Reston federal contractor acquires Md. IT company

EverWatch buys BrainTrust Holdings

Published August 4, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Reston-based government contractor EverWatch (which operates under private investment firm Enlightenment Capital) announced Monday it has acquired Columbia, Maryland-based information technology contractor BrainTrust Holdings.

A transaction amount was not disclosed, but this marks EverWatch’s seventh and largest acquisition, according to a statement from Chevy Chase, Maryland-based Enlightenment Capital, which provides financial backing for EverWatch.

EverWatch provides intelligence, defense and deployed mission solutions for national security agencies, while BrainTrust provides technology solutions to intelligence and defense communities.

“The addition of BrainTrust enables EverWatch to continue to aggressively pursue our strategy of combining innovative technical capabilities with the infrastructure and reach of a mid‐tier player,” EverWatch Chairman Jason Rigoli, partner at Enlightenment Capital, said in a statement. “Bob Kiffney and his team are true professionals who have built an outstanding business that has a proven ability to deliver to its national security customers, and they are a perfect addition to the EverWatch family.” Kiffney is BrainTrust’s president and CEO.

The acquisition will allow EverWatch to enhance its technical capabilities and mission expertise, EverWatch Chief Growth Officer Fred Funk said in a statement. Under the acquisition, BrainTrust senior management and founders will merge with EverWatch’s current business unit. Funk will lead the merged unit in Columbia, Maryland, to help the company pursue mission critical programs and grow business in the intelligence sector.

“In this current environment of either a few very large companies or thousands of small companies, our government customers are looking for fully capable mid-sized prime contractors to help them with their most critical missions,” EverWatch CEO John Hillen said in a statement. “The partnership with BrainTrust and its talented team positions EverWatch with over 500 dedicated national security professionals, committed to delivering technology solutions across the defense and intelligence sector.”

EverWatch currently employs 400 people who provide services to intelligence clients including the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, the Intelligence Community, the Air Force, the Department of State and the Department of Justice.