cantor" is listed with 60.32 percent.[^15] In an email thread of February 2018 the company's chief executive wrote that "Southern is already a party" to the shareholders agreement and that, to maintain its pro rata share in a new round, "Southern would have to invest in $85,695." Epstein told Richard Kahn on February 26, 2018: "you can tell them we are a seller at cost. 875 and we are out." Kahn then wrote to the company that "we would be interested in selling for our cost of $875,000 which is approx 68% of FMV." On April 13, 2018 the chief executive replied: "We were trying to get a response from Howard and Jonathan on your ask, but there is apparently no interest at this time on the sale of your interest." On September 18, 2018 Mitchell wrote to Epstein, "Jonathan seeing him this week and trying to get to buy Adfin position," and on October 18, 2018, "in the fall next year, a capital event could happen which would return money." The company ceased operations in October 2019.[^16]
### Staff, Clients and Income
According to the territory's Second Amended Complaint, Southern Trust employed 13 people other than Epstein between 2013 and 2019: 11 in administrative or support roles (six personal, administrative or executive assistants, receptionists or a driver, one office manager, one clerk, and three in accounting or payroll, only one of them a certified public accountant) and a single network administrator, with a second added in 2019. The network administrator, reported as a Virgin Islands resident, held a Florida driver's license with a Miami address and "appears, in fact, to have served as Epstein's driver and picked up luggage and cargo from Epstein's private planes." An executive assistant lived in a building at 301 East 66th Street in Manhattan whose units Epstein's address book listed as "Apt. for models." A person Kahn had described to a bank as an interior designer and as a dentist was on the payroll in 2019. The company told the commission it employed only Virgin Islands residents.[^1]
"Southern Trust company does not appear to have had any clients and performed no visible informatics services. According to financial records, it held no investments for others," the territory alleged. It nonetheless reported net income of 50.3 million dollars in 2013, 67.5 million dollars in 2014, 52.8 million dollars in 2015, 4.8 million dollars in 2016 and 17.1 million dollars in 2017, and revenues of about 184 million dollars over those five years, and "the main source of funds for the Epstein Enterprise came from Southern Trust." Kahn, as treasurer, ran its accounting and tax reporting; [[Darren Indyke]] was signatory on its primary account and authorized most of the wires out of it to Epstein's other entities and personal accounts. For 2013 through 2017 the company received tax exemptions of 73.6 million dollars and, after electing S-corporation status that passed its income to Epstein as sole shareholder, Epstein's own income-tax exemption came to 71.3 million dollars; including gross-receipts taxes, the territory estimated he avoided 80,576,236 dollars. The complaint concluded that the company "existed to secure tax benefits for Epstein, to employ individuals associated with the Epstein Enterprise, and to provide a source of income to support his criminal activities and properties in the Virgin Islands."[^1]
"Southern Trust company does not appear to have had any clients and performed no visible informatics services. According to financial records, it held no investments for others," the territory alleged. It nonetheless reported net income of 50.3 million dollars in 2013, 67.5 million dollars in 2014, 52.8 million dollars in 2015, 4.8 million dollars in 2016 and 17.1 million dollars in 2017, and revenues of about 184 million dollars over those five years, and "the main source of funds for the Epstein Enterprise came from Southern Trust." Kahn, as treasurer, ran its accounting and tax reporting; Darren Indyke was signatory on its primary account and authorized most of the wires out of it to Epstein's other entities and personal accounts. For 2013 through 2017 the company received tax exemptions of 73.6 million dollars and, after electing S-corporation status that passed its income to Epstein as sole shareholder, Epstein's own income-tax exemption came to 71.3 million dollars; including gross-receipts taxes, the territory estimated he avoided 80,576,236 dollars. The complaint concluded that the company "existed to secure tax benefits for Epstein, to employ individuals associated with the Epstein Enterprise, and to provide a source of income to support his criminal activities and properties in the Virgin Islands."[^1]
### The Single Source
The complaint stated that "virtually all of Southern Trust Company's income came from a single source (including related entities)," which "paid $158 million to Defendant Southern Trust Company from 2013 to 2017, which constitutes 85% of the total revenues reported," and that the funds "appear to have not been used to pay for informatics or datamining services." The complaint does not name the source.[^1]
The review of [[Leon Black]]'s dealings with Epstein that the law firm [[Dechert]] prepared for [[Apollo Global Management]] in January 2021 found that Black signed a written service agreement with "Southern Trust Company, Inc., an Epstein affiliate" on February 13, 2013, paying 15 million dollars on February 15, 2013 and 8.5 million dollars on October 15, 2013 into Southern Trust for work on a 2006 grantor retained annuity trust. Black's payments to Epstein then totaled 50 million dollars in 2013, 70 million dollars in 2014 and 30 million dollars in 2015, nothing in 2016, and a final 8 million dollars in April 2017, 158 million dollars in all; Epstein had told Black the payments would be tax deductible. Southern Trust's reported net income for the same years was 50.3, 67.5, 52.8, 4.8 and 17.1 million dollars. In early 2017 Black also lent Epstein 22.5 million dollars and 8 million dollars through BV70 LLC to Plan D LLC, an Epstein company later named as a defendant in the territory's suit; Epstein repaid part in 2018. Dechert reported no evidence that Black paid Epstein for anything other than "legitimate advice" and found that the value Epstein's advice conferred on Black was more than 1 billion dollars. The same review found that Financial Trust Company bought 263,257 Apollo shares in the firm's 2011 initial public offering, which appear to have been transferred in 2013 to [[Southern Financial LLC]], an Epstein company registered in the Virgin Islands on February 25, 2013, and held through at least September 2019. Black paid the territory 62.5 million dollars in January 2023 to resolve potential Epstein-related claims, without any admission of liability, in a settlement countersigned by Acting Attorney General [[Carol Thomas-Jacobs]], whom Bryan had appointed after removing George at the end of December 2022.[^1][^12][^13][^14]
