TEAM
David Ellis
GEMSEC Consulting LLC
Founder & Security Consultant
Event Safety • Crisis Management • Risk Mitigation
Short Blurb
David Ellis, founder of GEMSEC Consulting LLC, is a seasoned physical security professional with more than 15 years of experience in event safety, crisis management, and risk mitigation. He has led security operations for professional sports, large-scale events, and corporate organizations, with expertise spanning vulnerability assessments, training programs, and law enforcement liaison. David currently serves as Vice Chair of ASIS International’s Phoenix Chapter and as a board member of the Event Safety Alliance.
Full Bio
David Ellis is the founder of GEMSEC Consulting LLC and a highly experienced physical security professional specializing in event safety, crisis management, and risk mitigation. He currently serves as a Field Applications Engineer and Technical Advisor at CEIA USA. With over 15 years of experience managing security operations for high-profile organizations and events, David has established himself as a trusted leader in event and organizational safety.
Previously, David served as Director of Security for a Major League Baseball team, where he spearheaded long-term strategic initiatives that enhanced organizational resilience and risk management. His leadership encompassed incident and crisis management, event-specific security planning, executive protection, internal investigations, and the development of training programs. David also served as a primary liaison to local, state, and federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, ensuring seamless coordination and security excellence.
His expertise extends to security operations for major special events, including multiple Super Bowls, the MLB All-Star Game, the World Series, and the NCAA Bowl Championship Series. His consulting experience includes vulnerability assessments, quality assurance audits, post-incident evaluations, and special event planning for organizations of all sizes. Before his work in professional sports, David directed event security operations at a major university, overseeing the safety of more than 900 annual events.
David believes that event safety should go beyond compliance, actively enhancing the guest experience. His philosophy ensures that protective measures are both effective and supportive of positive, enjoyable environments. His extensive training in incident response, hazard identification, and public safety operations keeps him current with best practices and strengthens his ability to design and implement robust security programs.
In addition to his security expertise, David is a Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor, underscoring his precision, discipline, and commitment to safety. He has also chaired the Phoenix Area Security and Stadium Operations Working Group, co-founded the Cactus League Spring Training Operations Committee, and played a role in developing ANSI’s ES1.40-2023 Event Safety – Security standard. Currently, he is Vice Chair of the ASIS International Phoenix Chapter and serves on the Board of Directors for the Event Safety Alliance, where he is contributing to the second edition of the Event Safety Guide—the United States’ first published safety guidance for the live event industry.
David Ellis remains committed to advancing safety and security across industries, helping organizations create secure environments while ensuring that protective measures support—not detract from—the overall.