October 19, 2018
root9b
Attn: General Counsel’s Office
102 North Cascade Ave., Suite 220
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Dear General Counsel of root9b:
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 root9b, 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 root9b 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 root9b. POGO is also interested in
any related ethics opinions issued for current or former root9b 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 root9b, 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: Brigadier General Kevin B. Wooton (USAF Ret.)
Approximate Date Joined root9b: September 28, 2015
Synopsis: Brigadier General Kevin B. Wooton (USAF Ret.) was Principal Deputy
Director, Integrated Air, Space, Cyberspace, and ISR Operations, Headquarters Air
Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The directorate
executes an annual operations and maintenance budget of $1 billion and is
responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Air Force Space Command units.
After he retired in 2015 he joined Pentagon contractor root9b's advisory board. The
company’s work with the Department of Defense included providing cyber security
services. "The root9B team consists of expert cyber operators who honed their craft in
the U.S. Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community," the company says
on its website. In the official press release the company's CEO said General Wooton
would add to the company's "amazing collection of expertise and cyber talent, as well
as unparalleled commercial cyber systems and capabilities."
Documents to Include:
http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108821/brigadier-generalkevin-b-wooton/
https://www.root9b.com/markets
https://www.root9b.com/newsroom/generals-hill-hawkins-wooton-join-root9badvisory-board
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/root9b-awarded-department-of-defenseand-critical-infrastructure-contracts-300347194.html
2. Individual: Lieutenant General Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. (USAF Ret.)
Approximate Date Joined root9b: September 28, 2015
Synopsis: Lieutenant General Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. (USAF Ret.) was Director,
Defense Information Systems Agency and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters –
Department of Defense Information Networks (DODIN), Fort Meade, retiring in
2015. Later that year he joined Pentagon contractor root9b's advisory board. "The
root9B team consists of expert cyber operators who honed their craft in the U.S.
Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community," the company says on its
website. In the official press release the company's CEO said General Hawkins would
add to the company's "amazing collection of expertise and cyber talent, as well as
unparalleled commercial cyber systems and capabilities." The company’s work with
the Department of Defense included providing cyber security services.
Documents to Include:
http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/104826/lieutenant-generalronnie-d-hawkins-jr/
https://www.root9b.com/markets
https://www.root9b.com/newsroom/generals-hill-hawkins-wooton-join-root9badvisory-board
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 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/root9b-awarded-department-of-defenseand-critical-infrastructure-contracts-300347194.html
3. Individual: Rear Admiral Thomas H. "Hank" Bond Jr. (USN Ret.)
Approximate Date Joined root9b: November 3, 2014
Synopsis: Rear Admiral Thomas H. "Hank" Bond Jr. (USN Ret.) was the director of
Cyberspace Operations at NORAD/US NORTHCOM, retiring in 2014. Later that
year he became a senior Vice President for root9b. The company’s work with the
Department of Defense included providing cyber security services. In an official press
release the company's Chief Executive Officer said he would be "a valuable asset."
Documents to Include:
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio_ret.asp?bioID=607
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rear-admiral-hank-bond-joins-root9b280623012.html
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/root9b-awarded-department-of-defenseand-critical-infrastructure-contracts-300347194.html

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