An Elizabethton High School graduate, Corey Frazier Ellis, has been appointed Acting Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA).

Ellis is the son of Dr. Roy Ellis, former Superintendent of Elizabethton City Schools. While attending Elizabethton High, Corey played football and track and served as president of the student body.

The Executive Office for United States Attorney was created in 1953, and provides general guidance and support to more than 11,000 employees in 94 United States Attorneys’ offices located throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As Director, Ellis oversees EOUSA and serves as the principal staff officer for the Deputy Attorney General for all matters related to the United States Attorneys, as well as the primary liaison between the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, and the United States Attorneys. He provides executive assistance and supervision for the United States Attorneys, including legal education, administrative oversight, technical support, security, policy, and regulation to ensure the effective advancement of DOJ priorities throughout the United States Attorneys’ offices.

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Ellis to the position effective September 16, 2019. Prior to this appointment, Ellis served in several leadership roles in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General including Chief of Staff to Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein.

Before joining the Deputy Attorney General’s office, Corey was the First Assistant in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. While an Assistant United States Attorney, Ellis handled a wide range of criminal investigations including public corruption, white collar fraud, securities fraud, and cybercrime.

Ellis began his career as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office in Hendersonville, N.C., and has tried more than 100 jury trials.

Ellis received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his J.D. from the University of Memphis, School of Law.