Pacific Architects and Engineers
Pacific Architects and Engineers is a U.S. defense and government-services contractor providing logistics, facilities, technical, security, and international development support.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Pacific Architects and Engineers, commonly known as PAE or PA&E, is an American defense and government-services contractor founded in California in 1955 by engineer Edward Shay. The company began with property-development work in Japan and gradually developed into a provider of engineering, construction, logistics, facilities management, security, technical assistance, and international mission-support services for governments and multilateral institutions. PAE's business has historically centered on operating in difficult, remote, or politically sensitive environments. Its capabilities have included expeditionary logistics, construction and maintenance of military and peacekeeping base camps, airfield management, foreign-aid distribution, police training, election-monitoring support, disaster-response operations, weapons-of-mass-destruction elimination support, vessel and cargo tracking, crime-scene software, and weather-forecasting services. The company has served the U.S. Department of State extensively and has also worked for the United Nations, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Central Intelligence Agency, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and the New Zealand Defence Force. The company remained controlled by Edward Shay until 1974, when 40 percent was transferred to an employee stock-ownership program. Those shares were later sold back to Shay in 1988. After Shay's death in 1995, his son Allen E. Shay became chairman and chief executive officer. PAE was acquired by Lockheed Martin in 2006 in a transaction subsequently described in court filings as having a value of approximately $1.2 billion. During Lockheed Martin's ownership, the company moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Arlington, Virginia. Lockheed Martin sold PAE to Lindsay Goldberg in 2011 for approximately $700 million, and Lindsay Goldberg later sold it to Platinum Equity in 2016. PAE expanded through acquisitions during the 2010s, including A-T Solutions, the Global Security and Solutions unit of U.S. Investigations Service, FCi, and Macfadden & Associates. It became publicly traded on Nasdaq in 2020. In February 2022, PAE merged with Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC, after which its Nasdaq listing was terminated. The transaction placed PAE within the broader Amentum government-services organization. Historically, PAE's work has ranged from support for U.S. diplomatic facilities and overseas security programs to Antarctic research logistics, NASA facility operations, United Nations peacekeeping infrastructure, border systems, public-health emergency facilities, and military facilities maintenance. Its long-term market position has been based less on consumer recognition than on government contracting expertise, international deployment capability, and the ability to provide integrated operational support under complex contractual and security requirements.
History
Pacific Architects and Engineers was established in California in 1955 by Edward Shay, an American engineer whose earlier experience included work in Japan during the occupation period. The company's first commercial activities involved property development in Japan, but it subsequently moved toward engineering, construction, logistics, and government support. Shay retained control of the company for decades, serving as chairman and chief executive officer and remaining its sole shareholder until an employee stock-ownership arrangement acquired a minority interest in 1974. The employee plan's shares were sold back to Shay in 1988. After Edward Shay died in 1995, his son Allen E. Shay assumed control as chairman and chief executive officer. During this broader period, PAE developed a substantial government-contracting presence, particularly in overseas and operationally demanding settings. Its State Department work has been described as dating to the 1950s and included support associated with facilities such as Kandahar International Airport, Kabul University, and the U.S. Embassy in Laos. In 1986, PAE received a contract to provide support staff for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the U.S. Consulate General in Leningrad. PAE's role expanded during the Cold War and subsequent international interventions. During the Vietnam War, the company provided cover employment for a Central Intelligence Agency program known as Phoenix and received contracts connected with the construction of province interrogation centers in South Vietnam. In later decades, its activities included support to United Nations peacekeeping operations, international police missions, election observation, foreign-aid programs, military facilities, and expeditionary logistics. Since 2000, the company has recruited and hired election observers for the U.S. quota in Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe monitoring missions. Beginning in 2004, it provided extensive logistics for the African Union Mission in Sudan and supported other regional missions through the State Department. In 2006, Lockheed Martin acquired PAE in a transaction later described in litigation as worth approximately $1.2 billion. The acquisition brought PAE into a large defense-industrial group and was accompanied by the relocation of its headquarters from Los Angeles to Arlington, Virginia. Lockheed Martin sold the company to Lindsay Goldberg in 2011 for approximately $700 million. Lindsay Goldberg sold PAE to Platinum Equity in 2016. The company pursued capability expansion through several acquisitions. In 2015 it acquired A-T Solutions and the Global Security and Solutions business of U.S. Investigations Service. In 2017 it purchased FCi, and in 2018 it acquired Macfadden & Associates, a company known for international disaster-response operational support. These transactions broadened PAE's offerings in security, investigations, international development, and emergency-response work. PAE also won or performed major contracts across scientific, defense, diplomatic, and public-safety sectors. In 2012, the National Science Foundation awarded it a contract valued at $100 million to support the United States Antarctic Program, including medical services, facility construction and management, and transportation of equipment and personnel. The company later operated NASA's Stennis Space Center and Michoud Assembly Facility with BWX Technologies under a joint contract. It supplied technical personnel to NOAA's National Data Buoy Center and supported U.S. Customs and Border Protection operational systems. In 2014, PAE received a NZ$72 million New Zealand Defence Force facilities contract covering construction and maintenance across land, sea, and air operations. In 2017, it announced a $423 million State Department contract supporting the Colombian National Police aviation unit. PAE became publicly traded on Nasdaq in 2020. Its public-company period ended in February 2022, when it merged with Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC and was delisted. The combined organization preserved PAE's role as a provider of government and mission-support services. Its historical identity remains associated with international deployment, facilities and logistics management, security-sensitive technical work, and support for diplomatic, defense, scientific, and peacekeeping missions.
