Foundations & Early Years

Founded in 2008, Plessas Experts Network (PEN) began with a clear mission: to apply open-source intelligence (OSINT) methodologies, rooted in internet research, linguistic analysis, and digital investigations, for government and private-sector clients. From its inception, the company united a diverse network of specialists, including linguists, analysts, veterans of the intelligence community, cultural experts, and technical investigators. During these early years, PEN established its reputation as a Woman-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, providing high-impact investigative and intelligence support grounded in rigorous tradecraft and ethical standards.

Expansion into Training & Research Partnerships

As OSINT evolved, PEN expanded its scope to include professional education and research collaboration. The launch of Plessas Academy introduced accessible, high-quality training in advanced OSINT techniques, including social media investigations, cryptocurrency tracing, and multilingual due diligence. At the same time, PEN engaged in research and development partnerships such as the Robust Extraction of Metaphors from Novel Data (REMND) and CYCLES projects, while collaborating with academic institutions like the Institute for Informatics, Logics and Security Studies (ILS) at the University at Albany, State University of New York, and innovative companies like Boston Fusion. These partnerships reinforced PEN’s role as a trusted leader at the intersection of technology, linguistics, and intelligence.

Innovation, Ethics & Evolving Offerings

In recent years, PEN has continued to push the boundaries of OSINT innovation. The organization now integrates artificial intelligence into its services through OSINT Tradecraft Integration, a process that embeds proven investigative methodologies into AI workflows. PEN also provides human-in-the-loop training, adversarial red-teaming, and tailored AI agent development for investigative applications. In 2024, PEN launched the Plessas Digital Knowledge Base, expanding open access to curated OSINT tools and methodologies while upholding strict standards of quality, transparency, and ethical use. Today, PEN serves corporations, legal teams, government entities, and law enforcement agencies worldwide, driven by a commitment to responsible innovation and the principle of Human + AI Synergy.