Mississippi State’s Office of Research Compliance and Security has recently completed a round of new hires and promotions to better meet campus research security needs.

Allen Baxter is taking on an expanded role and reporting to MSU Information Technology Services as assistant director for data security and compliance. He previously led MSU’s research data security efforts in ORC&S. The new position allows Baxter to help manage data security at the university level and ensure compliance with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, the new federal standard for data security.

Chris Jenkins, formerly an export control officer in ORC&S, is now serving as an assistant director and research security officer. He now manages day-to-day research security operations and is the designated facility security officer.

On December 1, Clay Hardwick will join MSU as the senior research security analyst in ORC&S. A retired foreign military sales officer in the U.S. Army, in this new position, Hardwick will conduct risk assessments to assist leadership in evaluating potential international relationships.

“It takes a dynamic team to ensure MSU’s wide-ranging research activities remain secure and in compliance with federal, state and funding agency directives,” said ORC&S Director Kacey Strickland. “I appreciate Chris stepping up to fill the new research security officer position and look forward to working closely with Clay in his role and with Allen and ITS to promote strong data security practices.”

ORC&S is currently advertising for the vacant export control officer position, with job details available at https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/en-us/job/503408/export-control-officeranalyst.

For more on the Office of Research Compliance and Security, visit www.orc.msstate.edu.