A Q&A with Brandon Norwat, the Office of Research Support and Compliance’s Associate Director of Science & Security
This month we talk to Brandon Norwat, who came to OVPR after more than a quarter century in law enforcement, including 22 years as an FBI special agent. He tells us what he admires about his colleagues and how his prior jobs helped prepare him for his current role (and if you ask him yourself, he’s happy to share some stories from his days as a SWAT team operator and hostage negotiator).
Tell us about your job as the associate director for research security.
In essence, I help protect the University’s critical research innovation and intellectual property, which are used to solve the world’s problems. To do this, my team engages regularly with our research community to help navigate international collaborations and affiliations. We review foreign travel, visiting research affiliates, contracts and agreements with international institutions, and other outside activities to assess risk and provide mitigation strategies so that our University can safely and effectively engage with the global community.
I started my position with UT Austin in June 2020 after retiring from government service. I was the first official hire for the ORSC’s research security team, and I’m happy to have seen it grow exponentially in personnel and responsibilities.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
It really is a privilege to engage with our talented research community, both faculty and staff, on a daily basis. I’m constantly amazed at the great work being done at UT Austin and how our dedicated faculty and staff never back down from a challenge. Our society is faced with so many difficult problems, and I get to witness firsthand how truly passionate my co-workers are about changing the world for the better.
I see that you used to be a police officer and an FBI agent — quite a unique background around here, I imagine! What did those jobs entail, and how did they prepare you for your current role? Any crazy stories (that you’re allowed to share)?
I was honored to serve as a member of the law enforcement community for 26 years, with over four years as a city cop in Kansas City, Missouri, and 22 years as an FBI special agent. I had an absolute blast and was fortunate to be involved in many exciting experiences and investigations. I was also able to travel our great country and work alongside other incredible agencies, both foreign and domestic. After 26 years of developing and honing various skills, including experience as a trained hostage negotiator, I have gained greater attention to detail and the ability to communicate effectively with people of all nationalities — skills that align perfectly with the demands of my current role.
For those interested in crazy stories, I’m happy to talk about many hostage rescues from my days on the SWAT team.
When did you move to Austin, and what brought you here? What do you like most about it?
I moved to the Austin area from Washington D.C. in 2010 after being selected to supervise a national security task force of special agents and federal officers from several government agencies.
Austin is a vibrant city and offers so many activities for individuals and families. It’s no wonder this city is one of the fastest growing and most popular places to live in the country. I also grew up in Kansas City and no longer wanted to experience the long cold winters that came with life there. Austin definitely checks that box.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My wife and I have four grown children and one grandchild, with another on the way, so we enjoy making memories with our family. We are avid sports fans and also like to travel, having done a number of Caribbean cruises. We’re looking to next explore several parts of Europe by land, sea and river.