The review of [[Leon Black]]'s dealings with Epstein that the law firm [[Dechert]] prepared for [[Apollo Global Management]] in January 2021 found that Black signed a written service agreement with "Southern Trust Company, Inc., an Epstein affiliate" on February 13, 2013, paying 15 million dollars on February 15, 2013 and 8.5 million dollars on October 15, 2013 into Southern Trust for work on a 2006 grantor retained annuity trust. Black's payments to Epstein then totaled 50 million dollars in 2013, 70 million dollars in 2014 and 30 million dollars in 2015, nothing in 2016, and a final 8 million dollars in April 2017, 158 million dollars in all; Epstein had told Black the payments would be tax deductible. Southern Trust's reported net income for the same years was 50.3, 67.5, 52.8, 4.8 and 17.1 million dollars. In early 2017 Black also lent Epstein 22.5 million dollars and 8 million dollars through BV70 LLC to Plan D LLC, an Epstein company later named as a defendant in the territory's suit; Epstein repaid part in 2018. Dechert reported no evidence that Black paid Epstein for anything other than "legitimate advice" and found that the value Epstein's advice conferred on Black was more than 1 billion dollars. The same review found that Financial Trust Company bought 263,257 Apollo shares in the firm's 2011 initial public offering, which appear to have been transferred in 2013 to [[Southern Financial LLC]], an Epstein company registered in the Virgin Islands on February 25, 2013, and held through at least September 2019. Black paid the territory 62.5 million dollars in January 2023 to resolve potential Epstein-related claims, without any admission of liability, in a settlement countersigned by Acting Attorney General [[Carol Thomas-Jacobs]], whom Bryan had appointed after removing George at the end of December 2022.[^1][^17][^18][^19]
### Disclosure and Nondisclosure
@ -78,11 +97,11 @@ When the Attorney General amended her complaint in February 2020, the Virgin Isl
### The Fraud Allegation and the Settlement
The January 2020 complaint, brought in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands as [[Government of the United States Virgin Islands]] v. Estate of Jeffrey E. Epstein under the territory's Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, alleged that Southern Trust fraudulently obtained its tax benefits by misrepresenting its business to the Economic Development Authority. The Attorney General amended the action to add the estate co-executors Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, Southern Trust Company, and other Epstein-created entities as co-defendants. The territory alleged that the two men "were deeply involved in the financial activities of the Epstein-owned entities, including those of Defendant Southern Trust Company," and that they served on its board with Epstein; both have denied knowing of Epstein's crimes.[^1][^3][^15]
The January 2020 complaint, brought in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands as [[Government of the United States Virgin Islands]] v. Estate of Jeffrey E. Epstein under the territory's Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, alleged that Southern Trust fraudulently obtained its tax benefits by misrepresenting its business to the Economic Development Authority. The Attorney General amended the action to add the estate co-executors Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, Southern Trust Company, and other Epstein-created entities as co-defendants. The territory alleged that the two men "were deeply involved in the financial activities of the Epstein-owned entities, including those of Defendant Southern Trust Company," and that they served on its board with Epstein; both have denied knowing of Epstein's crimes.[^1][^3][^20]
On December 1, 2022 the territory announced a settlement with the Epstein estate for more than 105 million dollars in cash, plus half the proceeds of the sale of [[Little St. James]] and a payment of 450,000 dollars for environmental remediation at [[Great St. James]]. The settlement required the estate to return more than 80 million dollars in tax benefits that the territory said Southern Trust had obtained fraudulently to fund Epstein's criminal activity. The Attorney General Denise George stated that the settlement restored the faith of the people of the Virgin Islands that its laws would be enforced against those who break them.[^3][^16]
On December 1, 2022 the territory announced a settlement with the Epstein estate for more than 105 million dollars in cash, plus half the proceeds of the sale of [[Little St. James]] and a payment of 450,000 dollars for environmental remediation at [[Great St. James]]. The settlement required the estate to return more than 80 million dollars in tax benefits that the territory said Southern Trust had obtained fraudulently to fund Epstein's criminal activity. The Attorney General Denise George stated that the settlement restored the faith of the people of the Virgin Islands that its laws would be enforced against those who break them.[^3][^21]
The entity figured again in the territory's separate December 2022 suit against JPMorgan Chase, which alleged that the bank serviced the Epstein network of companies, including Southern Trust and Financial Trust, while ignoring evidence of trafficking. That case settled in September 2023 for 75 million dollars to the Virgin Islands, and the bank separately paid 290 million dollars to Epstein's victims. The tax benefits at issue were scheduled to expire on January 31, 2023, the same period in which the territory's enforcement actions concluded.[^7][^16]
The entity figured again in the territory's separate December 2022 suit against JPMorgan Chase, which alleged that the bank serviced the Epstein network of companies, including Southern Trust and Financial Trust, while ignoring evidence of trafficking. That case settled in September 2023 for 75 million dollars to the Virgin Islands, and the bank separately paid 290 million dollars to Epstein's victims. The tax benefits at issue were scheduled to expire on January 31, 2023, the same period in which the territory's enforcement actions concluded.[^7][^21]
### Footnotes
@ -97,8 +116,13 @@ The entity figured again in the territory's separate December 2022 suit against
[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02634615, DataSet 11, email chain "Carbyne warrants" among Tomer Toor, NJF Capital, Darren Indyke and Jeffrey Epstein, February 28 to March 14, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02634615.pdf
[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02632339, DataSet 11, email from Ehud Barak to Jeffrey Epstein, "Re: Carbyne warrants," March 11, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02632339.pdf
[^11]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01035810, DataSet 9, email from Richard Kahn to Jeffrey Epstein, "Fwd: Carbyne," March 15, 2019; EFTA02636176, DataSet 11, email from Jeffrey Epstein to Richard Kahn, "Re: CARBYNE," March 27, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01035810.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02636176.pdf
[^12]: Dechert LLP, Memorandum to the Apollo Conflicts Committee, "Investigation of Epstein/Black Relationship and Any Relationship Between Epstein and Apollo Global Management, Inc.," January 22, 2021, pp. 3 to 5, 16 to 17 and note 11, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Apollo Global Management, Inc., Form 8-K (January 25, 2021). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1411494/000119312521016405/d118102dex991.htm
[^13]: "Billionaire Leon Black paid $62.5m to exit US Virgin Islands investigation over links to Jeffrey Epstein," *AOL / Agence France-Presse,* 2023, https://www.aol.com/billionaire-leon-black-paid-62-002414707.html ; "USVI Attorney General Denise N. George fired," *Virgin Islands News Online,* January 2023, https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/usvi-attorney-general-denise-n-george-fired/
[^14]: Settlement Agreement and Release between the Government of the United States Virgin Islands and Leon Black, executed January 20, 2023 (as published by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance). https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/usvi_black_settlement_agreement_-_executedpdf.pdf
[^15]: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. Estate of Jeffrey E. Epstein, No. ST-20-CV-14 (V.I. Super. Ct., filed January 15, 2020), brought under the Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 14 V.I.C. sections 600 to 614.
