SERCO: The biggest company you've never heard of

[TheHouseMan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyFkXmx8gxc

They run everything.

[Futurist]

I've heard of them, where I live they took over half of the public transport operation when that was privatised in the mid 90's.
Privatised prisons coming to Australia, that is frightening.

[Freeski]

Never heard of them but in the video they said they ran Ontario's driver licensing business... and it appears to be true! I thought The Government ran it but sure enough they have a 10-year PPP beginning in 2003. $600 million for Serco and a $115 million "kickback" to the Government of Ontario.

So, because the free market can't be trusted to run the licensing scheme, government simply gives it to a foreign monolith. I guess competition IS the problem after all. Fascism makes me ill.

After perusing their website, they look as though they're evolving as the bureaucratic arm of the global dictatorship.


------------------

Driver Examination Services, Ontario
Date : 26 February 2003
http://www.serco.com/media/pressreleases/2003/004_2003.asp

Serco Group plc ("Serco") is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Ministry of Transportation ("MTO"), Government of Ontario, Canada to provide driver examination services under a 10-year public private partnership. Following a transition period, the contract is anticipated to commence in August 2003.

Under the contract terms Serco will provide all driver examination services required by the 12 million residents of Ontario to obtain or upgrade all classes of driver's licenses. Driver examination services include all processing of initial applications and the provision of all vision tests, knowledge tests, and road tests. Serco will provide driver examination services from 55 Driver Examination Centres and 37 "travel points" located in major cities and smaller communities throughout Ontario.

In the coming months, Serco will launch a re-branded driver examination services business for Ontario and introduce a range of customer service improvements. This will include harnessing leading-edge technology to streamline the processing of license applications, improve the provision of knowledge tests, and support road test appointment scheduling and delivery.

The contract is expected to generate C$600 million in revenue over the 10-year concession. Serco will pay the Ontario government a concession fee of C$114 million, which will be funded by up to C$15 million from Serco's existing cash resources and the remainder from non-recourse debt to be provided under a ring fenced facility. The contract will be immediately earnings enhancing.

Christopher Hyman, Serco Group's Chief Executive said:

"This is a milestone contract for Serco in our continuing growth in the North American market. I am very pleased that the Ontario government has selected Serco to transfer this important public service. We look forward to working in partnership with MTO and our new colleagues to provide improvements in customer service to Ontario residents."

[TheTimeToActIsNow]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.  I've never heard of them myself, and if anyone has additional information to add, I think we'd all be interested in learning more about this monster.

[Freeski]

They were founded when the Great Depression hit. They sound like RAND with all of the different stuff they're involved with.
---------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serco_Group

History

Serco was founded in 1929 as a United Kingdom division of the Radio Corporation of America and initially provided services to the cinema industry.[1] It changed its name to Serco in 1987[1] and has been a London Stock Exchange listed company since 1988.[1]

On 29 December 2008, Serco completed its acquisition of SI International.[2]

Operations

The Guardian has called Serco "probably the biggest company you've never heard of."[3]

Serco operates in various sectors:

Transport: Serco manages the Docklands Light Railway[4] and Woolwich Ferry[5] in London (both for Transport for London) and Great Southern Railways in Australia.[6] Serco also has a joint venture with NedRailways, the UK arm of Dutch national rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, to operate passenger trains in the UK: Serco-NedRailways has a 25 year concession for Merseyrail in Liverpool and operates Northern Rail services in the north of England.[7] Serco also operates the Dubai Metro.[8] Serco formerly operated the Copenhagen Metro with Ansaldo STS, until selling its share with effect from 1 January 2008.[9] In addition, Serco Rail Operations operates infrastructure monitoring trains in the UK.[10]

Serco's Home Affairs division, run by Tom Riall, also operates speed camera systems throughout the UK and designs, writes and tests the software that controls the matrix message signs, signals, emergency roadside telephones (SOS) and traffic monitoring on England's motorway network including the National Traffic Control Centre.[11]

Science: Serco manages the UK's National Physical Laboratory.[12]

