The Evolving Contingency Contracting Market PKSOI Papers | Page 5

The activities of private companies in combat operations and complex environments have traditionally
drawn minimal attention when compared to their historic presence in such settings; yet in the last twenty
years the services of these companies have grown to
become a seemingly indispensable part of the modern
western stabilization arsenal, as well as the subject of
much media attention. The governments that procure
these companies’ services put a great deal of faith and
trust in their operations. While government contracting practices trend away from massive life support
operations (accommodations, catering, facility maintenance, etc.) and back to the provision of peoplebased services, it is important that this manpower be
sourced and monitored responsibly and ethically in
order to uphold the principled aspirations of the U.S.
and align policy practice with preaching.

Daniel A. Pinnell
COL, U.S. Army
Director
Peacekeeping and Stability
Operations Institute

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