[^16]: "U.S. Virgin Islands reaches a $105M settlement with Jeffrey Epstein's estate." *NPR,* December 1, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/12/01/1140096222/jeffrey-epsteins-estate-reaches-a-105m-settlement-with-the-u-s-virgin-islands ; "Epstein Estate to Pay U.S. Virgin Islands Over $105 Million." *Rolling Stone,* November 30, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/jeffrey-epstein-estate-virgin-islands-settlement-1234639327/
[^12]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289560, DataSet 9, AdFin Solutions, Inc. Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, Exhibit A (EFTA00289583 to EFTA00289585), counterpart signature pages (EFTA00289580, EFTA00289633, EFTA00289651, EFTA00289669), Voting Agreement Exhibit A (EFTA00289670) and letter agreement (EFTA00289678 to EFTA00289680). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289560.pdf
[^13]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00289527, DataSet 9, stockholder consent, signature pages EFTA00289531 and EFTA00289532; EFTA00289541, DataSet 9, Note Purchase Agreement of December 26, 2013; EFTA00376028, DataSet 9, email from Darren Indyke to Lesley Groff, January 13, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289527.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00289541.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00376028.pdf
[^14]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00652698, DataSet 9, email from David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, March 21 and 22, 2013; EFTA00362758, DataSet 9, email of September 12, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00652698.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00362758.pdf
[^15]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00796718, DataSet 9, AD/FIN presentation, slide 21 (page EFTA00796738). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00796718.pdf
[^16]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00877345, DataSet 9, email chain "AD/FIN Update & Financing," February 2018; EFTA00836715, DataSet 9, Richard Kahn to Jeffrey Epstein, April 13, 2018; EFTA01022753, DataSet 9, David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, September 18, 2018; EFTA01019335, DataSet 9, David Mitchell to Jeffrey Epstein, October 18, 2018; Alison Weissbrot, "After A Rocky Road, Ad/Fin Shuts Its Doors," *AdExchanger,* October 17, 2019, https://www.adexchanger.com/agencies/after-a-rocky-road-ad-fin-shuts-its-doors/. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00877345.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00836715.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01022753.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01019335.pdf
[^17]: Dechert LLP, Memorandum to the Apollo Conflicts Committee, "Investigation of Epstein/Black Relationship and Any Relationship Between Epstein and Apollo Global Management, Inc.," January 22, 2021, pp. 3 to 5, 16 to 17 and note 11, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Apollo Global Management, Inc., Form 8-K (January 25, 2021). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1411494/000119312521016405/d118102dex991.htm
[^18]: "Billionaire Leon Black paid $62.5m to exit US Virgin Islands investigation over links to Jeffrey Epstein," *AOL / Agence France-Presse,* 2023, https://www.aol.com/billionaire-leon-black-paid-62-002414707.html ; "USVI Attorney General Denise N. George fired," *Virgin Islands News Online,* January 2023, https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/usvi-attorney-general-denise-n-george-fired/
[^19]: Settlement Agreement and Release between the Government of the United States Virgin Islands and Leon Black, executed January 20, 2023 (as published by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance). https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/usvi_black_settlement_agreement_-_executedpdf.pdf
[^20]: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. Estate of Jeffrey E. Epstein, No. ST-20-CV-14 (V.I. Super. Ct., filed January 15, 2020), brought under the Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 14 V.I.C. sections 600 to 614.
[^21]: "U.S. Virgin Islands reaches a $105M settlement with Jeffrey Epstein's estate." *NPR,* December 1, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/12/01/1140096222/jeffrey-epsteins-estate-reaches-a-105m-settlement-with-the-u-s-virgin-islands ; "Epstein Estate to Pay U.S. Virgin Islands Over $105 Million." *Rolling Stone,* November 30, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/jeffrey-epstein-estate-virgin-islands-settlement-1234639327/

37
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science.md
View file

@ -46,7 +46,13 @@ relations:
role: "advances, notes, lines of credit and share conversions"
start: 2016
fn: 10
updated: 2026-10-03
- type: head_of
with: "[[Stephen Justice]]"
reverse: true
start: 2018-08-06
role: "Chief Operating Officer, elected by the board August 6, 2018"
fn: 15
updated: 2026-10-04
---
[[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] (TTSA) was a public benefit corporation founded by musician [[Tom DeLonge]] of the band [[Blink-182]]. The organization's goal was to investigate [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP) and other fringe scientific topics, and to educate the public about these issues through a combination of scientific research, entertainment, and publishing.[^1]
@ -54,7 +60,7 @@ updated: 2026-10-03
Tom DeLonge founded TTSA in 2017 with the goal of bringing the UAP conversation out of the shadows and into the mainstream. He assembled a team of former high-ranking government officials and scientists to lead the organization, including [[Luis Elizondo]], [[Christopher Mellon]], [[Jim Semivan]], and [[Hal Puthoff]].[^1]
The company was structured with three divisions: Science, Aerospace, and Entertainment. The plan was to use the entertainment division to generate revenue that would fund the scientific and aerospace research. TTSA released three Navy videos, "FLIR" ([[Tic Tac]]), "[[GIMBAL]]," and "GoFast," on its [[YouTube]] page. The 2017 [[New York Times]] article that revealed the existence of [[AATIP]] carried two of them (FLIR1 and GIMBAL), and GOFAST followed in March 2018.[^1][^2] [[The Black Vault]] describes the videos as "subsequently released by To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, the source of where the New York Times originally received them." [[Pentagon]] spokesperson [[Christopher Sherwood]] told *[[The Intercept]]* in 2019 that the videos were released "for research purposes ... and not for general public release," and the [[Department of Defense]] stated on April 27, 2020 that it "authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos," which had been "circulating in the public domain after unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017." [[Politico]] reported in 2021 that the [[Washington Headquarters Services]] declassification division had approved the videos "for unlimited distribution" inside the government before the Times placement. The Office of the Secretary of Defense file released to [[The Black Vault]] under the Freedom of Information Act in August 2019 contains an August 23, 2017 email in which [[Luis Elizondo]] asked Michael Russo of the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review to "consider our request for unrestricted release"; an August 24, 2017 reply from Russo that if the service-level classification authority verified that removing the metadata made the videos unclassified, "please feel free to move forward with release"; and a DD Form 1910 whose publication-data block reads "Not Applicable. Not for publication. Research and analysis ONLY and info sharing with other USG and industry partners for the purposes of developing a database to help identify, analyze and ultimately defeat UAS threats." Joseph Gradisher, a Navy spokesman, said in 2019 that neither the cognizant Navy offices nor the review office had a record of correspondence responding to a request for unrestricted release of the videos in 2017.[^3] Mellon said in 2020 that he received the videos in the Pentagon parking lot from a Defense Department official.[^4][^5][^2]
