Gray Hawk Systems
"What it does: Develops data analysis systems for organizations that monitor travel reservations, credit card records, etc., for terrorist activity. Why it's growing: A multimillion-dollar FBI contract. High flier: CEO Pete Howton's first company, Kestrel Associates, made the Inc. 500 from 1993 through 1995. When he left that company after a disagreement with a co-owner, Howton started Gray Hawk and named it "after a bird that could eat a kestrel for lunch." In May, Howton, a disabled vet, sold Gray Hawk for $100 million — and started yet another defense contractor: Kingfisher."
2005 STATISTICS
3-year growth:318%
2004 Revenue:$69.4 million
2001 Revenue:$16.6 million
Employees:453
PREVIOUS INC. 5000 RANKINGS
2004
184
2003
191
2002
428
2001
277