- 2022
Merger with Amentum
[1]PAE merged with Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC and its Nasdaq shares were delisted.
- 2020
Public listing on Nasdaq
[1]PAE became publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange.
- 2018
Macfadden acquisition
[1]PAE acquired Macfadden & Associates, known for international disaster-response operational support.
- 2017
FCi acquisition
[1]PAE acquired FCi, expanding its government-services capabilities.
- 2016
Acquired by Platinum Equity
[1]Lindsay Goldberg sold PAE to Platinum Equity.
- 2015
Security and investigations acquisitions
[1]PAE acquired A-T Solutions and the Global Security and Solutions unit of U.S. Investigations Service.
- 2011
Sold to Lindsay Goldberg
[1]Lockheed Martin sold PAE to Lindsay Goldberg for approximately $700 million.
- 2006
Acquired by Lockheed Martin
[1]Lockheed Martin acquired PAE in a transaction subsequently described as approximately $1.2 billion.
- 1995
Allen E. Shay assumes company leadership
[1]Following Edward Shay's death, his son Allen E. Shay became chairman and chief executive officer.
- 1988
Employee-held shares return to Edward Shay
[1]The employee stock-ownership program sold its shares back to Edward Shay.
Products and positioning
A mission-focused government-services contractor specializing in complex, expeditionary, international, remote-site, and security-sensitive operations.
Government services
Expeditionary logistics and mission support
PAE provides logistics and operational support for government, diplomatic, military, peacekeeping, and development missions in remote or unstable environments. Activities have included establishing and operating base camps, transporting personnel and equipment, managing supplies, supporting foreign-aid distribution, and sustaining deployed teams. The work is designed for environments where customers require an integrated contractor able to combine logistics, facilities, security, administration, and technical services.
Infrastructure and facilities services
Facilities construction and management
The company has supported construction, refurbishment, maintenance, and day-to-day operation of government, defense, diplomatic, scientific, and aviation facilities. Examples include military and peacekeeping compounds, diplomatic sites, airfields, research facilities, training centers, and facilities associated with NASA and the New Zealand Defence Force. The offering combines engineering and construction capabilities with routine maintenance, safety, site services, and operational management.
Security and justice services
Security, investigations, and police support
PAE's security-related activities have included investigative services, police training, aviation-unit support, crime-scene technology, and security assistance for government and international programs. Acquisitions such as A-T Solutions and the Global Security and Solutions unit of U.S. Investigations Service strengthened this part of the portfolio. The company has also supplied contract police and related support to United Nations missions.
Scientific and technical support
Scientific and remote-site operations
PAE supports government science and aerospace programs requiring specialized technical personnel and remote-site operations. Its work has included United States Antarctic Program medical, transportation, construction, and equipment support; operations at NASA's Stennis Space Center and Michoud Assembly Facility; and technical personnel for NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Such services extend from routine site operations to advanced manufacturing and rocket-engine testing support.
International development services
Election monitoring and international development support
Through U.S. government and multilateral contracts, PAE has recruited election observers, supported Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe monitoring missions, assisted African and regional peacekeeping deployments, and managed emergency-response programs. Its international development work has also included operational assistance for Ebola treatment centers in Liberia and logistics for foreign-aid and reconstruction activities.
Controversies
2017
Personnel-vetting compliance fine
PAE paid a $5 million fine to the U.S. government after failing to follow vetting requirements for personnel working in Afghanistan under a State Department labor-services contract. A whistleblower who reported the issue received $875,000 from the fine.
2015
Afghanistan contract bid-rigging settlement
PAE and two subcontractors agreed to a $1.45 million settlement with the United States concerning allegations that former managers used confidential bid information to steer government-funded subcontracts to companies connected with managers and their relatives. The matter also resulted in guilty pleas by several individuals associated with the contracting arrangement.
Brand decisions
2022
Merge with AmentumM&ABackground
PAE sought to combine with another major government-services platform after its period as a Nasdaq-listed company.
Action taken
PAE merged with Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC in February 2022.
Aftermath
PAE was delisted from Nasdaq and became part of the Amentum government-services organization.
2020
Enter the public marketsStrategyBackground
After ownership by private-equity investors, PAE pursued access to public equity markets.
Action taken
PAE became publicly traded on Nasdaq.
Aftermath
The company operated as a listed government-services contractor until its merger with Amentum in 2022.
2018
Acquire Macfadden for disaster-response capabilityM&ABackground
PAE was expanding its international development and emergency-response offerings.
Action taken
PAE acquired Macfadden & Associates, a provider associated with international disaster-response operational support.
Aftermath
The acquisition added disaster-response and international development expertise to PAE's government-services platform.
2015
Expand security and investigations capabilitiesM&ABackground
PAE sought to broaden its government-services portfolio beyond traditional logistics and facilities work.
Action taken
The company acquired A-T Solutions and the Global Security and Solutions unit of U.S. Investigations Service.
Aftermath
The acquisitions expanded PAE's security, investigations, and technical support capabilities.
2006
Join Lockheed Martin through acquisitionM&ABackground
PAE had developed a substantial government and international-services business and was acquired by Lockheed Martin as part of the defense contractor's portfolio.
Action taken
Lockheed Martin acquired PAE in a cash transaction later described in court filings as approximately $1.2 billion.
Aftermath
PAE moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Arlington, Virginia, while continuing to operate as a government-services business within Lockheed Martin.
Reported transaction value. $1.2 billion approximately (2006)
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