FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2008
FY08-18
Amidon Named ORAU Director of Safeguards and Security
New role is in addition to Amidon’s position as group manager for the Center for Human Reliability Studies
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—After joining ORAU in November 2007 as group manager for the Center for Human Reliability Studies (CHRS) at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Thomas “Tom” Amidon has now been appointed director of Safeguards and Security (S&S) at ORAU. Amidon will split his time between both positions.
ORAU’s S&S department provides integrated services, which protect its employees, property and information while complying with applicable laws and regulations.
In his new role as S&S director, Amidon will be responsible for all aspects of security, including personnel, information, physical, communications, operations and classified security. In addition, Amidon will serve as the ORAU/ORISE facility security officer and oversee the coordination and management of visitor/export control programs, as well as ORAU’s watchforce personnel patrols.
"We are pleased to have Tom lead our Safeguards and Security department," said J. Phil Andrews, ORAU’s vice president of business operations and chief financial officer. "With Tom’s military background and extensive experience in security, intelligence and training, he brings outstanding knowledge and strong leadership skills to S&S. This new security role, in addition to his current assignment as group manager for the Center for Human Reliability Studies, will create opportunities in both organizations to realize synergy and efficiency improvements."
Amidon has more than 22 years experience in security, U.S. Army Special Forces, military intelligence and training. Prior to joining ORAU, Amidon most recently served as a special investigator at USIS, where he conducted interviews, record searches and completed background checks for national security investigations. Previously, he served as the training officer and recruiting operations officer for Army ROTC at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. Amidon received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., and completed a 52-week Defense Language Institute course in Mandarin Chinese.
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 99 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies, and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a U.S. Department of Energy institute focusing on scientific initiatives to research health risks from occupational hazards, assess environmental cleanup, respond to radiation medical emergencies, support national security and emergency preparedness, and educate the next generation of scientists. ORISE is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities.