Defense Trade Solutions
Defense Trade Solutions is a Washington, DC-based defense consulting firm providing ITAR/EAR export compliance, security cooperation, and trade authorization services to U.S. aerospace, defense, government, and emerging technology companies through managed services, project, advisory, and staff augmentation models.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Defense Trade Solutions does
Defense Trade Solutions (DTS) is a Washington, DC-based professional services firm specializing in defense trade compliance for U.S. aerospace, defense, government, and emerging technology companies. The firm offers five core service lines: Security Cooperation (Foreign Military Sales process guidance), Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD), Global Trade Authorizations (ITAR/EAR licensing), Global Trade Compliance program management, and Logistics & Customs Compliance. DTS claims to serve programs ranging from $5M to $15B in size, with stated outcomes of mitigating over $1B in client penalties and opening $2B+ in export markets across a base of 60+ customers that includes General Dynamics, CACI, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, V2X, AeroVironment, Bell Textron, Aevex Aerospace, Mach Industries, Metrea, Cellula Robotics, and Ultra Maritime.
The firm's technical foundation rests on the Descartes OCR Global EASE trade management platform, which DTS positions as enabling higher first-pass acceptance rates in export licensing workflows. DTS holds Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 Level 2 status, is a DOD-certified contractor, and maintains active Department of Defense security clearances across its staff—enabling engagement with classified programs and Controlled Unclassified Information. The firm emphasizes a full-team delivery model aggregating 110+ years of combined defense trade experience rather than single-expert placement.
DTS operates four service delivery models: Managed Services (fractional recurring trade support), Project Support (outcome-based engagements), Advisory Support (consulting), and Direct & Embedded Staff (staff augmentation for DOD subcontracts, FMS cases, and international programs). GTM is enterprise field sales targeting aerospace, defense, government, and high-tech verticals including dual-use technology, emerging technology, and firearms/ammunition. The company was founded by Steven Casazza (President) with VP Chanel Miller driving growth and strategy, CFO Robert Batson, and specialized staff across solutions, principal, and senior specialist roles. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based across all engagement models.
Defense Trade Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Defense Trade Solutions
- Legal name
- Defense Trade Solutions, LLC
- Website
- https://defense-trade.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Defense Trade Solutions is a Washington, DC-based defense consulting firm providing ITAR/EAR export compliance, security cooperation, and trade authorization services to U.S. aerospace, defense, government, and emerging technology companies through managed services, project, advisory, and staff augmentation models.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Defense Trade Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Trade Compliance Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Global Trade & Customs / Trade Compliance (BPAHAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Defense Acquisition, Procurement & Contracting (BPAIAHAB)
Keywords
Where Defense Trade Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Defense Trade Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Managed Services: Fractional global trade support covering compliance programs, government affairs, licensing, classifications, and regulatory engagement as an extension of the client's team. Recurring engagement model.
- Project Support: Specialized, outcome-driven solutions tackling complex defense trade initiatives with speed and precision. Project-based engagements.
- Advisory Support: Expert guidance to navigate trade challenges, optimize strategies, and mitigate risks while ensuring trade compliance. Consulting engagements.
- Direct & Embedded Staff: Compliance expertise and execution power for U.S. DOD subcontracts, FMS cases, and international programs. Staff augmentation model.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Defense Trade Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Defense Trade Solutions (DTS) provides consulting and managed services for U.S. defense companies navigating international defense trade, covering Security Cooperation (FMS), Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD), ITAR/EAR Global Trade Authorizations, Global Trade Compliance, and Logistics & Customs Compliance. Services are delivered through Managed Services, Project Support, Advisory Support, and Direct & Embedded Staff models for aerospace, defense, government, and high-tech clients on programs ranging from $5M to $15B.