The company was structured with three divisions: Science, Aerospace, and Entertainment. The plan was to use the entertainment division to generate revenue that would fund the scientific and aerospace research. TTSA released three Navy videos, "FLIR" ([[Tic Tac]]), "[[GIMBAL]]," and "GoFast," on its [[YouTube]] page. The 2017 [[New York Times]] article that revealed the existence of [[AATIP]] carried two of them (FLIR1 and GIMBAL), and GOFAST followed in March 2018.[^1][^2] [[The Black Vault]] describes the videos as "subsequently released by To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, the source of where the New York Times originally received them." [[Pentagon]] spokesperson [[Christopher Sherwood]] told *[[The Intercept]]* in 2019 that the videos were released "for research purposes ... and not for general public release," and the [[Department of Defense]] stated on April 27, 2020 that it "authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos," which had been "circulating in the public domain after unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017." [[Politico]] reported in 2021 that the [[Washington Headquarters Services]] declassification division had approved the videos "for unlimited distribution" inside the government before the Times placement. The Office of the Secretary of Defense file released to [[The Black Vault]] under the [[Freedom of Information Act]] in August 2019 contains an August 23, 2017 email in which [[Luis Elizondo]] asked Michael Russo of the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review to "consider our request for unrestricted release"; an August 24, 2017 reply from Russo that if the service-level classification authority verified that removing the metadata made the videos unclassified, "please feel free to move forward with release"; and a DD Form 1910 whose publication-data block reads "Not Applicable. Not for publication. Research and analysis ONLY and info sharing with other USG and industry partners for the purposes of developing a database to help identify, analyze and ultimately defeat UAS threats." Joseph Gradisher, a Navy spokesman, said in 2019 that neither the cognizant Navy offices nor the review office had a record of correspondence responding to a request for unrestricted release of the videos in 2017.[^3] Mellon said in 2020 that he received the videos in the Pentagon parking lot from a Defense Department official.[^4][^5][^2]
### Role in UAP Disclosure
@ -98,27 +104,31 @@ Annual reports from 2021 describe the Army testing of "anomalous materials" prov
### Personnel changes reported to the SEC
The company's Form 1-SA for the six months ended June 30, 2018, accepted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2018 and filed September 26, 2018, reports under "Other Information" that the subsidiaries Love Movie, LLC and Poet Productions, LLC were dissolved on June 27, 2018; that "On August 6, 2018, the Board elected Steve Justice as Chief Operating Officer"; and that "Advisory Board member Dr. Garry Nolan resigned, effective August 31, 2018."[^15]
The report's related-party note states that "monies due to Mr. DeLonge under related party transactions totaled $871,964 and $791,123 as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively," that royalties of 50,000 dollars were due to the Tom DeLonge licensing entities for each of the 2018 and 2017 interim periods, and that in August 2018 the company opened a revolving line of credit from DeLonge of up to 495,000 dollars at 8.58 percent per year, maturing December 31, 2019 and "secured by certain intellectual property rights associated with brand assets." As of September 25, 2018 the company had borrowed 100,000 dollars under it. The same note records the two August 2018 statements of work with EarthTech International, whose "founder and president is company Director Harold E. Puthoff" (Hal Puthoff).[^15]
[[Colm Kelleher]] resigned from the advisory board in October 2019. The annual report for 2020 states that Christopher Mellon resigned from the advisory board in November 2020, that Stephen Justice resigned as Chief Operations Officer in December 2020, that "Luis Elizondo, the Company's Director of Government Programs & Services, was laid off with severance" in December 2020, and that Hal Puthoff resigned from the board in February 2021 and moved to the science advisory board. The report describes these changes as part of a "pivot" to entertainment operations.[^8]
### Launch and the December 2017 placement
At a launch event in October 2017 (reported as October 11, 2017, [[Seattle]]), Tom DeLonge invited Luis Elizondo onstage; Elizondo said the group was "planning to provide never-before-released footage from real [[U.S. government]] systems." [[Gideon Lewis-Kraus]] reported that on October 4, 2017, a week before, Christopher Mellon had arranged for the journalist [[Leslie Kean]] to meet Hal Puthoff, Jim Semivan and Elizondo at a hotel bar near the Pentagon, where she was told she could have the videos with chain-of-custody documentation "if she could place a story in the Times." [[Bryan Bender]] wrote in 2021 that Mellon, "by then also a paid adviser to DeLonge's TTSA," served as Elizondo's "unofficial public relations manager" and "started dangling the story to the New York Times, POLITICO and several other mainstream outlets."[^15][^5] Bender also wrote that DeLonge, in 2016, "reached out to Christopher Mellon" and that in the same year "one of DeLonge's cold calls unearthed the name" of Elizondo.[^5] The Times and Politico published on December 16, 2017; see [[December 2017 New York Times AATIP Report]]. Politico's article of that date described the company as "a for-profit company" co-founded by DeLonge, quoted DeLonge's video calling it a "public benefit corporation," reported that its website "claims 2,142 investors, who have purchased slightly more than $2 million worth of shares" with "a minimum purchase of $200 in common stock shares," and placed Mellon at "a recent press conference for To The Stars in [[Las Vegas]]" describing a Navy pilots' sighting; Elizondo was listed as "director of global security and special programs."[^16]
At a launch event in October 2017 (reported as October 11, 2017, [[Seattle]]), Tom DeLonge invited Luis Elizondo onstage; Elizondo said the group was "planning to provide never-before-released footage from real [[U.S. government]] systems." [[Gideon Lewis-Kraus]] reported that on October 4, 2017, a week before, Christopher Mellon had arranged for the journalist [[Leslie Kean]] to meet Hal Puthoff, Jim Semivan and Elizondo at a hotel bar near the Pentagon, where she was told she could have the videos with chain-of-custody documentation "if she could place a story in the Times." [[Bryan Bender]] wrote in 2021 that Mellon, "by then also a paid adviser to DeLonge's TTSA," served as Elizondo's "unofficial public relations manager" and "started dangling the story to the New York Times, POLITICO and several other mainstream outlets."[^16][^5] Bender also wrote that DeLonge, in 2016, "reached out to Christopher Mellon" and that in the same year "one of DeLonge's cold calls unearthed the name" of Elizondo.[^5] The Times and Politico published on December 16, 2017; see [[December 2017 New York Times AATIP Report]]. Politico's article of that date described the company as "a for-profit company" co-founded by DeLonge, quoted DeLonge's video calling it a "public benefit corporation," reported that its website "claims 2,142 investors, who have purchased slightly more than $2 million worth of shares" with "a minimum purchase of $200 in common stock shares," and placed Mellon at "a recent press conference for To The Stars in [[Las Vegas]]" describing a Navy pilots' sighting; Elizondo was listed as "director of global security and special programs."[^17]
