This talk presents an insider's view of the career of a typical "Beltway Bandit" operating within the confines of the Washington, DC Beltway. While no products are produced and few services are rendered inside the "Beltway," still an industry of technical consultants flourishes providing the US Government with advice and counsel on a number of technical subjects.

The speaker will discuss the technical consulting business from the perspective of a neophyte just starting a new career, and from the perspective of a senior manager in one of the Washington, DC area's premier "think tanks." Emphasis will be placed on the conduct of studies and analyses to support the Department of Defense. The discussion will identify those attributes required to succeed, and identify opportunities for minorities in the Washington, DC consulting environment.

1996-1997 Mathematics in High Performance Computing