Akal Security
 | |
| Founder |
Daya S. Khalsa Gurutej Khalsa |
|---|---|
| Headquarters |
7 Infinity Loop Espanola, NM, United States |
Key people |
Nirmal Kaur Khalsa (CEO) Daya S. Khalsa (President and founder) |
Number of employees | 12,000[1] |
| Subsidiaries | Coastal International Security |
| Website |
www |
Akal Security, Inc. is a security company which has federal contracts to guard immigration detention centers, federal courthouses, NASA facilities, federal buildings in Washington, D.C., and numerous embassies under construction.[2] Akal Security and a subsidiary company, Coastal International Security, have received over $1 billion in federal security contracts.[2]
History
Akal Security, Inc. was founded in 1980 after Gurutej Khalsa, an American convert to Sikhism, found that, although he had extensive experience in law enforcement, "his beard and turban prevented him from getting a job".[1] The company was started with a $1,200 loan from one of its founders.[3] Akal Security is one of a number of companies run by followers of the Sikh Dharma sangat.[1]
Akal Security had a large expansion in contracts after the September 11th attacks because it was able to recruit a large number of former law enforcement and military personnel.[4] According to the New York Times, the company has benefited from the Army's low-price approach to determining contracts because Akal Security has low overhead and good past performances.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Wayne, Leslie (September 28, 2004). "Sikh Group Finds Calling in Homeland Security". New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
- 1 2 "American Sikhs Run Billion-Dollar Security Firm : NPR". NPR. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ↑ "Company History". Akal Security. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
- ↑ Robinson, Sherry (October 15, 2001). "Akal Security finds itself in hiring mode". The Albuquerque Tribune. p. 7.