Huey D. Thornton Jr.

Huey Thornton is the Southern Poverty Law Center’s director of security. He is responsible for the safety and security of the SPLC’s personnel and facilities. A key member of the leadership team, he plans, coordinates and directs all facets of the SPLC’s protective services.

Thornton has 29 years of law enforcement experience, previously serving as chief of police at Alabama State University (ASU) and police major at the Montgomery Police Department in Alabama. At ASU, he was responsible for planning, coordinating and maintaining law enforcement operations for the university’s state-certified police department.

Before joining ASU, he served the Montgomery Police Department, retiring after 21 years of service. During that time, he held numerous positions, including administrative division commander, staff operations officer/assistant to the chief of police and traffic division commander. Thornton is also a retired U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel.

Thornton is an ASIS International board-Certified Protection Professional. He is a graduate of the FBI National Training Academy and the Army Command and General Staff College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in pre-law from Auburn University at Montgomery and a Master of Science in criminal justice from Faulkner University.