# Russell R. MacDonnell

> Russell R. MacDonnell is chairman, CEO and co-founder of Rapid Response Monitoring. His electronic-security career spans the family Sonitrol business, SecurityLink, Alarmguard and Tyco. He co-founded Rapid Response with Jeffrey Atkins in 1992, was inducted into the Security Sales & Integration Industry Hall of Fame in 2016, and has supported Siena’s career and internship center with Jan MacDonnell.

- **Role:** Chairman and CEO at Rapid Response Monitoring
- **Organizations:** Rapid Response Monitoring, Sonitrol Security Systems, Sonitrol Services of New York, SecurityLink, Alarmguard, Tyco International, Eastern Security Services
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in History, Williams College, Juris Doctor, Boston University School of Law, CEO Presidents’ Seminar (executive education), Stanford University Graduate School of Business, CEO Presidents’ Seminar (executive education), Harvard Business School Executive Education
- **Known for:** Co-founded Rapid Response Monitoring with Jeffrey Atkins in 1992., SecurityLink completed 40 acquisitions in its first 36 months., Founded Alarmguard, acquired by Tyco International for $187 million in 1999.

## Career timeline

- **1970-1984** — Learned the alarm business at his father’s Sonitrol operation in Stamford, Connecticut.
- **1985** — Opened Sonitrol Services of New York in Syracuse.
- **1986** — Formed an investor group and founded SecurityLink, which completed 40 acquisitions in its first 36 months.
- **1992** — Formed Alarmguard by acquiring SecurityLink Northeast assets from the foreclosing bank; separately co-founded Rapid Response with Jeffrey Atkins.
- **1999** — Tyco International acquired Alarmguard for $187 million; he joined Tyco’s ADT acquisition work.
- **2001** — Left Tyco to focus on Rapid Response.
- **2016** — Inducted into the Security Sales & Integration Industry Hall of Fame.
- **2023** — Completed a Stanford CEO Presidents’ Seminar, as listed on his LinkedIn profile.
- **2025** — Added a Harvard CEO Presidents’ Seminar credential to his LinkedIn profile.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Rapid Response Monitoring with Jeffrey Atkins in 1992.
- SecurityLink completed 40 acquisitions in its first 36 months.
- Founded Alarmguard, acquired by Tyco International for $187 million in 1999.
- Inducted into the Security Sales & Integration Industry Hall of Fame in 2016.
- Supported Siena’s MacDonnell Career and Internship Center with Jan MacDonnell.

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — Rapid Response, KEYTH Security and Ubiety Technologies announced the Ubiety Halo adaptive alarm-response partnership.
- **2025-02** — His LinkedIn profile lists a Harvard Business School Executive Education CEO Presidents’ Seminar credential.
- **2024-10** — Rapid Response announced a strategic partnership with 3Si focused on verified crime information and law-enforcement response.

## Links

- Website: https://www.rrms.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-macdonnell-a65b195a

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/russell-r-macdonnell
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Last updated: 2026-10-22