Civitas Group llc Expands Senior-Level Expertise with Addition of Andrew Weis and Douglas Callen

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Mar 02, 2010, 10:05 ET

WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Civitas Group llc, a leading strategic advisory and investment firm serving the homeland security and national security markets, is pleased to announce that Andrew Weis has joined the firm as a Managing Director and Douglas Callen has joined the firm as a Senior Director.

Prior to joining Civitas, Mr. Weis served as the Republican General Counsel for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where he advised Ranking Member Susan Collins on policy, legal, and jurisdictional matters, helped oversee the Committee's operations, directed the confirmation process for nominees to the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Management and Budget, the General Services Administration, and other federal departments and agencies, and served as Chief Ethics Officer. Before that, Mr. Weis served as the Emergency Preparedness Science and Technology Subcommittee Staff Director of the House Committee on Homeland Security. At Civitas Group, Weis will focus on advising and supporting government clients.

"Andy played a major role in developing most of the nation's homeland security laws since 2004, such as the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. He will be an invaluable resource to our clients," said David Howe, Civitas Group's President and CEO.

Douglas Callen, the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and a former senior official at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Secret Service, adds extensive experience in critical infrastructure protection, transportation security, and U.S. Government security policy and operations, expanding the firm's advisory capabilities in these fields.

"Doug Callen's senior-level expertise across multiple agencies and in some of the most challenging fields of security will make him a valuable asset for our many government and commercial clients, who will benefit from his decades of on-the-job experience," said Howe.

Prior to his work as CSO of TSA, Callen served as Director of Intelligence at the DOT, and had a distinguished career with the Secret Service. At Civitas Group, Callen will focus on working with clients in the critical infrastructure protection sector, as well as assisting clients with the expansion of government business opportunities.

About Civitas Group llc:

Civitas Group llc is a strategic advisory and investment firm serving the homeland and national security markets. The firm provides market-leading strategic and management consulting as well as deep market analysis and research, and investment due diligence to senior executives of leading security industry clients and financial investors. The firm's expertise includes homeland security, national security, cyber security, government services and critical infrastructure protection. Civitas' advisory clients include top-tier government technology integrators, leading security services providers, global technology companies, and early-stage companies with promising technologies, governments, and leading private equity firms and investment banks. The firm has helped numerous companies and technology providers with their strategic approach to the security market and provides extensive due diligence and M&A advisory service to investment banks, investment funds, and strategic buyers and investors in the homeland and national security and government services sectors. The firm has particular expertise in the cyber security and intelligence community markets. In addition to assisting corporate clients, Civitas Group provides advice and assistance in the development of government agency plans, policies and programs and is a trusted advisor to senior-level U.S. policymakers. Civitas Group also makes direct venture investments in early-stage technology and services companies in the homeland and national security sectors. The firm's Managing Board and Advisory Board are comprised of leading figures in the homeland and national security and finance sectors. More information can be found at http://www.civitasgroup.com.