Blackwater USA

Academi—previously known as Xe Services LLC, Blackwater USA and Blackwater Worldwide—is a private military company founded in 1997 by Erik Prince and Al Clark. Academi is currently the largest of the U.S. State Department's three private security contractors. Academi provided diplomatic security services in Iraq to the United States federal government on a contractual basis. Academi also has a research and development wing that was responsible for developing the Grizzly APC along with other military technology. The company's headquarters is located in Arlington County, Virginia. The Obama administration awarded Academi a $250 million contract to work for the U.S. State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency in...