Russ has worked for the Air Force for 17 years as a Biologist, Natural Resource Manager, AFCEC ISS Support, and now as a Natural Resources Project Manager. All of these positions have been based at Hill AFB and the Utah Test and Training Range which encompass approximately 1 million acres in the Great Basin. Russ has led a large program that surveys and manages birds, large mammals, herps, small mammals, and vegetation. He started a robust rangeland restoration program at the UTTR and loves doing projects. Because he has worked on an active Testing and Training Range, he understands the military mission and how natural resources supports, sustains, and is compatible with the military mission.

Prior to DoD, Russ worked for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) for 13 years as a Habitat Biologist focused on Stream restoration and Riparian habitat, a Project Leader acquiring, building, and managing land, water rights, and wildlife for the Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, and finished his career with UDWR as the Habitat Conservation Coordinator overseeing $17 million for habitat projects and a wonderful Team as part of the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative (UWRI).

Russ previously served NMFWA on the Board of Directors as the Treasurer for 6 years and served as a NMFWA Bird Conservation Working Group Co-Chair for 2 years. Russ is also serves as a member of the DoD Partners in Flight (PIF) Steering Committee and represents OSD on the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI). Russ is also serving as a member of the Utah Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council.  Past conservation related service includes President of the Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society, served eight years on the Utah Northern Region Wildlife Advisory Council, served many years on the Intermountain West Joint Venture State Steering Committee, and Chaired (twice) the Northern Region Utah Partners for Conservation and Development as part of the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative.

Russ is a graduate of Utah State University and received two Bachelors and a Master Degree from USU. Russ is married and the father of 4 daughters who love the outdoors as much as he does. He also has 5 grandchildren that seem to enjoy interacting with wild places and wild things as much as their mothers do (so far so good). Russ enjoys hunting and fishing, but mostly because it is a good excuse to get outside, get a lot of exercise, and spend time with family and friends. Russ also enjoys Dutch Oven cooking, 4-wheeling, gardening, baking, and bird watching and feeding. Russ is also an avid skier and has been a volunteer Ski Patroller for 29 years. He also volunteers for the Freestyle World Cup at Deer Valley building Aerial Jumps and working the events every winter.