User:Talandrew/DFI International

DFI International Inc. was a Washington, DC-based research and consulting company founded in 1984 by Dr. Barry M. Blechman. Over a twenty-five year period, DFI grew rapidly to become an influencial strategy and advisory firm for both US Government and private sector clients in the defense, aerospace, and homeland security communities prior to its dissolution in 2007.

Numerous officials working in the past several presidential administrations were employed by DFI International prior to, or following, their public service.

Origins
DFI began operating in 1984 as Defense Forecasts International out of Dr. Blechman's Dupont Circle-area townhouse in Washington, DC with a single employee.

Organization
DFI's expanding client base among both goverment and industry customers in the late 1990s and early 2000s led to a division of DFI International into two seperate, fire-walled operating units, DFI Corporate Services and DFI Government Services. As the firm grew it first moved to offices on Dupont Circle and then Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just steps from the White House.

DFI Corporate Services
DFI Corporate Services, or "Corp" to DFI employees, was a provider of management and strategy consulting services to defense and aerospace industry clients that included the world's largest prime defense contractors and systems integrators. In addition to those core markets, its client base also include non-defense sectors influenced by government policy, such as energy, transportation and healthcare.

DFI Government Services
DFI Corporate Services, or "Gov" to DFI employees, was initially a provider of defense-related strategy and policy consulting services to the Department of Defense, but rapidly diversified its capabilities to include a range of professional, technical, and information technology services for DOD, the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Intelligence Community, particularly as defense-related investments were prioritized in the early to mid 2000s following the September 11th attacks.

DFI Government Services's homeland security practices area supported the development of formative DHS policy in the areas of homelande security preparedness and critical infastructure protection, while its counterterrorism practice was recognized for its innovative open source intelligence capabilities.

Acquisition and Partial Buy-Out
In 2006, London-based consultancy Detica confidentially approached DFI International with an acquisition offer. Following approval by Detica shareholders and the DFI International board of trustees, DFI Government Services was sold to Detica for approximately $40M). . During negotiations, DFI Corporate Services opted to exercise a management-led buyout and subsequently formed The Avascent Group in 2007, effectively retaining the management structure and client base of DFI Corporate Services..

DFI Government Services was merged into Detica's nascent North American national security market presence in 2007 to form, first, DeticaDFI and then Detica Federal Inc., but the effort by Detica to take advantage of a market perceived to be ripe for growth in the data analytics and intellgence systems technology sectors, Detica hallmarks, was plauged by unanticipated business integration and market access challenges. In 2008, Detica was subsequently acquired for $1B by UK-based BAE Systems plc, then the second largest defense contractor in the world, and the Detica business units carried-over from the DFI Government Services merger were split among BAE Systems's North American subsidiary, BAE Systems Inc.

Competitors
At its height, DFI Corporate and Government Services each competed against leading firms such as Booz & Company and McKinsey, as well as boutique firms such as The Cohen Group and Teal Group, for strategy work and firms such as FedSources and Jane's for intelligence services.

Notable former employees
Dr. Barry M. Blechman - founder and former president of DFI International, who also co-founded the Henry L. Stimson Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security think tank based in Washington, DC whose stated mission is to urge "pragmatic steps toward the ideal objectives of international peace and security." Dr. Blechman previously held positions in the Department of State, Department of Defense, Office of Management and Budget, and on the Defense Policy Board.

James R. Clapper - a retired Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force briefly served as chief operating officer of DFI Government Services prior to being confirmed as Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence - USD(I), where he currently is also dual-hatted as the first Director of Defense Intelligence within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Clapper previously held several key positions within the United States Intelligence Community, including Director of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Lori Garver - In 2009, Garver was nominated by Barack Obama as Deputy NASA Administrator. She was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent on July 15, 2009.

Brett B. Lambert joined the US Department of Defense in 2009 as Director of Industrial Policy in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Technology).

William Lynn - In 2009, Lynn was nominated by Barack Obama as Deputy Secretary of Defense. His appointment was approved by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on February 5, 2009 by unanimous consent. . On February 11, 2009, Lynn was confirmed in the full Senate by a vote of 93–4. . He took the oath of office on February 12.

Dr. Kevin O'Prey - was former president of DFI Government Services and co-founder of Obsidian Analysis, a leading national security consulting firm in Washington, DC.

Dennis Reimer - former Chief of Staff of the United States Army and director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, served as president of DFI Government Services.

Matthew Travis - was former president of DeticaDFI and Detica Federal Inc., Detica's North American business unit prior to its acquisition by BAE Systems in 2008. He is co-founder and president of Obsidian Analysis, a leading national security consulting firm in Washington, DC.

Avascent Group
Avascent Group is a leading boutique management consulting firm serving the defense, aerospace, homeland security, logistics industries, and financial communities. It was formed in 2007 after the management-led buyout of DFI Corporate Services during DFI International's sale to Detica (since acquired by BAE Systems). In February 2010, Avascent announced the formation of Avascent International, a strategic advisory and consulting firm with offices in DC, New York, London, and Canberra.

The Henry L. Stimson Center
The Henry L. Stimson Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security think tank co-founded by Dr. Barry Blachman based in Washington, DC. Its stated mission is to urge "pragmatic steps toward the ideal objectives of international peace and security." Stimson pursues its vision by conducting independent analysis and offering fresh perspectives for the policymaking community, the media and concerned citizens.