Detention: Serco supplies electronic tagging devices for offenders and asylum seekers.[13] In Britain, Serco runs four prisons, a Young Offenders Institution and a Secure Training Centre.[14] It also operates two Immigration Removal Centres.[15][16] Serco is also responsible for transporting and detaining prisoners at several Law Courts across the country.[17] In addition, Serco runs Hunfeld Prison in Germany.[18] In Australia Serco runs Acacia Prison in Western Australia.[19]

Defence: Serco holds defence contracts worldwide including the UK Government’s first modern outsourced contract for the operation and maintenance of the UK Ballistic Missile Early Warning System at RAF Fylingdales;[20] contracts are also held for the operation and maintenance of RAF Brize Norton,[21] RAF Halton[22] and RAF Northolt[22] in the UK and RAF Ascension Island in the mid-Atlantic.[22] Serco also provides support services to garrisons in Australia.[23] Serco also manages many aspects of operations at the Defence College of Management and Technology in Shrivenham.[24] Serco is one of three partners in the consortium which manages the Atomic Weapons Establishment.[25]
Royal Navy marine services: Serco Denholm, a joint venture with the Denholm Group, is responsible for fleet support at the three main UK naval bases, HMNB Portsmouth, HMNB Devonport and HMNB Clyde.[26]

Aviation: Serco provides air traffic control services at international airports in Dubai, Bahrain and at some smaller airports in the USA.[27] Since 2004 Serco have also had £5m a year from the US government to manage airports in Iraq.[28]

Health: Serco provide facilities management services at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital,[29] Leicester Royal Infirmary,[30] and Wishaw General Hospital.[31]

Education: Serco holds a 10 year contract with Bradford City Council to manage and operate the local education authority,[32] providing education support services to the City's schools, and similarly manages and operates Walsall[33] and Stoke-on-Trent local education authorities.[34] Serco is one of Ofsted's three Regional Inspection Service Providers, responsible for school inspections in the English Midlands.[35] Serco is also the provider of a Student information system, Facility, used in schools and colleges in several countries.[36]

Drivers' licensing: Serco, through a purpose-made division Serco DES, holds a 10 year, $114 million contract with the Province of Ontario to operate the province's DriveTest driver examination centres. These tests include vision, road, and knowledge tests for all persons seeking to become a licensed automobile driver in the province.[37]

Leisure: Serco operates a number of leisure centres across the UK including the Manchester Aquatics Centre, the aquatic venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.[38]
Serco also administers a number of publicly funded websites in the UK, including the Business Link website.[39]
Serco Solutions presently run the IT Infrastructure for the London Borough of Southwark winning the 5 year tender in 2007.[40]
Serco operates in Continental Europe, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific region and North America, but the majority of its turnover still comes from the UK.

[Freeski]

Who is Serco?

Services Corporation

Serco, our employer, is an outsourcing company used mostly by governments. They specialize in management of privatized public services: financial, budget preparation, financial assets, office administration, human resources, food services, standards control, records and information database management, business management.

Manages food courts to nuclear missile silos to swimming pools.

Runs civil services as if they were a business

Approximately ninety percent of their contracts are with government.

Multinational based in UK

Locations: Britain, US, Canada, South Africa, Australia.


http://undestrike.com/node/3

[Freeski]

There are a few threads here with Serco links.

They even manage the trains in Dubai!
http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=83739.msg894770#msg894770

[DireWolf]

Shades of Resident Evils the Umbrella Corporation

[luckee1]

We Have heard of Serco though:   

http://ea.si-intl.com/

Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) Weapon System
JWS
Air Force


Serco employs object-oriented techniques using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to design required operational capabilities for joint space warfighters. JSMO is a large Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) Directorate of Requirements managed program to develop net-centric services for space situational awareness; identification and characterization of space threats; and, command and control of Space forces.
   

SSA & C2 Capability Area Architecture
SSA & C2
Air Force


Serco is partnered with Air Force Space Command (AFSPC/A5C) to perform enterprise architecture for Space Situation Awareness (SSA) and Space Command and Control (C2) – we’re successfully accomplishing the challenged of managing these program’s complex requirement needs using UML architectures. Top-down directed decisions necessitated an immediate need for AFSPC to transition the Combatant Commanders Integrated Command and Control System (CCIC2S) to sustainment and initiate new SSA and C2 major ACAT programs and potentially a new Air Warning and Defense program to fulfill remaining requirements not fully delivered by the CCIC2S ACAT I program. Working closely with the MITRE Corporation, Serco is delivering operational UML models in framework traceable to system development and software code. For the first time in Space Command’s history, DoDAF-compliant UML models representing the command’s user requirements are managing and driving system development.


