Mr. Russell re-joined the Academy’s staff in October of 2022 as the Executive Director of the Center for Arctic Study and Policy and Instructor in Government. Mr. Russell brings nearly 25 years of relevant organizational leadership, strategic analysis, and Coast Guard operational experience to the position.

Mr. Russell graduated from the Coast Guard Academy as a Government major in 1996, and was twice selected for Coast Guard advanced education programs and holds three Masters degrees. In 2002, he graduated from Florida International University with a Master of Mass Communication with a specialization in crisis communications. In 2008, he received a Master of Military Studies from the Marine Corps University where he was the winner of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff strategic essay contest for his analysis of the need and a proposed framework for a national strategy for the Arctic. He also earned a Master of Arts in History from George Mason University in 2017, focusing on the study of Cold War strategic decision making with an emphasis on the influence of individual agency.

As a career cutterman, Mr. Russell served in command positions on six cutters in the Bering Sea, Eastern Pacific, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. He served in special staff assignments as Chief of Staff to the Director of Net Assessment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Coast Guard Executive Fellow to the RAND Corporation, and Press Secretary to the Commandant of the Coast Guard and National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response.

From 2017 to 2019 he served as Chief of Professional Maritime Studies at the Academy, where he directed a four-year system of academic education and military training focused on nautical science, leadership, and the maritime operating environment. He retired from the Coast Guard in 2020 as Chief, Office of Public Affairs at Coast Guard Headquarters where he led strategy development, program management, and communication execution service-wide.

Education

• George Mason University Fairfax, VA, M.A. in History
• Marine Corps University Quantico, VA, Master Military Studies
• Florida International University Miami, FL, Master Mass Communications

Courses Taught

• Arctic Area Studies
• Nautical Science

Selected Publications and Presentations

• “Well-Grounded in Seamanship: CGA’s vital contribution to the Service’s enduring operational effectiveness and afloat safety,” Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association Bulletin, published June/July 2018.
• “Countering Maritime Improvised Explosive Devices in U.S. Ports: Options for Reducing Risks and Response Times,” Co-authored FOUO Report by RAND prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, November 2014.
• “Death is Never Far When You Are at Sea,” USA Today.com, Editorial published May 10, 2014
• “Why the Dangerous New Turn for Piracy Matters,” cnn.com, Editorial published April 29, 2014
• “Gulf of Guinea Piracy: Treat the Disease, not the Symptoms,” presented at the Brookings Institute’s Federal Fellow Research Symposium, March 12, 2014
• “Carpe DIEM: Seizing Strategic Opportunity in the Arctic,” Joint Forces Quarterly, Issue 51, 4th Quarter 2008
• “Security with Compassion,” Coast Guard Proceedings: Journal of Safety and Security at Sea, Volume 66 Number 1, Spring 2009

Honors and Awards

• Winner, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Essay Contest: This annual competition challenges students at the nation’s Professional Military Education institutions to write about significant aspects of national security strategy to stimulate strategic thinking, promote well written research, and contribute to a broader security debate.
• Winner, Command and Staff College Dean’s Writing Award: Recognized for superior research paper among 200 students comprised of leading mid-grade military officers from all services, several Federal agencies and 25 allied nations.
• Most Outstanding Graduate Student (2001-2002), FIU School of Journalism & Mass Communication: Recognized for academic achievements, leadership, and service to the university.
• Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Society: Academic excellence in journalism and mass communication.
• Honor Graduate, Defense Information School, Public Affairs Qualification Course: Two-month training program for Department of Defense communication professionals. Instruction focuses on the foundational elements of the communication planning process; principles and techniques associated with implementing effective communication strategies; and the processes involved in integrating communication into military planning and operations