The Office of Research Security (ORS) was established in 2024 as a unit of the Office of the Vice President for Research. The ORS is in the process of staffing up. Currently, USC’s Chief Research Security Officer (CRSO), Steve Schrimpf, oversees the ORS and works closely with colleagues and functional partners across the university.
Steve Schrimpf, USC Chief Research Security Officer
Email Address: steveashley@sc.edu
Phone Number: 803-544-1208
Steve Schrimpf joined the university as CRSO in fall 2024, coming to us from Lockheed
Martin, where he served as the Senior Industrial Security Manager and Facility Security
Officer for five years, managing classified security operations and programs. His
extensive background as a security professional stretches back 38 years, beginning
with 25 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, from which he retired honorably as
a decorated Security Forces Manager. Since leaving the Air Force, Mr. Schrimpf has
held multiple executive-level security positions in both the public and private sectors
and earned a master’s degree in business from Colorado State University. Schrimpf also serves as the university's Insider Threat Program Senior Official (ITPSO).
Doug Gaines, Research Security Manager
Email Address: wdgaines@sc.edu
Doug Gaines joined the Office of Research Security Team in fall 2025. Mr. Gaines has
an extensive background in national security and law enforcement, with more than 20
years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent and as the Weapons
of Mass Destruction Coordinator for the entire state of South Carolina. Thanks to
this experience, he has unique expertise and skills in threat assessment and evaluating
vulnerabilities in the scientific communities. Mr. Gaines is primarily responsible for overseeing USC's Foreign Affiliation Risk
Management Program, including due diligence and risk assessment processes.
Meg Brown, Research Security and Export Control Specialist
Email Address: mbrown115@sc.edu
Michelle “Meg” Brown joined the Office of Research Security Team in October 2025.
Ms. Brown has an extensive background in national security. She has completed 23
years in the National Security background investigation industry for the U.S. government.
She was placed in several different roles leading teams of investigators. Brown is
a graduate of the University of South Carolina and feels privileged to be part of
the research security team. Her expertise in national security will be vital to research
security and export control functions for the University.