Distributed Mission Operations for Space
DMO-S
Air Force
   

DMO-S is an evolving project providing training for space, ground, air, and sea forces through interface analysis from end-user training and exercises perspective. This is a main tenet of Training Transformation (T2), supporting the Joint Force Commander’s requirements for missile warning, positional navigation, battlespace awareness, and communications while training space force core competencies. Recently, Serco was placed on a five-year GSA contract focused on engineering support to assist in establishing technical analysis on integrating the system with the current Space assets and C2 Centers, and training simulation systems. This effort also includes using DoDAF artifacts to lead the Federation Development Process (FEDEP) for developing the Space Federated Object Model (S-FOM).
   

Architecture Integration and Management Directorate
AIMD/TRADOC
Army
   

Serco is performing DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF)-compliant Unified Modeling Language 2.0 (UML) architecture modeling to fulfill life cycle engineering goals for all TRADOC Centers and Schools within the Continental United States (CONUS). Serco is using object-oriented analysis and design (OOAD) system engineering approach to deal with information technology (IT) architecture complexity, assist in business process reengineering (BPR), improve overall architecture program communications, and depict the blue print for current and future Service and Joint capabilities. Based on Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), Serco is implementing an architectural capabilities analysis approach providing full traceability from policy and concept to the software and systems in a net-centric environment. Serco uses best commercial practices regarding software maintenance methods throughout the life of this contract. The primary purpose of the support is to consult with and facilitate AIMD with the necessary activities to migrate to a standardized, dynamic UML architectural capability.
   

North American Aerospace Defense Command C2
NORAD C2
NORAD
   

Serco employs object-oriented techniques using the Unified Modeling Language to design required operational capabilities for joint and combined warfighters. The NORAD C2 Enterprise Architecture models required operational capabilities to support sustainment of air and missile warning systems delivered by the Combatant Commanders Integrated Command and Control System (CCIC2S) program, and also captures required capabilities for NORAD’s new Maritime Warning mission.
   

Boeing Phantom Works UML Architecture Support
Architectures
Boeing
   

Beginning in late 2003, Serco was tasked to provide architectural support for Boeing’s Internal Research and Development (IRD) programs. Serco’s architecture team has provided Unified Modeling Language (UML) architecture support and architectural artifacts for several divisions within Boeing Phantom Works, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The wide diversity of projects included Facility Protection and Battlefield Situational Awareness models for Phantom Works Homeland Defense, Mobile Targeting and Effects Based Operations doctrinal process models for Boeing ForceNet and Integrated Defense Systems, system development support and requirements gap analysis models for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, staff business and process analysis models for planning tool application development for Boeing’s Navy customer, architectural model and Concept of Operations (CONOPS) development support to Apache and Chinook program engineers, business development model support for a coalition team bid against an Army Logistics and Sustainment Support Request for Proposal (RFP), JCIDS and DoDAF compliant architectural artifacts and documentation for current and new platform development for Derivative Aircraft Platform  within Advanced Platform Systems, and JCIDS and DoDAF compliant architectural artifacts and documentation as well as draft Concept of Operations/Concept of Employment (CONOPS/CONEMP) documents to help capture future requirements for Boeing Phantom Works Advanced Navy Strike platform development engineering teams.

The collaboration process facilitated by Serco’s architectural team (as well as the architectural artifacts created) provided Boeing system engineers with a clear and unambiguous understanding of their own, or their customer’s, requirements. The Serco Boeing Architectural Team provided unparalleled technical acumen and consistent, professional support since work first began in 2003. This work also provides a self-supporting business development effort. As more internal Boeing units are introduced to object-oriented UML-based methods and Serco’s efforts and products, more work has been generated each year to satisfy their growing technical architecture needs that are not being met by older methods and approaches.

