MPRI, Inc., (referred to as "Military Professional Resources Inc." or simply MPRI) is a private military contractor that provides a wide range of services to both public and private customers, most notably the United States Department of Defense. MPRI specializes in various professions such as law enforcement, security, military training, logistics, etc., By its own account MPRI operates in over 40 countries. The firm is based in Alexandria, Virginia.
A member of International Peace Operations Association (IPOA), MPRI was founded in 1987 by eight former officers of the United States Army. It was sold to L-3 Communications in June 2000 for $40 million. In 2004, MPRI bought Civilian Police International.
A group of Serbs who lived in Krajina until Operation Storm sued MPRI accusing them for "participation in genocide", militarily equipping the Croatian Armed Forces, training the Croatian officers and developing a plan of Operation Storm. The claim was presented to the Federal Court in Chicago, and prosecutors are seeking 10.4 billion compensation[1].
MPRI's President is retired US Army General Bantz J. Craddock.[2]
MPRI has used retired military, and current national guard or reservists, to run R.O.T.C. programs at more than 200 universities. Other employees have worked in Army recruitment centers and trained U.S. soldiers. With offices in other countries, employees also have trained foreign armies at ranges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Kuwait, and South Africa. MPRI reassures their clients with services from teams of military leaders, law enforcement officers, strategic analysts, disaster management experts, and diplomatic and private sector leaders.
Local forces in Croatia were referred to MPRI by The Pentagon and used their training. 120 African leaders and more than 5,500 African troops have been trained by MPRI on security issues.[3] General Vuono commanded and participated in a training center which produced the military doctrine AirLand Battle 2000. This doctrine was used in 1990 for Operation Desert Storm and in 1995 for Operation Storm.
MPRI started training the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina for $140 million, after 1995 when the Dayton Accords were established.[4] In April 1995, Democracy Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) training began out of "Petar Zrinski" military school in Zagreb.[5]
MPRI acquired GEDD (GE Driver Development) and Ship Analytics, two companies known for Driving Simulations products. MPRI contracts to both local police forces and U.S. Government to provide driver simulation. Among the products used are the PatrolSim IV, FireSim, TranSim VS IV, and Mark III.
In the early 1990s, MPRI signeed a 5-year contract with the U.S. State Department involving the shipment of donated medical supplies and food to former Soviet states.
In 1998, the government of Equatorial Guinea asked MPRI to evaluate its defense systems, particularly its need for a coast guard to protect its oil reserves. In order to take the job, MPRI needed a license from the U.S. State Department. The Clinton administration rejected the request, citing the West African nation's human rights record. In 2000, after lobbying by MPRI, the State Department issued the license. MPRI did not reveal the terms of its contract with Equatorial Guinea.[6]
In 1999 MPRI signed an 18 month, $4.3 million contract to work with military in Colombia on the drug war. The contract expired in March 2001 and was not renewed allegedly because the Colombian Defense Ministry and its officers were upset by recommendations such as "Hit the enemy with a closed fist; do not poke at him with fingers of an open hand." (Note: this is a maxim of World War II German General Heinz Guderian.) [7]
According to a United States Department of Defense census, MPRI has at least 500 employees working in Iraq on 12 different contracts including mentoring civilian workers at the Iraqi Defense Ministry. [8]
The book by John Ghanazvidian titled "Untapped: The Scramble for Africa's Oil" mentions MPRI's involvement with several African nations.
