Lt Col Russell is a Visiting Scholar and National Defense Fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. He previously served as the chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force's 366th Fighter Wing and as commander of the 366th Operations Support Squadron. As an Air Force active duty officer and instructor weapons system officer, he has flown over 1,800 hours including over 500 combat hours primarily in the F-15E Strike Eagle. He has deployed four times to support operations in Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, Africa and Europe and has served as a staff officer at European Command as well as the Air Force Personnel Center. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas Christian University and Masters degrees in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma and Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Force's Air Command and Staff College.