Serco (then SI International) was recognized as the Supplier of the Year in the category of Technology by The Boeing Company for our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. The Boeing Supplier of the Year award is the company’s premier supplier honor, presented annually to its top suppliers in recognition of their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. Serco was one of only 11 suppliers selected for top honors in various commodity categories for their performance in 2006. These awardees were selected from a pool of more than 27,000 suppliers to Boeing from nearly 100 countries around the world. This selection was based on stringent performance criteria for quality, on-time delivery, cost, and customer satisfaction.

Serco’s Boeing Architecture Team has also received formal Letters of Commendation in 2004, 2005 and 2007 specifically acknowledging the outstanding contributions that were consistently made to the Boeing Internal Research and Development effort.
   

NORTHCOM J8 Homeland Defense and Civil Support Capabilities Based Assessment
HD&CS CBA
NORTHCOM
   

Serco is employing object-oriented methodology using the Unified Modeling Language to develop DODAF products (currently 134 OV-5s and 13 OV-6Cs) to support DOD's Homeland Defense and Civil Support (HD&CS) Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA). The EA contains 6 domains (Air/Space, Cyber, Mission Assurance, Maritime, Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and Land - Homeland Defense). The resultant EA also contains the previously JROC validated NORAD Homeland Air and Cruise Missile Defense Joint Capabilities Document (JCD) and Functional Solutions Analysis, and NORTHCOM Maritime Homeland Defense JCD into a single integrated architecture (supporting 10 JCIDS documents). The architecture CD also contains 13 2D scenario animations, one of SI's industry unique capabilities.
   

RF Adaptive Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Data Link
RAPID
Boeing
AFRL
   

Serco is employing object-oriented methodology using the Unified Modeling Language to develop DODAF-compliant products (including OV-5s, OV-6Cs, SV-4s and SV-10Cs) to support Boeing's development of a new high-speed ISR Data Link for the Air Force Research Laboratory. The RAPID Integrated Architecture (IA) serves as the framework for COTS hardware implementation and new software design supporting data link development, which will culminate in a final system demo to AFRL. The RAPID IA also serves as the framework for the Systems Concept Document (a document containing potential future applications of the RAPID Link) and the Systems Requirements Document (RAPID system requirements). The documents were "data-mined" directly from the RAPID IA, and the RAPID Architecture CD contains 2D visualizations of the Risk Reduction Demo and system component level process animations via SI's industry unique animation capability.
   

Transformational Satellite Communications System
TSAT
Air Force
   

Serco employs object-oriented techniques using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to design required operational capabilities for the global warfighter. The TSAT architecture products focus on top-level operational services to be provided by the program, especially emphasizing how the TSAT system will enable net-centric services to Global Information Grid (GIG) users. The architecture is a statement of future capability objectives for developing the TSAT system. It is used to manage development, structure design, and support testing and training associated with fielding and operating the system, as it is incrementally deployed. To these ends, the TSAT Architecture provides an overarching picture of the functions, operational relationships, and the information exchanges required to accomplish assigned TSAT missions. The integrated architecture is meant to be a living representation of the TSAT system, allowing for the efficient integration of new missions, new functions, and new technology. The architecture is intended to support the acquisition and test community, the user community, and other communities who may need to interface into the TSAT system. The architecture is constantly evolving due to changes in the mission areas, evolution of doctrine, and maturation of the TSAT and related systems.
   

Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals
FAB-T
Air Force
   

Serco is performing DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) compliant Unified Modeling Language (UML) to model an Enterprise Architecture (EA) for Headquarters Air Force Space Command (HQ AFSPC). The primary purposes of the EA is to communicate the usage and technical details of the FAB-T to other appropriate interested organizations and to support the certification of the Net Ready Key Performance Parameter (NR-KPP) of the FAB-T program. The EA supports an evolutionary acquisition approach to system architecture and design. The EA will evolve over the life of the program and serve additional purposes after program key decision points. Future uses include support to the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process, training development, operational planning and analysis, and testing.
   

