Macel Ely wears many hats. He serves as the Homeland Security Program Coordinator at University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) a grant-funded "think-tank" whose mission it is to provide innovative and technologically based training and technical assistance (services) to law enforcement agencies and communities. His duties include assisting in the development of a state-wide curriculum training for law enforcement officers and other city officials in Tennessee as well as planning, coordinating, and hosting training activities in conjunction with the Governor’s own Office of Homeland Security.

The purpose of these coordinated trainings is to educate and equip law enforcement officers to understand how to detect, deter, prevent, and respond to acts of terrorism in the event such an incident were to occur within the State. Such homeland security training sites can be found offered across the entire state at various locations.

Macel has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Lee University and Kentucky Wesleyan College, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee. Before coming to work for LEIC, Macel also formerly worked as a school administrator in Kentucky and a news reporter on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Macel is also a licensed Private Investigator with the State of Tennessee and performs investigative services for Ralph Perrigo Investigations & Associates. He is also very active with the Tennessee Private Investigation Association and serves as a board of director for Barnabas Ministries International and the East Tennessee chapter of the American Society for Public Administrators. Back to faculty page