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Company News
(OCT 2011) Watermark wins four (4) new contracts to develop and Instruct four graduate-level courses with the Defense Security Service Academy (DSS).
The Defense Security Service Academy, Center for the Development of Security Education, has awarded Watermark four new contracts. This gives Watermark five of the six graduate-level courses in the DSS Center for the Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) Education Division new program to expand the educational opportunities for DoD security professionals.
We will develop a distance learning course entitled the “Organizational Considerations in Applying Security within the Federal and DoD Bureaucracy”. This course will identify the organizational structure of the U.S. Department of Defense including the military services and Agencies; identify and describe the offices within the Department of Defense and military services that have significant roles related to security and describe the mission, jurisdiction and limitations of each of these offices; discuss how security professionals support military operations; identify elements within the Federal Government which have significant security-related roles and discuss the mission, jurisdiction and limitations of each of these agencies. The second distance learning course covers “The Statutory, Legal and Regulatory basis of DoD Security Programs.” This course will develop the students’ ability to use this knowledge to become more effective as security leaders in the DoD. The course will include information on the Federal statutes, Executive Orders, Federal Regulations, DoD Directives and other documents upon which DoD security programs and practices are based. This course will provide an in-depth understanding of the statutory, legal and regulatory basis of and requirements for security. Another distance learning course will be “Security as an Integral Part of DoD Programs” and is intended for DoD civilian, military, and contractor personnel who perform security leadership and management duties. This course is a comprehensive study of Defense Security as a cross-disciplinary function that supports the missions of DoD commands and agencies. This course will address DoD security as a profession and reviews the scope of the security-essential body of work; provide a strategic perspective on the function of security across disciplines and DoD organizations, establishing a foundation for other core courses in the CDSE Education Division’s graduate program; and, address the emerging role of the multidisciplinary security generalist as a career path. This final distance learning course is “Understanding Adversaries and Threats to the United States and to the Department of Defense”. The course objectives include identifying foreign intelligence collection and methods; explore specific cases of espionage against the United States; compare and contrast threat sources and associated security implications; methods and resources for requesting threat assessments, conducting threat assessments, developing strategies for insider threats and mitigation and discussing 21st -century trends in threats to the United States and the DoD. (SEP 2011) FAIRFAX, Virginia - Join us at these upcoming events this fall: Amy Hutchens will be leading an Advanced Discussion Group on Compliance Education at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics annual Compliance and Ethics Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada. In October, Amy will be presenting two programs at the Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado: “Best Practices in Reporting to Your Board on Compliance and Ethics,” and “Wearing Two Hats: Compliance Officer and Counsel” – and be on the lookout for her article by the same title in the November Association of Corporate Counsel Docket. In November, Amy will be presenting a program on “Demystifying the Compliance and Ethics Requirements of the FAR: Setting Your Company Up for Success” at the National Contract Management Association Government Contracts Management Conference in Bethesda, MD.
(AUG 2011) Integrated Defense Risk Management Plan Assessment and Integrated Defense Plan Development.
Watermark has been competitively awarded a follow on contract to the earlier Columbus AFB IDRMP contract to develop the integrated defense master plans for four additional installations in the San Antonio Texas region.
(JUL 2011) Energy Conference Security Planning and Management.
Watermark received a contract to conduct a risk assessment for a large annual conference for a major energy association. Watermark will conduct a threat/risk assessment, develop a conference security plan, develop the requirements for conference security guards and assist the association with vetting and hiring guard and emergency services companies, coordinating with federal agencies and local police, planning for VIP security, and operating the security command center during the conference.
(JUN 2011) Hampton Roads Planning District Commission – Water System Assessment and Plan and Emergency Response Training Proposal.
Watermark has been awarded a prime contract to lead a team of water engineers, security professionals and risk management experts to conduct a regional water risk assessment for the Norfolk/Hampton Roads area and then develop a regional risk mitigation plan. Working with almost 60 public and private utilities and 15 regional emergency management agencies, we are analyzing their interdependencies and gaps and developing strategies and initiatives to fill those gaps and reduce regional risks. At the conclusion of the plan development, the Watermark Team including CNA and CH2M Hill, will exercise the plan through a series of tabletop exercise that are DHS HSEEP compliant.
