Jim Ellington named GTRI’s new director of research security

Securing classified information is a tough job, but one that new Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) director of research security Jim Ellington knows quite well.

Ellington has been protecting classified information for the past 35 years, with experience working for the federal government, state governments and corporations including Honeywell, The Aerospace Corporation, Rockwell International and Hughes Aircraft Company.

"This job is a challenging one. I have to understand each federal agency’s requirements, implement those requirements, and assist and support laboratory personnel in performing the classified work," said Ellington, who left the University of California and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to join GTRI on July 30. He replaces Stephen Woodall who led research security from 2004-2007.

"Jim has extensive experience in the security community matched by impressive leadership and management skills. We are most fortunate to have someone of this caliber join us at Georgia Tech," said Stephen Cross, Georgia Tech vice president and director of GTRI.

Ellington has an extensive background in managing security programs for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). He began his career as an industrial security specialist for the DOD and served as program security manager for two major contractor DOD programs (MILSTAR and the National AeroSpace Plane). He also managed the security program for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Beyond his duties for GTRI, Ellington also assists Georgia Tech’s academic colleges in meeting the security needs of their classified research activities.

In GTRI, 51% of the total contract base consists of classified contracts and each contract has its own requirements for how classified information is received, utilized, reproduced, transmitted, stored and destroyed. In addition, classified contracts require laboratory personnel to receive personnel security clearances before the government trusts them to work on classified research.

"My office needs to be involved very early – as soon as a researcher thinks about submitting a proposal for classified research," said Ellington. "We need to help the researchers bid the contract correctly to include costs for protecting the classified information."

According to Ellington, security costs could range from spending time in a security briefing to spending several thousand dollars to build specially designed work areas, procure secure communications equipment or obtain specialized storage containers or safes.

"If we bid these contracts correctly from the beginning, the programs won't run out of money for security halfway through the term of the contract," added Ellington.

After a contract is awarded, Ellington’s team will assist the researchers to appropriately implement the security requirements necessary for the contract and ensure that the policies are being followed.

Even though Ellington has only been on the job for a month, he already sees some room for improvement in planning and implementation. Ellington plans to instill a process improvement methodology in several of the critical tasks being performed by the research security organization.

"Strategically, I think we can definitely improve our security awareness and quality assurance efforts," noted Ellington. "I’ve been visiting all of the lab directors and they realize it's a team effort to secure our classified research and they know my office is here to help."

Ellington earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from California State University, Long Beach. He relocated to the Atlanta area with his wife, Karen, and German Shepherd Luka. He also has grown daughters, a 6-year-old granddaughter, and a stepson and family who reside in California. Ellington, who began his security career as a K9 patrol officer, still has a deep love for German Shepherds and continues to raise and train them in his spare time.