The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities is pleased to announce the hiring of Russell Saffell in the newly created position of Director of Member Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection. Russ will work with member utilities to help assess physical and cyber security threats, protect critical infrastructure, and manage emergency and disaster response planning.
“Since 1947, IAMU has been committed to supporting and strengthening Iowa’s municipal utilities, and that mission has always included safety and emergency response services but with time, those services evolve,” said Troy DeJoode, IAMU Executive Director. “Having someone with Russell’s experience and expertise in this position will enable IAMU to deliver cutting-edge, 21st century security and emergency services to our members.”
Russ served two tours in Iraq, and throughout the Middle-East while in the U. S. Navy as a Maritime Special Purpose Forces Corpsman, whereby he was in both a Security and Scout Sniper Platoon dedicated to counterterrorism operations. Russ has more than 16 years of full spectrum (physical, technical and cyber) security governance, critical infrastructure protection, emergency management, continuity of operations, resilience and disaster recovery experience.
Russ comes to IAMU most recently from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he served as a Security Manager, overseeing security operations for all critical infrastructure, federal facilities, and personnel at Presidentially declared disaster areas. He also served as an independent Special Investigator for the U. S. Office of Personnel Management, conducting Federal Security Clearance Investigations.
Russ also previously served as a Senior Security Consultant and Deputy Corporate Security Officer at Sogeti, Regional Business Resilience Administrator at Catholic Health Initiatives, Chief Security and Emergency Management Officer at SES Inc., and as Deputy Director of the Story County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
Russ also has experience as a Utility Locator. He holds a B.S. in Emergency and Disaster Management from Upper Iowa University, an M.P.S. in Security and Safety Leadership (Counterterrorism) from George Washington University, as well as more than 70 training certificates, and five certifications in the field. He also currently serves as an adjunct professor at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) where he helped to design and develop its Homeland Security Certificate Program, and as an adjunct professor at Upper Iowa University, on an as needed basis.
Russ is a native Iowan who looks forward to making a difference in his home state. “Our municipal utilities play a crucial role in their communities,” he said. “IAMU is dedicated to supporting its members. I am excited to be a part of IAMU’s efforts to help our members deliver safe and reliable utility services and to help them protect the critical assets Iowa’s communities depend on.”
“Since 1947, IAMU has been committed to supporting and strengthening Iowa’s municipal utilities, and that mission has always included safety and emergency response services but with time, those services evolve,” said Troy DeJoode, IAMU Executive Director. “Having someone with Russell’s experience and expertise in this position will enable IAMU to deliver cutting-edge, 21st century security and emergency services to our members.”
Russ served two tours in Iraq, and throughout the Middle-East while in the U. S. Navy as a Maritime Special Purpose Forces Corpsman, whereby he was in both a Security and Scout Sniper Platoon dedicated to counterterrorism operations. Russ has more than 16 years of full spectrum (physical, technical and cyber) security governance, critical infrastructure protection, emergency management, continuity of operations, resilience and disaster recovery experience.
Russ comes to IAMU most recently from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he served as a Security Manager, overseeing security operations for all critical infrastructure, federal facilities, and personnel at Presidentially declared disaster areas. He also served as an independent Special Investigator for the U. S. Office of Personnel Management, conducting Federal Security Clearance Investigations.
Russ also previously served as a Senior Security Consultant and Deputy Corporate Security Officer at Sogeti, Regional Business Resilience Administrator at Catholic Health Initiatives, Chief Security and Emergency Management Officer at SES Inc., and as Deputy Director of the Story County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
Russ also has experience as a Utility Locator. He holds a B.S. in Emergency and Disaster Management from Upper Iowa University, an M.P.S. in Security and Safety Leadership (Counterterrorism) from George Washington University, as well as more than 70 training certificates, and five certifications in the field. He also currently serves as an adjunct professor at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) where he helped to design and develop its Homeland Security Certificate Program, and as an adjunct professor at Upper Iowa University, on an as needed basis.
Russ is a native Iowan who looks forward to making a difference in his home state. “Our municipal utilities play a crucial role in their communities,” he said. “IAMU is dedicated to supporting its members. I am excited to be a part of IAMU’s efforts to help our members deliver safe and reliable utility services and to help them protect the critical assets Iowa’s communities depend on.”
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