Research Insights
New Office of Research Security and Export Controls
The new Office of Research Security and Export Controls (ORSEC), under the Office of Research Integrity and Safety umbrella, will continue its export controls and economic sanctions compliance mandate while responding to new and evolving federal guidelines related to research security requirements for federally funded research.
A new Office of Research Security and Export Controls (ORSEC) is on the horizon within the Office of Research. Under the Office of Research Integrity and Safety umbrella, ORSEC will continue its export controls and economic sanctions compliance mandate while responding to new and evolving federal guidelines related to research security requirements for federally funded research.
ORSEC also will further shepherd compliance with heightened security and safeguarding requirements when the institution performs certain restricted research projects. As UGA steps up its sponsored research activity with federal “mission agencies” such as the Department of Defense, ORSEC’s responsibilities will become even more important.
The establishment of ORSEC is driven mainly by the research security requirements as outlined in National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 and associated agency implementation guidance. These new federal mandates will require the development of a formal research security program, applicable across research funded by all federal agencies. The research security program will include elements of cybersecurity, foreign travel security, research security training, and, where appropriate, export control training. Additionally, ORSEC will work to ensure that research requiring heightened safeguarding meets federal requirements for safeguarding controlled unclassified and classified information. Marty Bink serves as the facility security officer and the director of defense and secure collaborations in the Office of Research. In his facility security role, Bink will work closely with the ORSEC director as facility security responsibility transitions into that office.
ORSEC will also work closely with Gene Pope and the Office of Conflicts of Interest Review and Management regarding disclosure and reporting obligations mandated in NSPM-33 related to conflicts of interest, conflicts of commitment, and outside activities and affiliations.
More information, including an updated website, an outreach and education effort, and new policy or process, will be communicated to the research and university community over the coming months.
Starting May 23, Dan Runge will serve as the director of ORSEC. Dan has worked in research compliance at UGA since 2014. He is a member of the Association of University Export Control Officers and earned a bachelor of science from Kansas State University, a law degree from the University of Kansas, and a master of laws in international law from the University of San Diego. Runge was a prosecutor when he practiced law in Kansas.