Dr. Thomas Russell’s 30-year government science and technology career has focused on leading and executing complex multi-disciplinary research programs to meet future warfighter needs. He has served with the Navy (16 years), the Air Force (6 years), and the Army (8 years).
In his last government position as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research and Technology)/Army Chief Scientist, he was responsible for policy and oversight of the Army’s Research and Technology program spanning 16 laboratories and Research, Development and Engineering Centers. In this position, Dr. Russell was charged with setting strategic directions and identifying, developing, and demonstrating technology options that inform and enable effective and affordable capabilities for the Soldier.
He also served as Director, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, where he was responsible for the Army’s premier research laboratory. Here, he provided oversight and leadership for planning and execution of research and analysis in weapons and materials, sensors and electron devices, computational and information sciences, human research and engineering, vehicle technology, and survivability and lethality analysis.
As the Director, U.S. Air force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), he was responsible for the management of the entire USAF basic research investment. In this role, he actively directed the research investment portfolio to identify breakthrough opportunities and revolutionary basic research that will profoundly impact the Future Air Force.
Dr. Thomas Russell is the recipient of the Army Research Laboratory, Life-time Achievement Award and the SES Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive Service.
EDUCATION
University of Delaware, Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry
Muhlenberg College, B.S., Chemistry