Mellon told the Politico writer: "Tom called me up out of the blue and then through him I met Jim and Hal." DeLonge told Bender: "From day one, I figured I needed knights of the round table."[^5]
### Pentagon position on Elizondo and the venture
In 2019 Sherwood told *The Intercept* that "Mr. Elizondo had no responsibilities with regard to the AATIP program while he worked in OUSDI, up until the time he resigned effective 10/4/2017." TTSA spokesperson Kari DeLonge told [[John Greenewald]] that Elizondo ran AATIP "out of the Office for the Secretary of Defense (OSD) under the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI)" after taking it over in 2010; Sherwood's office disputed this. [[Susan Gough]] of the Pentagon told Greenewald on June 13, 2019 that "DIA administered AATIP, and Elizondo was never assigned to DIA." Puthoff, a TTSA co-founder, told Greenewald that as contractor and senior adviser he "continued to attend meetings" under the program.[^4][^17]
In 2019 Sherwood told *The Intercept* that "Mr. Elizondo had no responsibilities with regard to the AATIP program while he worked in OUSDI, up until the time he resigned effective 10/4/2017." TTSA spokesperson Kari DeLonge told [[John Greenewald]] that Elizondo ran AATIP "out of the Office for the Secretary of Defense (OSD) under the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI)" after taking it over in 2010; Sherwood's office disputed this. [[Susan Gough]] of the Pentagon told Greenewald on June 13, 2019 that "DIA administered AATIP, and Elizondo was never assigned to DIA." Puthoff, a TTSA co-founder, told Greenewald that as contractor and senior adviser he "continued to attend meetings" under the program.[^4][^18]
### Filings (EDGAR)
SEC EDGAR lists the registrant as CIK 0001710274, incorporated in Delaware, with business address 315 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite U38, Encinitas, California, SIC 7819; first Form 1-A filed August 15, 2017, amendments September 1 and 18, 2017, further 1-A filings February 12, 2019, June 23, 2020 and March 16, 2022, and a Form 1-SA filed September 18, 2026 under file number 24R-00116. The registrant's conformed name changed to "To The Stars Inc." on September 28, 2021. The first offering statement (file 024-10728, Form 1-A of August 15, 2017, amended September 1 and 18) was qualified on September 29, 2017, and later offerings were qualified on July 12, 2019 (024-10946), September 18, 2020 (024-11243) and March 31, 2022 (024-11831); annual Forms 1-K were filed from 2018 through April 29, 2026.[^18]
SEC EDGAR lists the registrant as CIK 0001710274, incorporated in Delaware, with business address 315 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite U38, Encinitas, California, SIC 7819; first Form 1-A filed August 15, 2017, amendments September 1 and 18, 2017, further 1-A filings February 12, 2019, June 23, 2020 and March 16, 2022, and a Form 1-SA filed September 18, 2026 under file number 24R-00116. The registrant's conformed name changed to "To The Stars Inc." on September 28, 2021. The first offering statement (file 024-10728, Form 1-A of August 15, 2017, amended September 1 and 18) was qualified on September 29, 2017, and later offerings were qualified on July 12, 2019 (024-10946), September 18, 2020 (024-11243) and March 31, 2022 (024-11831); annual Forms 1-K were filed from 2018 through April 29, 2026.[^19]
The offering circular dated September 29, 2017 describes the company as "a public benefit corporation founded in 2017 by a former senior Intelligence Officer with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], a distinguished research scientist from the Department of Defense, and an award-winning artist"; offers Class A common stock at 5.00 dollars a share (minimum 200,000 shares, maximum 10,000,000 shares, minimum investment 40 shares or 200 dollars, escrow agent [[Prime Trust|Prime Trust, LLC]]); lists as officers appointed May 25, 2017 Thomas DeLonge (president and chief executive), James Semivan (vice president, operations) and Harold Puthoff (vice president, science and technology), with Semivan and Puthoff also named as directors; and lists an Advisory Board of Chris Mellon, [[Adele Gilpin]], [[Norman Kahn]], Colm Kelleher, [[Garry Nolan]] and [[Paul Rapp]]. Elizondo is not named in the circular. It states that in May 2017 the company issued 12,500,000 shares of Class A and 5,400 shares of Class B common stock to Gravity Holdings, LLC, [[JimSemI|JimSemI, LLC]] and Harold Puthoff for nominal cash and past and anticipated efforts; that on June 1, 2017 Gravity Holdings (whose sole member, with [[Archive West Investments]], is the DeLonge Family Trust) contributed the shares of To The Stars, Inc. in exchange for 55,000,000 Class A shares; and that in June 2017 the company granted "employees and advisors" 9,000,000 options and 2,500,000 restricted shares under its 2017 Stock Incentive Plan.[^19]
The offering circular dated September 29, 2017 describes the company as "a public benefit corporation founded in 2017 by a former senior Intelligence Officer with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], a distinguished research scientist from the Department of Defense, and an award-winning artist"; offers Class A common stock at 5.00 dollars a share (minimum 200,000 shares, maximum 10,000,000 shares, minimum investment 40 shares or 200 dollars, escrow agent [[Prime Trust|Prime Trust, LLC]]); lists as officers appointed May 25, 2017 Thomas DeLonge (president and chief executive), James Semivan (vice president, operations) and Harold Puthoff (vice president, science and technology), with Semivan and Puthoff also named as directors; and lists an Advisory Board of Chris Mellon, [[Adele Gilpin]], [[Norman Kahn]], Colm Kelleher, [[Garry Nolan]] and [[Paul Rapp]]. Elizondo is not named in the circular. It states that in May 2017 the company issued 12,500,000 shares of Class A and 5,400 shares of Class B common stock to Gravity Holdings, LLC, [[JimSemI|JimSemI, LLC]] and Harold Puthoff for nominal cash and past and anticipated efforts; that on June 1, 2017 Gravity Holdings (whose sole member, with [[Archive West Investments]], is the DeLonge Family Trust) contributed the shares of To The Stars, Inc. in exchange for 55,000,000 Class A shares; and that in June 2017 the company granted "employees and advisors" 9,000,000 options and 2,500,000 restricted shares under its 2017 Stock Incentive Plan.[^20]
### Galileo Project
On October 30, 2021 [[Harvard University|Harvard]]'s [[Galileo Project]] announced Mellon and Elizondo as research affiliates, crediting them with being "pivotal in bringing about the Pentagon's release and confirmation" of the three videos.[^20]
On October 30, 2021 [[Harvard University|Harvard]]'s [[Galileo Project]] announced Mellon and Elizondo as research affiliates, crediting them with being "pivotal in bringing about the Pentagon's release and confirmation" of the three videos.[^21]
### Footnotes
@ -136,9 +146,10 @@ On October 30, 2021 [[Harvard University|Harvard]]'s [[Galileo Project]] announc
[^12]: Form 1-K for fiscal 2021, 2024 and 2025, sections headed "U.S. Army Cooperative Research and Development Agreement"; Form 1-SA for the six months ended June 30, 2026 (accession 0001493152-26-043283) for the 2026 DeLonge loans and the 1-K for fiscal 2025 for the DeLonge Promissory Note.