Command and Control System – Consolidated
CCS-C
Air Force
   

Serco is performing DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) compliant Unified Modeling Language (UML) to model an Enterprise Architecture (EA) for The MILSATCOM Command and Control Squadron (MCCS). The EA documents the physical and virtual functionalities of the CCS-C.  It identifies CCS-C impacts on the operational organizations, identifies system interfaces and data transfer requirements, and serves as a tool to evaluate the CCS-C operational concepts against the actual system design.  The EA supports system design teams responsible for developing interfaces, hardware and software used in the CCS-C.  It also supports the acquisition of future C2 systems by leveraging what CCS-C can already provide determining development required to realize additional functionality.  Additionally, this EA supports budgetary decisions with respect to system design and operational and sustainment cost data. The EA will also serve as the reference that addresses the areas concerned with system design, system maintenance and system operation.
   

Global Positioning System
GPS
Air Force
   

Serco employs object-oriented techniques using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to model required systems to provide precise position, velocity and time (PVT) to the GPS User Segment. The GPS Architecture gives an overarching picture of the functions and the information exchanges required to accomplish assigned GPS missions.  The OA is meant to be a living representation of the GPS system, allowing for the efficient integration of new missions, new functions, and new technology.  The integrated views of the GPS architecture are intended to trace requirements generation and integration, evolutionary acquisition support (system design, development and test) and operational training.
   

Ground Multi-band Terminal
GMT
Air Force
   

Serco employs object-oriented techniques using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to model an Integrated Architecture, for Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) supporting acquisition of non-development item (NDI) deployable quad-band SATCOM terminals. The primary purposes of the Integrated Architecture is to communicate the usage and technical details of the GMT to other appropriate interested organizations and to support the certification of the Net-Ready Key Performance Parameter (NR-KPP) of the GMT program. The Integrated Architecture supports an evolutionary acquisition approach to system architecture and design. The Integrated Architecture will evolve over the life of the program and serve additional purposes after program Key Decision Points. Future uses may include support to the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process, training development, operational planning and analysis, and testing.
   

Enhanced Polar Satellite Communications System
EPS
Air Force
   

Serco is performing DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) compliant Unified Modeling Language (UML) to model an Enterprise Architecture (EA) for Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) reflecting current knowledge and projections of how EPS will be developed. The primary purposes of the EA is to communicate the usage and technical details of the EPS to other appropriate interested organizations and to support the certification of the Net Ready Key Performance Parameter (NR-KPP) of the EPS program. The EA supports an evolutionary acquisition approach to system architecture and design. The Integrated Architecture will evolve over the life of the program and serve additional purposes after program key decision points.  Future uses include support to the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process, training development, operational planning and analysis, and testing.


European Midcourse Radar System
EMR
Air Force
   

Serco employs object-oriented techniques using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to model desired EMR operational capabilities for providing track, discrimination, and hit-assessment data for the Ballistic Missile Defense European Capability to provide a defense of Europe against a limited intermediate and long range ballistic missile attack from the Middle East, and provide additional capability to the current missile defense system located in Alaska and California to defend the United States. The EA is meant to be a living representation of the EMR system throughout the development and production process, allowing for the efficient integration of new functions and new technology.  The integrated views of the architecture are intended to trace requirements generation and integration, evolutionary acquisition support (system design, development and test) and operational training.

[Bash Riprock]

Are these companies more or less the successors of the British East India Company?



Seems like they perform pretty much the same duties, just under a different name...

[Freeski]

Serco corporate video: (3 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo4_dF_Z1q0

85% of their workforce are ex government

they manage border security for 24 countries

they're into "Human Capital Management" (including prisons)

their buzzword is "Innovative Solutions" (for government) -- which is a code word for public-private pratnerships (P3s)

They're into everything from cybersecurity to driver licensing

[Cryptvill]

Interesting, never heard of it, but looking into it further. Thanks all for this topic.

[freedom_commonsense]

Already heard of Serco, didn't know their fingers were in so many pies though..

[PullMyFinger]

Are these companies more or less the successors of the British East India Company?



Seems like they perform pretty much the same duties, just under a different name...

As I was reading about them I was thinking the same thing.

[PTTurboe]

Anyone who can access British stocks?

Can't find major shareholder info for free...

[Freeski]

Are these companies more or less the successors of the British East India Company?



Seems like they perform pretty much the same duties, just under a different name...

Damn, researching the British East India Company has been on my to-do list for too many years... I guess it's time.

[TahoeBlue]

Anyone who can access British stocks?