(APR 2011) Support to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Combat Support and Nuclear Support Directorates of the DTRA Operations Enterprise.
Watermark is a member of TASC, Inc’s Team that has been awarded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency a contract to provide advisory assistance services to the Combat Support and Nuclear Support Directorates. The single award contract IDIQ contract to TASC, Inc. is valued at $97 million over five years. Watermark will provide technical support to the Joint Staff Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Branch, the Nuclear Exercise Branch, the DTRA Liaison Office at USSTRATCOM in Omaha and the Defense Threat Reduction University at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
(MAR 2011) FAIRFAX, Virginia - Watermark Risk Management International, LLC, a leading provider of security and risk management consulting services, is proud to announce Kerry Carfagno was selected as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Combat Support Division Contractor of the Quarter for Jan-Mar 2011. In the attached photo Matt Branigan, President of Watermark and Brad Moffett, Vice President are presenting her with the certificate and a performance bonus in a ceremony at TASC, Watermark’s prime contractor for the DTRA support contract.
.jpg) (FEB 2011) Watermark Risk Management International, LLC is proud to announce that Kurt Klingenberger, our Vice President for Risk Management Services, was recently certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as a Master Professional Continuity Practitioner. This two-level FEMA program trains and certifies individuals to conduct continuity of operations planning, or COOP, for government agencies at all levels. In addition to experience, the certification requirement includes a significant number of courses, exercises, practice teaching sessions, and testing. Kurt is one of the first 30 individuals in the nation to achieve the highest level of certification. As a Master Professional Continuity Planner, he is now ideally suited to further assist businesses in their continuity planning, governments in their COOP programs, and his own local business community as a volunteer
(FEB 2011) FAIFAX, Virginia, February 2, 2011 - Watermark Risk Management International, LLC., a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned business, announced that it is collaborating with DuPont Sustainable Solutions to provide blended learning solutions for Watermark’s customized code of conduct services. Through this association, Watermark, a leading provider of security and risk management consulting, will advise organizations in developing a new or updating an existing code of conduct, and DuPont Sustainable Solutions will provide the training support and technology to help employees understand and implement the code.
“We assist clients with some of their most significant challenges—security and risk,” said Watermark President Matt Branigan. “Ethics and compliance are critical components of the risk equation, and failure or even weakness in a program can be devastating. It isn’t enough to just publish a Code of Conduct – employees need to know how it applies to them in their day-to-day work activities. DuPont Sustainable Solutions is an innovator in the ethics and compliance learning space, and we admire their work. This collaboration takes us quickly to the next level in service for our clients, as we can now offer a comprehensive solution.”
Watermark offers full-spectrum consulting on corporate compliance and ethics programs including program infrastructure, strategic planning, investigations, policies and procedures, training, monitoring and auditing. Under the agreement with DuPont Sustainable Solutions, Watermark consultants will work with client organizations to develop and implement a values-based written code of conduct. These services will be enhanced by DuPont Sustainable Solutions’ customized code of conduct training and ethics solutions that draw on its library of more than 300 courses covering topics such as social media, ethical behavior, FCPA, workplace harassment, antitrust and customized codes of conduct.
“We are enthusiastic about working with Watermark, whose code of conduct services complement our offerings in this area,” said Thomas J. Faughnan, chief operating officer – DuPont Sustainable Solutions, Training Solutions. “Federal sentencing guidelines clearly state the necessity of an effective ethics and compliance program that includes standards of conduct that define ethical behavior. Watermark combines real-world experience with the personal attention required to develop, re-write or update a best-in-class code.”
DuPont Sustainable Solutions, one of DuPont’s 13 business groups, is an integrated, global services and technology delivery business. Their offerings are combined into four practice areas: Safety Resources, Sustainable Operations, Training Solutions (www.coastal.com) and Clean Technologies. Their training solutions have been used by more than 190,000 employee development professionals in 129 countries to help transfer knowledge and sustain business competitiveness.