[^13]: Form 1-K for fiscal 2018 Items 1 and 5 and the financial statement note on related parties; repeated in the fiscal 2019 report.
[^14]: Exhibit 6.28, Cooperative Research and Development Agreement No. 19-15, to Form 1-A/A filed August 3, 2020 (accession 0001104659-20-089220). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000110465920089220/tm2023098d2_ex6-28.htm
[^15]: Lewis-Kraus, Gideon. "How the Pentagon Started Taking U.F.O.s Seriously." *The New Yorker,* May 10, 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/10/how-the-pentagon-started-taking-ufos-seriously. The October 11, 2017 date and the Seattle venue are from a secondary summary, not yet checked against TTSA's own materials. Lewis-Kraus's account of the hotel meeting derives from Kean.
[^16]: Bender, Bryan. "The Pentagon's Secret Search for UFOs." *Politico Magazine,* December 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/2018id_/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/16/pentagon-ufo-search-harry-reid-216111
[^17]: Greenewald, John, Jr. The Black Vault, June 14, 2019. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/pentagon-reinforces-mr-luis-elizondo-had-no-responsibilities-on-aatip-senator-harry-reids-2009-memo-changes-nothing
[^18]: SEC EDGAR company page, CIK 1710274 (Atom feed and full-text search, run October 3, 2026). https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=1710274&type=1-A
[^19]: To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc. Offering Circular dated September 29, 2017, Form 253G2, file no. 024-10728. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420417050693/v476177_253g2.htm (read October 3, 2026; EDGAR submissions index https://data.sec.gov/submissions/CIK0001710274.json).
[^20]: The Galileo Project, October 30, 2021. https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/galileo/files/mellon-elizondo_announcement_final_2.pdf (Internet Archive copy).
[^15]: To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc., Form 1-SA, semiannual report for the period ended June 30, 2018, Item 2 (Other Information) and related-party transactions note, SEC accession 0001144204-18-050766, filed September 26, 2018. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420418050766/tv503167_1sa.htm
[^16]: Lewis-Kraus, Gideon. "How the Pentagon Started Taking U.F.O.s Seriously." *The New Yorker,* May 10, 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/10/how-the-pentagon-started-taking-ufos-seriously. The October 11, 2017 date and the Seattle venue are from a secondary summary, not yet checked against TTSA's own materials. Lewis-Kraus's account of the hotel meeting derives from Kean.
[^17]: Bender, Bryan. "The Pentagon's Secret Search for UFOs." *Politico Magazine,* December 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/2018id_/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/16/pentagon-ufo-search-harry-reid-216111
[^18]: Greenewald, John, Jr. The Black Vault, June 14, 2019. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/pentagon-reinforces-mr-luis-elizondo-had-no-responsibilities-on-aatip-senator-harry-reids-2009-memo-changes-nothing
[^19]: SEC EDGAR company page, CIK 1710274 (Atom feed and full-text search, run October 3, 2026). https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=1710274&type=1-A
[^20]: To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc. Offering Circular dated September 29, 2017, Form 253G2, file no. 024-10728. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420417050693/v476177_253g2.htm (read October 3, 2026; EDGAR submissions index https://data.sec.gov/submissions/CIK0001710274.json).
[^21]: The Galileo Project, October 30, 2021. https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/galileo/files/mellon-elizondo_announcement_final_2.pdf (Internet Archive copy).

119
20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Urramoor Limited.md Normal file
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@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
---
category: "Private Organization"
tags:
- Organization
- UrramoorLimited
- CantorFitzgerald
- PrinceAndrew
- JeffreyEpstein
- EpsteinFiles
- EnglishCompany
alias:
- Urramoor Limited
- Urramoor Ltd
- Urramoor
- UML
- Cantor Urramoor Asset Management
summary: "English private limited company no. 08424933, incorporated February 28, 2013 and dissolved April 1, 2025, named in a 2013 Cantor Fitzgerald term sheet and listing "Hrh Andrew Inverness" among its persons with significant control."
location: "London, United Kingdom"
relations:
- type: person_with_significant_control
with: "[[Prince Andrew]]"
start: 2016-04-06
role: 'listed on the Companies House register of persons with significant control as "Hrh Andrew Inverness," notified April 6, 2016, nature of control "Has significant influence or control over the trustees of a trust"'
fn: 3
- type: negotiated_with
with: "[[Cantor Fitzgerald]]"
start: 2013-08-29
role: 'named as the second partner in the August 29, 2013 term sheet for a joint venture to be known as Cantor Urramoor Asset Management (preliminary draft; "not a commitment to form the Company")'
fn: 5
- type: negotiated_with
with: "[[Cantor Opportunities]]"
start: 2013-11
role: 'party "Urramoor Limited" ("UML") to a draft "Agreement for Referrals" dated "as of the day of November, 2013," with blank signature blocks'
fn: 8
- type: negotiated_with
with: "[[Cantor Fitzgerald]]"
start: 2013-11-14
role: 'draft agreement with the file name "LEGAL-#67891-v1-UML_Cantor_agreement_re_asset_management.docx," sent November 14, 2013 by a Cantor Fitzgerald managing director and deputy general counsel in a message addressed "David," which David Stern forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein at 7:36 PM'
fn: 9
- type: subject_of
with: "[[BBC]]"
start: 2026-07-14
role: "the 2013 Cantor Fitzgerald proposal to the former prince, reported by the BBC on July 14, 2026"
fn: 11
created: 2026-10-04
updated: 2026-10-04
---
Urramoor Limited was a private limited company registered in [[England and Wales]] under company number 08424933, incorporated on February 28, 2013, with its nature of business recorded as SIC 64209, "Activities of other holding companies not elsewhere classified." It was struck off the register on April 1, 2025. Its name appears in documents released by the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] under the [[Epstein Files Transparency Act]]: a solicitor's attendance note of August 8, 2013 filed under the heading "Urramoor," a [[Cantor Fitzgerald]] term sheet of August 29, 2013 for a joint venture to be known as "Cantor Urramoor Asset Management," and a draft "Agreement for Referrals" of November 2013 between [[Cantor Opportunities]], LLC and "Urramoor Limited." The [[Companies House]] register lists "Hrh Andrew Inverness" among its persons with significant control from April 6, 2016.[^1][^2][^3]
### Register Entries
The register records the incorporation on February 28, 2013. Its first director, an individual, was appointed and resigned the same day; a company-services company connected to the [[Mayfair]] solicitors' LLP at which the company's registered office was later placed was appointed corporate director on February 28, 2013 and remained on the register until the dissolution; and a further individual was appointed director the same day and resigned on March 11, 2020, when another individual was appointed. The appointment forms (AP01, AP02 and TM01) were filed on May 2, 2013. The annual returns for the periods to February 2014, 2015 and 2016 each carry a statement of capital of GBP 1. On June 2, 2014 the first accounting period was extended from February 28, 2014 to March 31, 2014.[^1][^4]
