\"Private Military Companies: Analyzing the Use of Armed Contractors\" explores the critical issues that influence the decision to utilize private military companies (PMC) and armed contractors in support of U.S. military operations. The critical issues identified in the thesis address a combination of government, military, and public concerns with the private military industry. Understanding of these critical issues will assist policy makers in determining the validity of the PMC concept and extent to which the U.S. government could utilize armed contractors and consider privatization of combat forces as a viable option to satisfy certain military requirements of this nation. The thesis also expands on the link between the expansion in the private military industry and the shortage of U.S. government resources to satisfy the requirements of its foreign policy decisions. This work focused on the legitimate use of PMCs and armed contractors to support U.S. government and military operations.