Can't find major shareholder info for free...

http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=SRP:LN

http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/board.asp?ticker=SRP:LN

http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=748230&privcapId=22596236&previousCapId=877582&previousTitle=SERCO%20GROUP%20PLC
Thomas A. Corcoran Ph.D.    Return to SERCO GROUP PLC
President, Corcoran Enterprises, LLC

Dr. Thomas A. Corcoran is the President of Corcoran Enterprises, LLC since January 2001. He also served as a Senior Advisor at The Carlyle Group. Dr. Corcoran assisted the firm in developing strategy and identifying investments in the aerospace and defense sector. He focused on buyouts in United States. Dr. Corcoran was based at the firm’s office in Washington, DC.

Prior to joining The Carlyle Group, Dr. Corcoran served as the President and the Chief Executive Officer ... of Gemini Air Cargo from January 1, 2001 to March 2003, where he led a successful business restructuring. Before Gemini, he was also the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of Allegheny Technologies Inc. from September 1999 until December 2000.

Prior to that, Dr. Corcoran was the President and the Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin’s Electronics Sector from October 1998 until September 1999. From March 1995 to October 1998, he served as the President and the Chief Operating Officer of the electronics sector of Lockheed Martin Corp.

Prior to the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta Corporation, Dr. Corcoran was the President of the Electronics Group of Martin Marietta, a position he assumed in 1993 following the sale of GE Aerospace to Martin Marietta.

He began his career in 1967 at General Electric Company where held various senior management positions.

Director
Rockwell Collins Satellite Communications Systems, Inc.

1997-Present
Independent Director, Chairman of Audit Committee and Member of Executive Committee
L-3 Communications Holdings Inc.

2003-Present
Former Director, Chairman of Compensation and Stock Option Committee and Member of Audit Committee
United Industrial Corporation

2007-Present
Non-Executive Director, Member of Audit Committee, Member of Nomination Committee, Member of Remuneration Committee and Member of Training & Development Committee
Serco Group plc

2007-Present
Chairman of the Board
Hi-G-Tek Ltd.

2008-Present
Director, Member of Chief Executive Officer Search Committee and Member of Organization & Compensation Committee
GenCorp Inc.


ALFRED Loomis - Radars (LORAN inventor) - RAND connection:
Origins of RAND - Tuxedo Park - Alfred Lee Loomis


http://www.serco.com/media/pressreleases/newradartechnology.asp
New radar will lead to greater use of offshore wind energy
Date : 08 April 2010

Serco is leading a new partnership to help government achieve its climate change commitments through the greater use of the UK's sizable offshore wind energy resources.

Serco, together with its partner Lockheed Martin, has reached agreement with the Ministry of Defence to introduce new radar technology into the UK Air Defence System that is resistant to the interference generated from wind farms, removing a significant planning obstacle to the roll out of future off shore wind power.  This business will be worth around £20m over two years.

[TahoeBlue]

More on the Alfred Loomis - RADAR - SERCO connection:

http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hsdept/bios/docs/shapin_LRBTuxedoPark.pdf
Talking with Alfred - Steven Shapin
...
He [Alfred Loomis] wanted to be, if not a physicist himself, then at least well thought of by physical scientists and of use to their researches. Impressed by Lord Rayleigh’s country-house laboratory at Terling Place in Essex...

Who was Lord Rayleigh ?

http://rsnr.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/55/1/147.full.pdf

ABSTRACTS FROM THE CENTENARY MEETING OF THE  NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY, 7 NOVEMBER 2000
...
One consequence of the First World War was to highlight the role of science and technology in national life. A 1915 White Paper on a ‘Scheme for Organisation and Development of Scientific and Industrial Research’ led quickly to the creation of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (the DSIR), the precursor of today’s Research Councils. A high-level 1916 Committee on the Neglect of Science hammered away at the need to reform education and make science more widely accessible.

The Committee was chaired by Lord Rayleigh, a Past President of The Royal Society.

He had been the Chairman of the Treasury Committee that had approved the establishment of the NPL, and then first Chairman of the NPL Executive Committee. Other initiatives built on these and on the experience of responding to wartime demands to give science and technology a higher profile than ever before.

What is the NPL?