Watermark Risk Management International, LLC provides executive level support to government corporate and private clients across the risk management spectrum, to include critical infrastructure protection, ethics and compliance, business continuity and alternatives analysis. Learn more about Watermark at www.wrmi-llc.com.
(DEC 2010) Support to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Joint Staff Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Brach.
Under subcontract to TASC, Watermark will be providing technical support including editing and writing of the JSIVA reports for DTRA.
(OCT 2010) IDRMP Assessment at Columbus AFB, MS.
Watermark has been awarded a contract by Headquarters AETC to develop an Integrated Defense Risk Management Plan Assessment and Integrated Defense Plan. Watermark will be conducting a site survey and risk assessment of Columbus AFB in Phase 1 of the project and will submit a risk assessment report. In Phase 2, Watermark will be developing an Integrated Defense Plans (IDP) that combines the Integrated Defense (ID) and Anti-Terrorism (AT) Plans as well as a wide range of emergency response plans into a single 600+ page master planning document. This plan is going to be the first comprehensive effort to complete an IDP under the new requirements laid out in AFI 31-101 Integrated Defense.
(SEP 2010) AT/FP Support to Headquarters Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC).
Watermark has been awarded a subcontract by Flaherty Technical Services to support the Antiterrorism Office at Headquarters Army SDDC. Watermark staff will provide assistance in the analysis of Command threats and vulnerabilities at more than 30 locations, review and revise as necessary Command security policy and plans, and monitor overall unit security operations performance.
(AUG 2010) FAIRFAX, Virginia, August 1, 2010 - Watermark Risk Management, LLC., a leading provider of security and risk management consulting services, today announced the addition of Ms. Amy Hutchens, CCEP as General Counsel and Vice President of Compliance and Ethics Services.
Ms. Hutchens is a graduate of Vanderbilt Law School and is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional experienced in assisting organizations meet their legal and ethical obligations. She was formerly Associate General Counsel for a mid-sized government contractor in the engineering field, as well as having served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and Air Force Judge Advocate General. As a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional, Ms. Hutchens will expand the Watermark family of services by offering expert consultation to our clients on the development, implementation and management of corporate compliance and ethics programs to best mitigate compliance risk in the ever-changing business climate.
(AUG 2010) FAIRFAX, Virginia, August 1, 2010 - The Watermark Institute Announces the Inaugural Seminar in the Institute's Seminar Series.
Today The Watermark Institute announced the first seminar in a continuing security leadership seminar series sponsored by the Institute. “Reducing Security Costs without Sacrificing Value” will be a one-day session bringing together senior experts in the security industry to share new concepts, best practices, and emerging trends highlighting effective strategies for reducing the costs of security without sacrificing effectiveness.
The Honorable Tom Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security, will be the keynote presenter. His presentation, “Manage the Risks Before they Manage You” will focus on the overall theme of the seminar in reducing organizational costs without sacrificing value.
When asked why the Institute seminal was providing a seminar focusing on costs versus value, Matt Branigan, the President of Watermark Risk Management International, LLC said “In the current economic climate, organizations, governments, and practitioners are being tasked to do more with less when the threat has never been greater. This seminar will provide these groups with strategies and tools, validated by senior experts who use them everyday, that can be immediately employed to reduce costs without sacrificing value.”
For more information on the seminar, including a complete agenda, visit the Institute’s website at www.watermarkinstitute.com/seminars, or contact Josh Schubring, the Director of the Watermark Institute, at josh.schubring@wrmi-llc.com.
The Watermark Institute, a division of Watermark Risk Management International, LLC, a service disabled veteran owned small business which provides security training and thought leadership to risk management professionals who help government, public, and private clients address their life safety, operations continuity and security business strategies.
(JUL 2010) Defense Security Service Academy—Develop and Instruct a Graduate-level course in Analytical Risk Management for Department of Defense Security Professional Education Program.
