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Akal Security

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Akal Security, Inc.
FounderDaya S. Khalsa
Gurutej Khalsa
Headquarters
7 Infinity Loop
Espanola, NM
,
Key people
Nirmal Kaur Khalsa
(CEO)
Daya S. Khalsa
(President and founder)
Number of employees
12,000[1]
SubsidiariesCoastal International Security
Websitewww.akalsecurity.com

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] Akal Security is one of a number of companies owned and operated by the 3HO Sikh sangat, founded by Yogi Bhajan.[1]

History

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Akal Security, Inc. was founded in 1980 by Gurutej Khalsa, who found that, though he had studied law enforcement, "his beard and turban prevented him from getting a job".[1] At the advice of Yogi Bhajan, Gurutej Khalsa started the company with a $1,200 loan from co-founder Daya Singh Khalsa.[3]

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

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  1. ^ a b c d Wayne, Leslie (September 28, 2004). "Sikh Group Finds Calling in Homeland Security". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b "American Sikhs Run Billion-Dollar Security Firm : NPR". NPR. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Company History". Akal Security. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  4. ^ Robinson, Sherry (October 15, 2001). "Akal Security finds itself in hiring mode". The Albuquerque Tribune. p. 7.
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