October 19, 2018
COLSA Corporation
Attn: General Counsel’s Office
6728 Odyssey Dr NW
Huntsville, AL 35806
Dear General Counsel of COLSA Corporation:
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is creating a Department of Defense Revolving
Door Database on its website (pogo.org), which compiles information from public resources
regarding former senior Department of Defense officials and military officers who went on to
work for government contractors, including COLSA Corporation, from 2008 to the present. The
database is an attempt to track individuals when they leave the Department of Defense, and
inclusion in the database doesn’t represent anything illegal or a violation of ethics rules. I have
enclosed the findings relevant to COLSA Corporation and am requesting verification or
refutation of the data from you.
Any response would be greatly appreciated, as the accuracy of this information is in the best
interest of all parties. When a precise start date was not publicly available POGO chose the first
day of the month the employee said they began working for COLSA Corporation. POGO is also
interested in any related ethics opinions issued for current or former COLSA Corporation
personnel in compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008,
Public Law 110-181, Sec. 847 and certifications of compliance as required by Defense Federal
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) subpart 252.203-7005; 41 U.S.C. § 2105(c). Out
of fairness to COLSA Corporation, please be assured that any response received by POGO will
be posted on the website along with the data if you so choose.
If you have any questions, I can be reached at (202) 347-1122 or msmithberger@pogo.org.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mandy Smithberger
Director, Center for Defense Information

 Enclosure
Revolving Door Instances
1. Individual: Barry Gosnell
Approximate Date Joined COLSA Corporation: August 1, 2013
Synopsis: According to his official company bio, Barry Gosnell retired as Deputy
Director of the Software Engineering Directorate of the Aviation and Missile
Research, Development, and Engineering Center in 2013 and became the Director of
Software Programs for Pentagon contractor COLSA Corporation later that year.
According to its website, the company provides support to a number of Pentagon
agencies, including the Missile Defense Agency, the Army, Air Force, and the Navy.
USASpending data shows the company received $129 million in Department of
Defense contracts in 2013. Gosnell is one of the company's leads for government
business.
Documents to Include:
http://www.colsa.com/gosnell.html
http://www.colsa.com/index.html
https://washingtontechnology.com/toplists/top-100-lists/2017/colsa.aspx
https://www.usaspending.gov/#/search/b7db1da42000192aeb11cc24a1e52f6d
2. Individual: Cathy Dickens
Approximate Date Joined COLSA Corporation: July 1, 2015
Synopsis: Cathy Dickens was the Deputy Commander of US Army Aviation and
Missile Command (AMCOM), Redstone Arsenal. In her government position she
managed an organization with an annual budget of over $18 billion. She retired in
2015 and became Vice President of Business Management for defense contractor
COLSA Corporation. According to her official biography, Ms. Dickens "is
responsible for providing executive leadership and oversight in the financial, human
resources, contracting, subcontracting and pricing functions." COLSA Corporation
received $75 million in Department of Defense contracts performed in Alabama in
2015.
Documents to Include:
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/i_did_my_best_at_whatever_job.html
http://www.colsa.com/cdickens.html
https://www.usaspending.gov/#/search/837fe45deefba082217b301df750bbeb
3. Individual: Phil Hodges
Approximate Date Joined COLSA Corporation: March 1, 2009
Synopsis: According to an official biography, Phil Hodges was Associate Director for
Aviation and Missile Systems at Aviation and Missile R&D Center (AMRDEC),
where he helped administer an annual budget of $1.7 billion. He left in 2009 and
joined defense contractor COLSA Corporation as Vice President for Army and
NASA Programs later that year. According to his official biography, "[h]e interfaces
routinely with top Army and NASA leadership at Redstone Arsenal and other
locations nationally. Much of his work involves Business Development, Capture, and
2

 Proposal Preparation in pursuit of new DoD and NASA opportunities." When he
joined the company in 2009 COLSA received $62 million in Department of Defense
contracts. In fiscal year 2017 COLSA had nearly $200 million.
Documents to Include:
http://www.colsa.com/phodges.html
https://www.usaspending.gov/#/search/b7db1da42000192aeb11cc24a1e52f6d
4. Individual: Thomas R. Berard
Approximate Date Joined COLSA Corporation: January 1, 2012
Synopsis: Thomas R. Berard was the Executive Director for the Air Force Flight Test
Center at Edwards Air Force Base, where he was responsible management and
program execution. He retired in 2011. According to his Linkedin profile he became
the Director of Business Development for West Coast Operations for COLSA
Corporation the next year. According to their website, COLSA Corporation provides
test and evaluation support for the Air Force Test Center.
Documents to Include:
http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108377/thomas-r-berard/
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4575917-Thomas-Berard-LinkedIn-6-2618.html
http://www.colsa.com/oasis

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