D. Hank Ellison holds a Master of Science degree in chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. He has served active duty in the United States Army as an enlisted infantry soldier and a commissioned officer in the Chemical Corps. As a private consultant, he has responded to both transportation and fixed-facility hazardous material incidents throughout the state of Michigan. He has also provided chemical and biological counterterrorism training to members of hazardous material teams, police Special Weapons and Tactics teams, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and Federation of American Scientists.