On November 5, 2015 the registered office was changed to the premises of the solicitors' LLP, from the address at which the November 2013 draft referral agreement brackets the company's registered office. A statement of capital filed on December 19, 2023 records an allotment of shares on December 14, 2023 and a capital of GBP 210,403. A first Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off was published on March 3, 2020 and the action was discontinued on March 4, 2020. The company applied for voluntary strike-off on January 3, 2025 (form DS01), the first Gazette notice followed on January 14, 2025 and the final Gazette notice, "dissolved via voluntary strike-off," on April 1, 2025. The last accounts were micro-company accounts to March 31, 2024 and the last confirmation statement was made on February 29, 2024.[^4]
### Persons with Significant Control
The register page for persons with significant control reads "3 persons with significant control / 0 statements," and lists four entries, three current and one ceased. Three of the entries are individuals connected to the solicitors' LLP: two current (notified April 6, 2016 and March 11, 2020) and one notified April 6, 2016 who ceased on March 11, 2020, the date the later individual was notified. Each of the three carries four natures of control: "Ownership of shares - 75% or more with control over the trustees of a trust," "Ownership of voting rights - 75% or more with control over the trustees of a trust," "Right to appoint or remove directors with control over the trustees of a trust," and "Has significant influence or control over the trustees of a trust."[^3]
The remaining entry reads "Hrh Andrew Inverness," notified on April 6, 2016, date of birth February 1960, nationality British, with the single nature of control "Has significant influence or control over the trustees of a trust." It carries no cessation date. Companies House states on the register pages that it does not check the accuracy of the information filed.[^3]
The August 29, 2013 term sheet describes the second partner as "[Urramoor], an entity owned by a trust created by Mr. T."[^5]
### August 8 and 9, 2013
On Friday, August 9, 2013 [[Jeffrey Epstein]] received, in reply to a forwarded message, a thread titled "HL Loan - CD/SM call note 8.8.13." The thread begins with a message displayed as from "The Duke," dated "9 August 2013 16:07:53 GMT+01:00," to [[David Stern (business adviser)|David Stern]] (whom the BBC describes as "the prince's business aide"), with the text "For your conversation with Charles," forwarding an attendance note sent at 09:56 that morning by a solicitor to "The Duke" and a second recipient. The note is headed "File Urramoor," "Matter HL Asset Management etc," "Date 8 August 2013," and records a telephone call to [[New York City|New York]] at 20:30 BST on Thursday, August 8. It lists these points:[^6]
"1. It is common ground that no PG will be required from AC."
"2. We agreed that it was appropriate to accelerate the agreement of the primary asset management entity as soon as possible."
"6. It is recognised that the asset management entity will have no balance sheet value day 1 but the commitment by AC to contribute any profits derived from the similar activity carried on outside the assets management company would be acceptable until such time as the debt was repaid."
Points 3, 4 and 5 of the list are blank. The note continues that the solicitor "agreed to send through to SM a copy of what we discussed and agreed (which will effectively be this attendance note suitably doctored) whereupon he will double check that this is acceptable to HL and we can proceed," and that "the intention was to put the structure together as soon as possible subject only to SM telling CD who the internal tax adviser would be," with the parties "agnostic as to which jurisdiction, USA, Cayman or otherwise as AC would simply declare his interest to HMRC in the usual way." It closes "A positive and short discussion which seems to reach agreement and accord," and lists next steps including "Tax guys to talk," "Agree shareholder agreement to reflect the above provisions in the entity's constitution," and "Make advance." The initials AC, PG, SM, CD, CPD and HL are not expanded in the document.[^6]
Stern forwarded the note to Epstein the same day with the remark that the solicitor was talking to "the Howard legal counsel who is in a different league," and asked, "What do you think ??" Epstein answered: "no no no no no, howards main businesss is gambing in las vegas. he will have to disclose to the las vegas commsion his arrangeent and you will have holy hell to pay."[^6]
### The Term Sheet of August 29, 2013
A document headed "Term Sheet (8/29/13 Preliminary Draft for Discussion Purposes Only)," marked "CONFIDENTIAL" with a "DRAFT" watermark, "summarizes certain key concepts regarding a joint venture to create an asset management business to be known as Cantor Urramoor Asset Management" (the "Company"). The partners are "[[Cantor Urramoor Asset Management Holdings]], LLC ('Cantor Holdings'), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald," followed by a redacted word, and "[Urramoor], an entity owned by a trust created by Mr. T." Cantor Holdings "would be the manager of the Company." The Company "would seek to earn management and incentive fees from managing investments" and "would be permitted to engage affiliates of Cantor as subcontractor to perform certain services such as brokerage, investment banking, subadvisory and asset management services."[^5]
The loan term reads: "Simultaneous with the formation of the Company and the Exclusivity Agreements, the Company would advance the sum of £1,000,000 to Urramoor which would accrue interest at an annual rate of 3.5%, compounded annually. Any distributions by the Company to Urramoor would be applied to the repayment of the balance." The exclusivity term reads: "Mr. T would refer all business opportunities (including his affiliates' business opportunities) to the Company, and would not directly or indirectly engage in any activity that the Company could not. Mr T. would assign any remuneration, ownership or control rights relating to any outside business activity to the Company. Any distributions of income to Urramoor would be conditioned on Urramoor and Mr. T's compliance with exclusivity obligations." On capital: "The Partners would not be required to make a capital commitment to the Company, provided that Cantor would make a capital contribution to the Company in an amount necessary to fund the Loan." The term is "Ten (10) years, subject to automatic successive [annual] renewals," support services would be provided "at 110% of fully allocated cost," and a "Sovereign Immunity" line reads "Mr T and T Limited etc will execute all appropriate waivers of immunity." The sheet ends: "This term sheet is for discussion purposes only. It is not a commitment to form the Company, either express or implied, does not impose any obligation or liability on any person, and does not constitute an offer of securities."[^5]
### The Exchange of September 2, 2013
A message of August 30, 2013 (00:27 as printed) from a Cantor sender to two solicitors, subject "Term Sheet from Cantor Fitzgerald to Mr. T," reads "Attached please find the draft term sheet. Please let me know when you would like to discuss it," and forwards a message of August 29 from a second Cantor sender. Stern forwarded it to Epstein on Monday, September 2, 2013: "See attached term sheet from Howard to PA. I think madness. They are still at it. We kill it ?" The exchange then ran as follows.[^7]
Epstein: "no predetermined split, and even then payments made only if they choose to? its crazy." Stern: "Kill the whole thing ? PA lawyer is out of his depth." Stern: "When can I call you ?" Epstein: "no , suggest a counter, fifty fifty split, first 1 millino to offset loan, no subs acting without written agreement as to fee and profits . no exclusivity,". Stern: "Instead of 50/50, can we do 40/40/20 ? 20 for me.... This is original PA idea." Epstein: "yes". Stern: "Dankeschön."[^7]
