Blackwater moves to ensure compliance with export laws

Blackwater Worldwide announced Thursday it has established a three-person oversight committee to ensure compliance with overseas exports.

The Moyock, N.C.-based contractor regularly sends employees, equipment and sensitive information to foreign countries for its government contracts.

Last year, The Associated Press reported that the U.S. attorney in Raleigh, N.C., was investigating possible weapons smuggling by the company. That investigation was prompted by Pentagon and State Department inquiries into U.S. weapons that had gone missing in Iraq.

Blackwater denied that allegation, and no charges have been filed.

Company spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said the North Carolina investigation was one of several reasons to boost oversight.

Explaining Thursday's announcement, the firm's general council, Andrew Howell, said, "Ongoing reviews by the Departments of Justice, State and Commerce have highlighted the need for a significant and systemswide initiative."

The panel includes two former U.S. attorneys and a former vice president at defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Blackwater Chief Executive Officer Erik Prince said in a statement that the company's growth and the nature of its services have "created compliance challenges."

Tyrrell said government export regulations cover, for example, personnel training of foreign nationals.

The panel, which was established Monday, is known as the Export Compliance Committee. It consists of:

n Robert Bonner, former U.S. attorney and administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

n Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas congressman and former administrator of the DEA.

n Carol Marshall, former vice president of ethics and business conduct at Lockheed Martin.

The company also has hired Karen Jones, a former Raytheon employee, as vice president of export compliance.

Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2322, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com