# Russell MacDonnell

> Russell R. MacDonnell is the chairman, CEO and co-founder of Rapid Response Monitoring, a career entrepreneur whose work in electronic security spans Sonitrol, SecurityLink, Alarmguard, Tyco and more than three decades at Rapid Response. His record is defined by acquisitions, a costly reversal during the late-1980s banking crisis, a return through Alarmguard, and a patient commitment to an independent, family-run monitoring company.

- **Role:** Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder at Rapid Response Monitoring
- **Organizations:** Rapid Response Monitoring, Sonitrol Security Systems, SecurityLink Corporation, Alarmguard Holdings Inc., Tyco International, ADT
- **From:** New York, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in History, Williams College, Juris Doctor, Boston University School of Law, CEO Presidents' Seminar, Stanford Graduate School of Business, CEO Presidents' Seminar, Harvard Business School Executive Education
- **Known for:** Built SecurityLink through 40 acquisitions in its first 36 months., Founded Alarmguard and led it through its $187 million acquisition by Tyco International in 1999., Co-founded Rapid Response Monitoring in 1992 and continued as its chairman and CEO.

## Career timeline

- **1970-1984** — Learned the alarm business at his father's Sonitrol Security operation in Stamford, Connecticut.
- **1986** — Assembled an investment group and founded SecurityLink.
- **1986-1989** — SecurityLink completed 40 acquisitions in its first 36 months and expanded across several U.S. regions.
- **1992** — Formed Alarmguard after a new investor group acquired SecurityLink Northeast assets.
- **1992** — Co-founded Rapid Response Monitoring Services with Jeffrey Atkins.
- **1999** — Alarmguard was acquired by Tyco International for $187 million.
- **1999-2001** — Worked on ADT acquisitions as part of Tyco.
- **2001** — Left Tyco to focus on Rapid Response Monitoring.
- **2016** — Inducted into the Security Sales & Integration Industry Hall of Fame.
- **2024** — Rapid Response announced partnerships involving adaptive alarm response with Ubiety and real-time verified crime information with 3Si.
- **2026** — A Florida corporate filing continued to list him as Rapid Response Monitoring's CEO.

## Achievements

- Built SecurityLink through 40 acquisitions in its first 36 months.
- Founded Alarmguard and led it through its $187 million acquisition by Tyco International in 1999.
- Co-founded Rapid Response Monitoring in 1992 and continued as its chairman and CEO.
- Inducted into the Security Sales & Integration Industry Hall of Fame in 2016.
- Helped explain the electronic security industry's investment case to banks and equity capital providers.
- Built a career as founder or CEO across seven electronic-security companies, according to his public LinkedIn profile.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — Rapid Response Monitoring's Florida annual report continued to list Russell MacDonnell as CEO.
- **2025-02** — His LinkedIn profile records completion of the CEO Presidents' Seminar at Harvard Business School Executive Education.
- **2024-10** — Rapid Response and 3Si announced a partnership to deliver verified, in-progress felony incident information to law enforcement.
- **2024** — Rapid Response, KEYTH Security and Ubiety announced the launch of Ubiety Halo adaptive alarm response capabilities.

## Links

- Website: https://www.rrms.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-macdonnell-a65b195a
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7vupRyJem-yo1qB5ycPVuw
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rapidresponsemonitoring/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RapidResponseMonitoring

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/russell-macdonnell
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-27