The Defense Security Service Academy, Center for the Development of Security Education, has awarded Watermark a contract to develop a graduate level course to support requirements in the completion of the Levels II and III of the Defense Security Professional Certification. The capstone Analytical Risk Management course is designed to develop security professional as managers who are capable of conducting risk assessments in a wide range of security disciplines including physical, personnel and information. The course includes all steps in the ARM methodology from identifying the critical assets, analyzing the threats and vulnerabilities, developing mitigating strategies and then developing a program to implement those strategies and reduce the risks. The course looks at a number of risk assessment methodologies and helps guide the student to an understanding of which are most appropriate for specific scenarios. The classroom time is augmented by a tabletop exercise and a professional writing series that incorporates key elements of the ARM process and challenges the students to conduct their technical efforts in the context of the financial and political environment that typically faces security program managers.
(MAY 2010) FAIRFAX, Virginia, May 7, 2010 – The Watermark Institute Announces the Inaugural Lecture in the Institute’s Lecture Series
Today The Watermark Institute announced the first lecture in a continuing lecture series sponsored by the Institute. “Reciprocal Net Assessment” will be presented by Dr. Mark Mateski.
Dr. Mateski is the president of Alternative Analysis, LLC. He also runs Red Team Journal and teaches systems engineering and analysis for The George Washington University. As both an analyst and a manager at a number of defense and security organizations, Mark has directed wargames, conferences, studies, and assessments covering a range of topics. He has been a thought leader in red teaming for well over a decade, having founded Red Team Journal in 1997. Additional areas of specialty include systems analysis, deception and counterdeception, and wargaming.
Good decisions aren’t always easy, especially when your rival seeks to mislead you. Your rival, of course, faces the same challenge. Traditional analysis techniques tend to adopt one view or the other, leaving the reciprocal interactions inherent in conflict unexamined or, at best, examined only by accident or intuition.
Reciprocal net assessment (RNA) is a diagrammatic method designed specifically to address this challenge. RNA encourages you, the analyst or decision maker, to consider the perceptual aspects of conflict explicitly and systematically. By varying aspects of perception and misperception using RNA, you can generate critical scenarios your intuition may ignore. These scenarios may, in turn, help you avoid common decision pitfalls and better understand patterns of deception.
When asked why the Institute was starting a lecture series, Matt Branigan, the President of Watermark Risk Management International, LLC said “We are fortunate to be a member of a great network in a dynamic and important field – critical infrastructure protection and risk management. Through our association with members at the top of their profession, like Dr. Mateski, we’re able to offer a series of lectures with new and exciting perspectives and different approaches to addressing the challenges of security, resiliency, efficiency and effectiveness. Some of our lectures will introduce new systems or technologies, some will teach new methods of problem solving, and some will simply serve to continue the debate necessary to ultimately solve some of our most pressing problems.”
The lecture series will be free, but will be limited to invitation only. “We’re limiting the number of participants so the lectures will be small enough to ensure interaction among the group”, Matt Branigan related. “We want to challenge conventional thinking – and even challenge the lecturers when appropriate. Our goal is to stimulate discussion and analysis – develop interest and momentum and provide a forum for progress. Dr. Mateski has developed a novel approach and a new decision support approach, and is the perfect example of the type of thought leadership we will bring via this lecture series.”
Invitations will be provided to leaders in government, industry, and academia. Each lecture will be followed by a networking reception. For more information on the program, visit the institute’s website at www.watermarkinstitute.com/seminars, or contact Josh Schubring, the Director of the Watermark Institute, at josh.schubring@wrmi-llc.com.
The Watermark Institute, a division of Watermark Risk Management International, LLC, a service disabled veteran owned small business which provides security training and thought leadership to risk management professionals who help government, public, and private clients address their life safety, operations continuity and security business strategies.
(NOV 2009) FAIRFAX, Virginia, November 2, 2009 - Watermark Risk Management International, LLC. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of assets and business of RTS International, Inc.
RTS International, Inc. (RTS) is a full service security consulting and training firm headquartered in the Washington DC metro area. Their training division specializes in private security training, both regulated and unregulated, which includes private investigation, personal protection, and firearms.
“RTS International and Susan Spofford are synonymous with the highest quality of regulated training and services,” said Josh Schubring, Vice President of Watermark. “Susan and RTS will increase our special projects capability and will be a cornerstone of the Watermark Institute where she will work closely with the rest of the organization in developing new training initiatives.”