### The Draft Agreement for Referrals, November 2013
A document headed "AGREEMENT FOR REFERRALS," "made and entered into as of the day of November, 2013," is between "Cantor Opportunities, LLC," "a subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.," and "Urramoor Limited" ("UML"). Its signature blocks for both parties ("By:," "Name:," "Title:") and the date are blank, and a joinder line is headed "David Stern." The recitals state that "UML has relationships with certain organizations and individuals including asset management firms, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and high net worth individuals or family offices." Clause A.3 provides that "UML shall act as an independent third party and not as agent of Cantor" and that "Nothing in this agreement shall be construed or interpreted to create a partnership or joint venture," with UML acting "as a nonexclusive service provider." Clause C.1 provides that "UML's only services shall be to provide Cantor and any applicable CF Company with introductions to non-US persons, individuals, or entities," and the covenants are given by UML on behalf of its "agents (including but not limited to David Stern and UML's ultimate beneficial owners)," together defined as "Representatives." Clause C.5 provides that "none of UML, nor UML's Representatives, shall directly or indirectly ... solicit or refer potential clients for Asset Management Services to any person other than Cantor or a Cantor Company." The term is "five (5) years" under New York law.[^8]
Exhibit A lists asset management opportunities including "Real estate related equity or debt investments" relating to [[United States]] real estate, "Co-investment with Cantor in private equity/venture capital opportunities," and "Investment in funds or separate account managed by a registered investment advisor such as Cantor Comparative Advantage, L.P." Exhibit B reads: "a typical referral fee to Cantor would be 25% of the lender's fee paid from the borrower/purchaser to the lender, which lender's fee for example may be 1% of the principal amount of the loan. Such referral fee to Cantor would be split 50/50 with UML." The draft contains no loan clause.[^8]
On Thursday, November 14, 2013, at 18:35 GMT, a message with the subject "Draft Cantor agreement," whose signature block reads "Managing Director & Deputy General Counsel, Cantor Fitzgerald" (the recipient and copy addresses are partly redacted), was addressed "David." The text reads: "David, I have attached a draft agreement in connection with the matters we have discussed. Please note that it has not been fully reviewed internally but I believe it reflects the discussion we had. Please let me know if you have comments or questions." The attachment is named "LEGAL-#67891-v1-UML_Cantor_agreement_re_asset_management.docx." At 7:36 PM the same day David Stern forwarded the message and its attachment to Jeffrey Epstein under the subject "Fwd: Draft Cantor agreement." The released document does not include the text of the attachment.[^9]
On Saturday, November 16, 2013, Stern wrote to Epstein: "Have you seen Cantor Fitzgerald proposal?" and Epstein answered the same evening, "goofy."[^10]
### Reporting in 2026
The [[BBC]] reported on July 14, 2026 that [[Simon Andriesz]], a former employee of [[Howard Lutnick]]'s firm, found in the released files that "one of Lutnick's firms had made plans in 2013 to go into business with another figure linked to Epstein, the then-Prince Andrew, by commercially exploiting the contacts the former UK trade envoy had made." Andriesz told the BBC's [[File on 4]] Investigates that "What it involved was a loan to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of £1m... to basically buy a prince." The BBC wrote that "Under the proposed terms of the deal, £1m would be loaned to a firm controlled by the prince, which would then be bound to do business exclusively with Cantor Fitzgerald," that "Epstein warned the prince's business aide, David Stern, against the deal, the files reveal," and that "advisers to both Lutnick and the former prince discussed the deal for four months, from August to November 2013, but it came to nothing."[^11]
Cantor Fitzgerald "did not deny the talks took place but told the BBC it did not go into business with the former prince." Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor "did not respond to a request for comment." The same article reported, earlier and concerning the allegations about Lutnick and [[AdFin Solutions]] rather than the 2013 proposal, that the [[United States Department of Commerce|US Commerce Department]] called them "a desperate partisan distraction from the historic work of this Administration" and said there was "no evidence of wrongdoing or legitimate cause for concern"; it also quoted a [[White House]] statement on Lutnick's behalf that "The BBC's pathetic and desperate attempt to slander Secretary Lutnick will do nothing to change the fact that he has been the most consequential Commerce Secretary in modern history."[^11]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Companies House, "URRAMOOR LIMITED," company number 08424933, overview (incorporated February 28, 2013; dissolved April 1, 2025; SIC 64209). https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08424933
[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02573653, DataSet 11; EFTA01107738, DataSet 9; EFTA01141453, DataSet 9. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02573653.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01107738.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01141453.pdf
[^3]: Companies House, "URRAMOOR LIMITED," persons with significant control. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08424933/persons-with-significant-control
[^4]: Companies House, "URRAMOOR LIMITED," officers and filing history (including forms NEWINC, AP01, AP02, TM01, AA01, AR01, AD01, SH01, PSC01, PSC07, GAZ1, DISS40, DS01, GAZ2(A)). https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08424933/officers ; https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08424933/filing-history
[^5]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01107738 and EFTA01107739, DataSet 9, "Term Sheet (8/29/13 Preliminary Draft for Discussion Purposes Only)." https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01107738.pdf
[^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02573653 to EFTA02573656, DataSet 11, email thread "Re: HL Loan - CD/SM call note 8.8.13," August 9, 2013, quoted with the line-break characters of the text layer omitted. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02573653.pdf
[^7]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01958492, EFTA01958705, EFTA01958867, EFTA01958916, EFTA01958960, EFTA01959027 and EFTA01959509, DataSet 10, thread "Term Sheet from Cantor Fitzgerald to Mr. T," August 30 to September 2, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01958492.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01958705.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01958916.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01958960.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01959027.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01959509.pdf
[^8]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01141453 to EFTA01141460, DataSet 9, "Agreement for Referrals" (unsigned draft), with Exhibits A and B. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01141453.pdf
[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02678017, DataSet 11, email from David Stern to Jeffrey Epstein, "Fwd: Draft Cantor agreement," November 14, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02678017.pdf
[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01949796 and EFTA01949827, DataSet 10, emails of November 16, 2013 (copies EFTA00976312 and EFTA00976313, DataSet 9). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01949796.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01949827.pdf
[^11]: Verity, Andy, Rob Byrne and Ben Milne. "How US commerce secretary's Epstein links were uncovered by British whistleblower." *BBC News,* July 14, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q28dlyxrzo