International Stability Operations Association

The International Stability Operations Association (ISOA), formerly known as the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA), is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association. Founded in April 2001, IPOA was created to support the private military industry and is based in Washington, D.C.. The ISOA incorporates disaster relief into the organization's mission.

Contents 1 Leadership 1.1 Board of directors 2 Initiative 3 Official Mission Statement and Code of Conduct 3.1 Mission Statement 3.2 Code of Conduct 4 Blackwater 5 Name change 6 Members 7 References 8 External links

Leadership

Board of directors

ISOA is governed by the seven-member Board of Directors, composed of representatives elected from among the ISOA Membership every fall. The Board is responsible for brainstorming, discussing and approving important ISOA initiatives, strategic direction and communications, internal directives such as the annual budget, etc.

a/o 5 Aug 2011; ^[1]

• Mark DeWitt, Triple Canopy, chair
• Laura Engelbrecht, New Century U.S., vice chair
• Christopher Taylor, Mission Essential Personnel, deputy vice chair)
• Thomas Callahan, PAE, Inc
• Jeffrey Grieco, IRD
• Graham Kerr, Hart
• William Imbrie, DynCorp International

ISOA's staff includes president and founder Doug Brooks,^[2] manager of operations Jessica Vogel, business development manager Melissa Sabin, and others.^[3] Former Director J.J. Messner (IPOA from 2006-2010; founder and editor-in-chief for four years of the Journal of International Peace Operations) is now at The Fund for Peace.^[4]

Initiative

IPOA sponsored a conference in March 2010 centered on the Haiti reconstruction effort.^[5] It enabled private military companies to met with government and NGO entities in need of services.^[6] President Doug Brooks commented, "When the policies come down and the money starts flowing for the reconstruction, we'll be ready to go."^[7]

Official Mission Statement and Code of Conduct

Mission Statement

a/o 5 Aug 2011; ^[8] unchanged since 2009

• To promote high operational and ethical standards of firms active in the peace and stability operations industry;
• To engage in a constructive dialogue and advocacy with policy-makers about the growing and positive contribution of these firms to the enhancement of international peace, development and human security;
• To provides unique networking and business development opportunities for its member companies; and
• To inform the concerned public about the activities and role of the industry.

Code of Conduct

• The following paragraph comes from the ISOA webpage a/o 5 Aug 2011^[9]

All ISOA member companies subscribe to the ISOA Code of Conduct, which represents a constructive effort towards better regulating private sector operations in conflict and post-conflict environments and disaster relief. It reflects our belief that high standards will both benefit the industry and serve the greater causes of peace, development, and human security. Version 12 Adopted February 11, 2009

ISOA was accepting comments for revision of the ISOA Code of Conduct until 29 July 2011.

The full Code of Conduct, in English and other languages, is available at the webpage.

• The following paragraph from the 2009-updated Wikipedia article appears in slightly different form on the ISOA Code of Conduct webpage a/o 5 Aug 2011; see above; phrases which vary are highlighted; "disaster relief" is added above:

All member companies subscribe to the IPOA Code of Conduct, towards better regulating private sector operations in conflict and post-conflict environments. IPOA promotes high standards with intentions both to benefit the industry and to serve the greater causes of peace, development, and human security.

• The following paragraph from the 2009-updated Wikipedia article does not appear on the ISOA Code of Conduct webpage a/o 5 Aug 2011:

IPOA states its commitment to raising the standards of peace and stability operations, to ensure sound and ethical professionalism and transparency in the conduct of peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction activities.

Blackwater

The military services contractor Blackwater Worldwide (now Xe) was a member of IPOA until October 2007.^[10] Their departure from the private military industry group occurred before an IPOA investigation^[11] after alleged incidents involving Blackwater in Iraq.

Name change

IPOA became ISOA in October, 2010, "to better reflect the broad industry that provides vital services and support to the international community in conflict, post-conflict and disaster relief operations."^[12]

Certain webpages -- for example this 2011 internship posting^[13], and the organization Privacy statement^[14] -- have continued to use an ipoaworld.org web address. The Privacy page continues to use the "IPOA" acronym as well, though the page is headed "International Stability Operations Association".^[14]

Members

"ISOA members are signatories to the ISOA Code of Conduct, demonstrating their commitment to raising the standards for the stability operations industry worldwide."

Full Members

a/o 5 Aug 2011^[15]

* = new since 2009

Former members

Names in 23 Oct 2009 list and not in 2011 list; if name was not a match on 2011 list, then moved here from Current Members 5 Aug 2011^[16]

References

1. ^ "Board of Directors", ISOA webpage. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
2. ^ "About ISOA: History of ISOA", ISOA webpage. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
3. ^ "Headquarters Staff", ISOA webpage. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
4. ^ "J. J. Messner, Senior Associate", Fund for Peace webpage. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
5. ^ http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Rebuilding-Haiti-Getting-Down-to-Business-87295137.html
6. ^ "haiti-summit-under-way.html", www.miamiherald.com, 2010/03/10. Dead link, deconstructed.
7. ^ "Private Sector To Participate In Haiti Reconstruction", Benzinga.com, March 10, 2010 9:19 PM.
8. ^ "Current Members", ISOA webpage. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
9. ^ "About ISOA: ISOA Code of Conduct", ISOA webpage. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
10. ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119207104012555696.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
11. ^ http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2007/11/ipoa-smackdown-dyncorp-vs-blackwater
12. ^ "International Stability Operations Association: The New Name For IPOA", aprodex: Asset Protection Index, 22/10/2010. Retrieved 2011-08-5.
13. ^ "Internship Announcement: Summer 2011 ISOA Associate Program", ipoaworld.org webpage. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
14. ^ ^{a b} "Privacy", ipoaworld.org webpage. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
15. ^ "Current Members", ISOA webpage. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
16. ^ 23 Oct 2009 list from the http://ipoaworld.org/eng/ipoamembers.html; old IPOA official site; page no longer available 2011-08-05.

External links

• Description of IPOA on Conflict Resolution Information Source
• Article on IPOA on Sourcewatch
• Journal of International Peace Operations