The RTS business and employees have been realigned into Watermark's organization structure. Susan Spofford, President/Founder of RTS, will become a Senior Principal and Deputy Director of training in Watermark’s Special Projects and Training directorate.
(SEP 2009) FAIRFAX, Virginia, September 22, 2009 - Watermark Risk Management International, LLC. a leading provider of security and risk management consulting services, today announced the establishment of the Watermark Institute. The Institute has been certified as a Training School by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.
"We are proud and excited to offer professional training and leadership development for security professionals at all stages in their careers," said Watermark's President Matt Branigan. "We've worked for over a year to ensure the Institute represents our values from the day the doors open and immediately garners a reputation for excellence in training and education."
The Institute will be directed by Josh Schubring, CPP, Watermark's Vice President of Special Projects and Training. Initially, the Institute will offer regulated, unregulated, and tactical training. Regulated training will be including private investigations, personal protection, security officer, and other regulated categories. Unregulated training will focus on advanced analytical and leadership topics such as alternatives analysis, Focus72SM, and business continuity planning. And tactical training includes firearms and tactics for security, law enforcement, and military professionals.
Watermark Risk Management International, LLC is a Service Disabled, Veteran-Owned, Small Business helping government, public, and private clients address their life safety, operations continuity and security business strategies. Watermark is finalizing lease arrangements for a facility in the Greater Washington DC area in anticipation of starting classes on 1 November.
Learn more at www.watermarkinstitute.com
(JUL 2009) FAIRFAX, Virginia, July 21, 2009 - Watermark Risk Management International, LLC., a leading provider of security and risk management consulting services, today announced the promotion of Josh Schubring, CPP to the position of Vice President of Special Programs and Training. He will have the primary responsibility of directing Watermark’s special programs (investigations, private client protection, and intelligence services) and training.
Watermark’s President Matt Branigan said “Acquiring NB Risk Management in 2008 expanded our capabilities and our client base while improving our ability to provide professional security and risk management consulting services. Josh’s leadership abilities and deep security experience resulted in a smooth and seamless integration of the two companies. We’re proud to announce Josh’s promotion, reflecting not only his current value and service to the company, but the potential he brings to our plans for future growth and expansion. Josh is a client-focused leader who will assist us as we maintain our reputation for professionalism, quality and results”.
Since joining Watermark in Mr. Schubring has served as the Director of Protection Strategies, managing several high profile projects. He received an Administration of Justice Degree from George Mason University and is presently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Homeland Security. He is also a member of ASIS International and board certified in security management and a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, certified in homeland security, level three (CHS-III); and a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers.
(NOV 2008) FAIRFAX, Virginia, November 1, 2008 - Watermark Risk Management International, LLC. Today announced that it has completed the acquisition of assets and business of N.B. Risk Management, LLC. N.B. Risk Management is a leading provider of security consulting services and the development of tailored protection strategies to the homeland security, corporate, and private client sectors.
“N.B.’s competencies complement our current practice portfolio and will enable us to provide our customers with an increased level of tailored service,” said Matt Branigan, president of Watermark. “Combining our resources will further allow us to rapidly deliver global security consulting as well as expand into new segments of the industry.”
The N.B. business and employees have been realigned into the Watermark organization structure. Josh Schubring, N.B.’s president, will become Watermark’s director of protection programs and strategies.
Watermark Risk Management International, LLC is a service disabled veteran owned business which provides security and risk management professionals who help government, public, and private clients address their life safety, operations continuity and security business strategies.
(OCT 2008) Watermark Risk Management International, LLC recently completed a highly successful Port-wide Risk Mitigation and Business Continuity/Resumption of Trade Planning contract supporting the Port of Hampton Roads (POHR) Area Maritime Security Committee and the U.S. Coast Guard under a subcontract to CRA, Inc. Watermark provided senior level transportation security, critical infrastructure and emergency response analysts and planners to develop DHS mandated risk mitigation analysis of the port and its operations to help identify and prioritize the risks to operations resiliency and trade resumption following a catastrophic event. POHR is a major Tier II port that includes a large naval base, a nuclear power plant, a natural gas terminal, 7 major tunnels and bridges, more than 25 local, state and federal jurisdictions, 100s of commercial stakeholders with interest and inputs, and federal oversight from multiple federal agencies to include TSA, Coast Guard, EPA, DOT, DOE, and DoD.
