Former IRS Special Agent named campus Director of Safety

Kim Chaudoin | 

Former Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Brad Wyatt has been named Lipscomb University’s director of safety, President Randy Lowry recently announced.Wyatt, who brings to Lipscomb years of law enforcement experience, will serve as head of the university’s Office of Campus Safety.

“Brad Wyatt brings to Lipscomb a unique set of experiences that we’ve not had before in the leadership of this area on our campus,” said Phil Ellenburg, Lipscomb’s general counsel. “Because of his background, Brad has skills and contacts in a number of law enforcement areas which will aid the university as we continually review our safety and security programs on campus. We look forward to what he can add to our existing programs and to his leadership of our dedicated campus safety officers and staff. ”

A native of Farmington, Missouri, Wyatt began his career as an accountant preparing individual and business tax returns in his hometown. In May 1979, Wyatt joined the IRS as a Revenue Agent in Memphis, Tenn., where he conducted audits of businesses, corporations and high income individuals.

From January 1983 to December 2005 he worked as an IRS Special Agent with the Criminal Investigation Division in Memphis. In this capacity, Wyatt conducted financial investigations concerning various fraud issues, with cases ranging from small business owners not reporting income correctly to drug cartel investigations, political corruption, racketeering and large corporate fraud cases. From December 2005 until retiring in early February of this year, Wyatt was Resident Agent in Charge of the Memphis Fraud Detection Center. He has also taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Ga., with emphasis on teaching new special agents financial investigative techniques.

“I am very excited to be at Lipscomb University. I feel that I do have some experience that will enhance the safety and security measures that the university has successfully implemented for years on the campus. I plan on taking a fresh look to see how we can improve on what we’ve been doing,” said Wyatt.

“Safety and security have always been an important consideration on any university campus. But, in light of recent events around the country, every university needs to continually evaluate and seek to improve their campus safety programs.”

Wyatt said he looks forward to building relationships with students in his work with the Office of Campus Safety.

“I enjoy working with students and believe that I have the ability to communicate well with them. I also view this opportunity as a ministry — not just a job. I really believe this job is about building relationships and communication. Most problems that arise in any area are based on a lack of communication. My goal is to communicate, educate and train those on this campus to be safe,” said Wyatt.

Wyatt has also conducted training seminars for the United States Department of Justice in the areas of financial investigative techniques and money laundering techniques. Occasionally, he will continue to serve as a Department of Justice instructor.

For his service, Wyatt has received numerous awards from the IRS and the United States Attorney’s Office in Memphis for work on high profile investigations and for work on high profile drug investigations with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Wyatt is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He and his wife, Janice, have four children and will transition to Nashville over the Christmas break.