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) attained its centenary in 2000 and that was
the occasion for a meeting in The Royal Society on 7 November 2000.
...
Then I should mention the adaptability of the scientists at NPL: aircraft design in the First World War, radar in the Second.
...
High-calibre scientists will be attracted to work in interesting and challenging areas, with significant new investment in facilities. Career opportunities are also enhanced by the successful Government-Owned-Contractor-Operated (GOCO) model practised successfully for five years by the DTI, NPL and Serco Group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Physical_Laboratory_(United_Kingdom)
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the national measurement standards laboratory for the United Kingdom, based at Bushy Park in Teddington, London, England. It is the largest applied physics organisation in the UK.

Managed by Serco

http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-3-10-1125
The Rayleighs and the National Physical Laboratory

Lord Rayleigh's  John W. Strutt and son Robert J. Strutt  ... His Son Robert Strutt was chairman of the NPL 1932-1939

http://www.springerlink.com/content/v3374j3h87p64460/
Secrets among Friends: The Research Information Service and the "Special Relationship" in Allied Scientific Information and Intelligence, 1916-1918

on radar, infrared signalling and optical devices, and helped found the. Radiation Laboratory at MIT. .... There he met Rayleigh's son, Robert Strutt, FRS

http://www.npl.co.uk/about/npls-role/managing-npl

Managing NPL
NPL is currently a Government Owned-Contractor Operated (GOCO) organisation. The UK Government own the assets and intellect but the organisation is run on a day-to-day basis, on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), by NPL Management Limited, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Serco Group plc

Serco undertake the management and operations of national assets delivering government-contracted work of critical importance to the UK economy and the quality of our lives. As well as NPL, Serco currently manage the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) - in a consortium - and the Joint Services Command and Staff College.

[TahoeBlue]

If you think Serco is just a UK thing,,, think again Serco-NA (North America)

http://www.serco-na.com/

Serco Inc. 1818 Library Street, Suite 1000, Reston VA 20190

Serco Inc. is a leading provider of professional, technology, and management services focused on the federal government. Our customer-first approach, robust portfolio of services, and global experience enable us to respond with innovative solutions that achieve outcomes that matter. Serco Inc. is part of an international service company with employees around the world. To read more about our parent company, Serco Group plc

Serco established its North American foothold in 1988 when it was incorporated, acquiring companies that shared a similar vision of transforming how public services are delivered.

In 2005, Serco acquired Resource Consultants Inc. (RCI), which expanded its capabilities in IT services, systems engineering, strategic consulting and HR-focused business process management.  

Then, in 2008 Serco acquired SI International, further broadening its capabilities in IT and professional services in North America and gaining new federal government and DoD relationships.
 
Serco now employs more than 11,500 people in over 100 locations across North America. 

The company delivers essential information technology and management services to all branches of the U.S. military, federal civilian agencies, state and local agencies, and commercial customers. 

Serco has access to over 200 contracts with capabilities in the areas of National Security & Intelligence, IT & Professional Services, Human Capital Management and Engineering & Logistics.   


http://www.serco.com/

http://ea.serco-na.com/WhitePapers/CBAOverview.htm
Homeland Defense/Civil Support Capabilities Based Assessment Overview
by Guy Varland, Architecture Project Lead

The Homeland Defense/Civil Support (HD/CS) Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) was a 14-month analytical effort that examined DOD Homeland Defense and Civil Support (CS)/Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions (along with related Mission Assurance activities) in the 2012-2025 timeframe with primary focus on 2014-2016. The goal of the effort was to identify DOD HD/CS capability demands, determine capability gaps, and develop recommendations for actions the Department should take to address the identified capability gaps.

Guy Varland (Serco Inc.) served as the contractor lead architect to develop the USNORTHCOM HD/CS CBA Architecture. His additional homeland defense EA initiatives over the past six years include the NORAD Homeland Air and Cruise Missile Defense and USNORTHCOM Maritime Homeland Defense CBAs. Additionally, Mr. Varland has supported two Coast Guard EA efforts, a new high-speed ISR data link for the Air Force Research Laboratory and Global Strike EA initiatives for the AF's Electronic Systems Center. He is a retired Naval Aviator (F/A-18s) with two command tours, over 5,000 flight hours and combat experience in Iraq, Kosovo and Libya