New Department of Energy Oak Ridge security contractor National Strategic Protective Services has hired former WSI-Oak Ridge official John Garrity as its director of planning and operations. Garrity was a key member of the protective force team at the Y-12 National Security Complex during last summer’s security breach, and he was at the heart of allegations that Y-12 guards were given copies of security testing questions before the exams. Garrity was removed from his job as the director of Y-12’s protective force after the incident, though WSI said there was not an intent to cheat on the exams. He had been the deputy director during the security breach, and was promoted when Gary Brandon was removed from the position. NSPS is a joint venture of Triple Canopy Inc. and Securiguard Inc.
Other newly named members of NSPS management team include Director of Contractor Assurance Therese Russell and Director of Environment, Safety and Health John Weld. NSPS is replacing WSI-Oak Ridge as the protective force contractor for DOE’s Oak Ridge operations, and that transition is under way with the full turnover to occur March 25. “NSPS is pleased by the overwhelming support and interest we have received from the Oak Ridge community and the incumbent personnel during this transition process. Our transition team continues to make steady progress as we move closer to the official takeover date of March 25, 2013.” Russell, the director of contractor assurance, has a military background with the Army’s military police. She worked for the past decade at the Pantex Plant, most recently as supervisor of operations and emergency services dispatching centers. Held also has a military background with 22 years in the Navy. For the past 11 years, he has worked with the protective forces at DOE’s Hanford Site in Washington.