Product overview
Defense Trade Solutions offers a portfolio of professional services for U.S. defense companies across five core disciplines: Security Cooperation (FMS process guidance), Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD), Global Trade Authorizations (ITAR/EAR licensing), Global Trade Compliance (program management and remediation), and Logistics & Customs Compliance. These services are delivered through four engagement models—Managed Services, Project Support, Advisory Support, and Direct & Embedded Staff—enabling clients to access compliance expertise either as an ongoing team extension or for discrete initiatives. The company supports programs ranging from $5M to $15B in size.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Security Cooperation Guides U.S. defense clients through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, from funding and partner requirements to case development, advocacy, and third-party transfers, including Congressional notification, DoD/State engagement, and NPOR support.
- Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD) Addresses exportability and releasability challenges through TSFD requirements analysis, technology release approvals, design-for-exportability strategies, and anti-tamper measures to ensure critical technologies reach allies without delays.
- Global Trade Authorizations Structures and manages ITAR and EAR authorizations including licenses, agreements, exemptions, exceptions, reexports, and retransfers to accelerate market entry and reduce approval delays.
- Global Trade Compliance Builds, manages, and remediates ITAR and EAR compliance programs covering registrations, classifications, recordkeeping, reporting, restricted party screening, and corrective actions to maintain audit readiness.
- Logistics & Customs Compliance Navigates tariffs, customs duties, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements including HTS and Schedule B classifications, customs broker oversight, duty drawback, and trade automation.
- Managed Services Fractional global trade support covering compliance programs, government affairs, licensing, classifications, and regulatory engagement as an extension of the client's team; recurring managed-services engagement model.
- Project Support Specialized, outcome-driven solutions tackling complex defense trade initiatives with speed and precision; project-based professional services engagement.
- Advisory Support Expert guidance to navigate trade challenges, optimize strategies, and mitigate risks while ensuring trade compliance; consulting-style advisory engagement.
- Direct & Embedded Staff Compliance expertise and execution power for U.S. DOD subcontracts, FMS cases, and international programs delivered via staff augmentation/embedded personnel.
Quantifiable outcome
- $1B+ in penalties mitigated for clients
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Defense Trade Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Defense Trade Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Defense Trade Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, preferred and strategic.
- SAHRcoreStrategic partnership with SAHR, a veteran-owned Australian defense consultancy, to strengthen U.S.-Australia defense collaboration. The MoU establishes joint initiatives to assist defense companies in achieving ITAR/EAR compliance, navigating export policy changes, facilitating entry into defense supply chains, and supporting U.S.-AUS technology transfers, particularly in the AUKUS context. SAHR brings over 200 years of collective experience in Australian defense consultancy, export controls, procurement, and Defense Project Delivery.
- DescartescorePowered by Descartes OCR Global EASE trade management software. DTS uses this technology to ensure higher first-pass acceptance rates, fewer regulator requests, and smoother movement of products, services, and data in trade authorization processes.
- BattellepreferredPreferred partner providing tailored solutions paramount to success.
- ICAT LogisticspreferredPreferred logistics partner supporting defense trade operations.
- American Defense InternationalpreferredPreferred partner providing defense industry expertise and international business support.
- Summit7preferredPreferred partner offering cybersecurity and compliance solutions.
- PerSecProspreferredPreferred partner for personnel security and clearance-related services.
- The Summit Group DCstrategicStrategic partner providing government relations and policy expertise.
- Guard Hill HousestrategicStrategic partner for international business development support.
- FATA AdvisorystrategicStrategic advisory partner for defense trade matters.
- Noosa PartnersstrategicStrategic partner providing advisory services.
- Aerospace Industries AssociationstrategicIndustry association membership supporting aerospace and defense industry advocacy and standards.
- National Defense Industrial AssociationstrategicIndustry association membership supporting national defense industrial base engagement.
- Professional Services CouncilstrategicIndustry association membership for professional services contractors.
- Charleston Defense Contractors AssociationstrategicRegional industry association for defense contractors.
- Business Council for International UnderstandingstrategicIndustry association supporting international business understanding.
- DACOR Bacon House FoundationstrategicIndustry association supporting diplomacy and foreign affairs professionals.
