Xe Services (formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide), a private sector solutions provider to the U.S. government, has appointed Clifford Chance partner, Wendy Wysong, as external special compliance officer for a period of three years. Her appointment is pursuant to a Consent Agreement XE reached with the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

The company reached a $42 million settlement with the DDTC in August for committing 288 violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), while providing services in support of U.S. government programs and military operations abroad between 2003 and 2009. According to the charges, XE is guilty of, among other things, bribing government officials, kidnapping, prostitution, tax evasion, weapons stockpiling, recruiting death squad paramilitary personnel from Latin America and defrauding U.S. taxpayers.

It's no wonder Wysong was brought on board. As special compliance officer, she will be responsible for monitoring Xe's ITAR compliance program, policies, and procedures; overseeing a variety of compliance activities, including internal ITAR audits; and tracking, evaluating, and reporting to DDTC the status of Xe's compliance with the Consent Agreement, including any findings or recommendations necessary to ensure strict compliance with the ITAR.

Wysong has been a partner at Clifford Chance for three years, following her term as the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry & Security.