academi

Academi is a private security and risk management company that provides protective security, training, and related services to government, corporate, and NGO clients worldwide. The firm traces its lineage to Blackwater, a private security contractor founded in 1997 by Erik Prince in Moyock, North Carolina, which grew into one of the largest contractors for the U.S. government in conflict zones.

In 2009 the company renamed itself Xe Services LLC, and in 2011 adopted the name Academi. In 2014, Academi and other security businesses formed Constellis Holdings, LLC, with Academi operating as a subsidiary within the larger group. The combined enterprise focuses on protective services, risk assessment, training, and related security support across multiple regions, including North America, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Academi and its predecessor entities have been the subject of controversy and legal scrutiny, most notably the Nisour Square incident in Baghdad in 2007, in which Iraqi civilians were killed in a security convoy operated by Blackwater. The incident prompted investigations, indictments, and subsequent legal actions that drew ongoing attention to the role and accountability of private security contractors in armed conflicts and post-war environments.

Today, Academi emphasizes compliance with applicable laws and regulations, ethical standards, and professional training as part of its offerings and operations within the Constellis framework.