- ISOA - International Stability Operations AssociationstrategicInternational stability operations industry association.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Defense Trade Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Crowell & Moring: Large international law firm with a prominent International Trade and Defense Trade practice covering ITAR/EAR, FMS, and export controls. Comparable to DTS in regulatory scope but operates through a legal-services model with attorneys rather than embedded trade specialists.
- FATA Advisory: Boutique defense trade advisory firm providing consulting on FMS, ITAR/EAR, and security cooperation. Directly comparable to DTS in size, scope, and customer base, and is listed as a strategic advisory partner of DTS.
- American Defense International: Defense advisory firm focused on international defense trade, FMS, and security cooperation support to U.S. and allied industry. Highly comparable to DTS in target customers (aerospace/defense primes), services (FMS, DCS, export compliance), and mission-driven positioning — and is already a listed preferred partner of DTS.
Broad incumbents
- Sidley Austin LLP: Global law firm with a strong International Trade and National Security practice covering ITAR, EAR, FMS, and CFIUS. Comparable to DTS in regulatory coverage of defense trade, but delivered through a legal-services model with attorneys rather than embedded operational staff.
- EY (Indirect Tax & Trade): Big Four firm with an Indirect Tax and Global Trade practice that advises on customs, export controls, and trade compliance. Overlaps with DTS on export-controls and customs advisory, though typically sold as part of broader enterprise tax and risk engagements.
- PwC (Trade & Customs practice): Big Four firm operating a global Trade and Customs practice covering export controls, ITAR/EAR, customs valuation, and trade automation. Comparable to DTS in offering scope, but competes at enterprise scale and leverages broader audit and consulting relationships.
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Large U.S. defense and government consulting firm with active practices in acquisition support, FMS, and export compliance. Competes with DTS for cleared defense trade work but as part of a much broader federal services portfolio.
- Guidehouse: Consulting firm with a dedicated Defense and National Security segment that supports federal clients on acquisition, FMS, and international programs. Comparable to DTS in defense trade and acquisition support, though delivered through a much larger platform.
- Deloitte (Government & Public Services – Trade): Big Four firm with a Global Trade Advisory practice serving aerospace, defense, and government clients on customs, export controls, and trade compliance. Competes with DTS for enterprise trade compliance mandates but with much broader service breadth and scale.
- KPMG (Trade & Customs): Big Four firm with a Global Trade and Customs practice serving defense, aerospace, and high-tech clients on export controls, customs, and supply-chain compliance. Directly comparable to DTS in service area, though delivered through a much larger consulting platform.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Defense Trade Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceDefense Trade Solutions compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Defense Trade Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Defense Trade Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Defense Trade Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Defense Trade Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Defense Trade Solutions
What does Defense Trade Solutions do?
Defense Trade Solutions (DTS) provides consulting and managed services for U.S. defense companies navigating international defense trade, covering Security Cooperation (FMS), Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD), ITAR/EAR Global Trade Authorizations, Global Trade Compliance, and Logistics & Customs Compliance. Services are delivered through Managed Services, Project Support, Advisory Support, and Direct & Embedded Staff models for aerospace, defense, government, and high-tech clients on programs ranging from $5M to $15B.
Is Defense Trade Solutions a public or private company?
Defense Trade Solutions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Defense Trade Solutions founded?
Defense Trade Solutions was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Defense Trade Solutions based?
Defense Trade Solutions is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Defense Trade Solutions make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Managed Services are the primary driver. The others are project Support, advisory Support and direct & Embedded Staff.
Who are Defense Trade Solutions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Crowell & Moring, FATA Advisory and American Defense International. Broad incumbents are Sidley Austin LLP, EY (Indirect Tax & Trade), PwC (Trade & Customs practice), Booz Allen Hamilton, Guidehouse, Deloitte (Government & Public Services – Trade) and KPMG (Trade & Customs).
Does Defense Trade Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Defense Trade Solutions.
What industry is Defense Trade Solutions in?
Defense Trade Solutions's product category is Defense Trade Compliance Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAHAG, Global Trade & Customs / Trade Compliance, with a secondary code of BPAIAHAB, Defense Acquisition, Procurement & Contracting. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.