Phase I of the contract used an established all-hazard threat and existing facility vulnerability assessments to develop a community, port-wide risk assessment with mitigating strategy options to buy down the risks. Watermark’s analysts combined these risk mitigation strategies with the results of structured interviews with a wide range of port stakeholders and an assessment of current and forecast security and emergency response technologies to develop a prioritized list of initiatives for consideration by the AMSC. The risk analysis and the final decisions by the AMSC were submitted for comment and approval to DHS as a required element of the DHS maritime security grant process. The Phase I Risk Mitigation plan was one of the first submitted to DHS as part of the mandated FEMA Grants Program.
Phase II of the project focused on developing the port business continuity and recovery capability through the development of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Transportation Security Plan and the responsibilities and capabilities of the port stakeholders to individually and collectively respond and recover to a wide range of hazards. Especially critical are those assets that are essential to the successful function of other port stakeholders or the security and redundancy of capabilities that are chokepoints in the effective and efficient flow of commerce within the Port of Hampton Roads. The initial plan was developed, submitted to Coast Guard and the Area Maritime Security Committee and approved.
(SEP 2008) Watermark is proud to be associated with Red Team Journal, the world’s foremost authority on red teaming and alternatives analysis.
The mission of Red Team Journal is to
We are also proud to be a sponsor of the first annual Red Team Journal essay contest. The theme of the contest “Think … Think again.” emphasizes the importance of red teaming and alternative analysis to today’s decisionmakers. Submissions are due by 31 November 2008. Go to http://redteamjournal.com/essay_contest/RTJ2008EssayContest.pdf for contest details. We encourage you to visit Red Team Journal often.
(SEP 2008) Watermark Risk Management International was awarded a subcontract through Flaherty Technical Services of San Antonio, Texas to provide on-site staff support the Headquarters Air Education and Training Security Forces Directorate. The contract runs three years including options. Watermark security professionals provide security technology planning, program management and security operations analysis for the Directorate.
(JUL 2008) Watermark Risk Management International, LLC announces the addition of Ms. Cynthia Olsen to the Watermark leadership team. Cindy will serve as a Senior Risk Management Analyst leading business continuity and continuity of government projects. Cindy comes to Watermark following a highly successful Air Force security forces career and experience as a senior security and risk management consultant. Among her many projects, Cindy supported the Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Preparedness as a risk and sector analyst for the emergency services and postal and shipping sectors.
(FEB 2008) Watermark Risk Management International, LLC has won a contract to support a DoD aircraft manufacturer develop a business continuity/crisis response plan. Using our Focus72sm approach, Watermark will develop and deliver 7 specific deliverables within 45 days as components of a leadership crisis action process tailored towards improving performance during the initial critical first 72 hours of a crisis. An eighth deliverable will be a tabletop crisis exercise for the corporate leadership to evaluate and test the plan.
(FEB 2008) Watermark Risk Management International, LLC announces the addition of Kurt Klingenberger to the Watermark leadership team. Kurt will serve as the Vice President for Risk Management services. Kurt comes to Watermark from the Department of Homeland security where he was a Division Director in the Office of Infrastructure Protection responsible for Risk Analysis.
(JAN 2008) Watermark Risk Management International, LLC announces the hiring of Ms. Marita Woods as its Director of Emergency Management Services. Marita comes to Watermark following a distinguished military career in the emergency management career field. More information about Marita's experience can be found under our technical staff.
(JAN 2008) Watermark security International, LLC announces that it has expanded its service offerings and as a result, changed its name to Watermark Risk Management International, LLC. The change is effective January 1st, 2008. The new company's web site changes from www.watermark security.com to www.wrmi-llc.com
(DEC 2007) Watermark security International, LLC announces that it concludes its first year of operation with a total of 9 clients including three Fortune 500 companies. The company looks forward to capitalizing on the momentum from this year to grow significantly again in 2008. In addition, the company announced that their headquarters was relocating from Richmond, Virginia to Fairfax, Virginia.
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