He serves as the primary advisor and principal EAD to the Director and Deputy Director, NCIS on all national security investigations, operations and operational support services. He is responsible for the manning, training and equipping of agency personnel to protect Navy and Marine Corps forces, operations, information, facilities, equipment and networks from attacks and the intelligence activities of foreign governments and international terrorist organizations.

Special Agent Russ was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in February 2016 and has 26+ years of Federal Service.

Special Agent Russ joined the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in 1989, serving in the Washington, D.C. Field Office. He subsequently served tours of duty in Pusan, South Korea (1996-1998), and in the Counterintelligence Directorate at NCIS Headquarters, Washington, DC (1998-2000). He joined the supervisory ranks as a Supervisory Special Agent in Manama, Bahrain, (2000-2002). His subsequent management assignments included Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director and Director of NCIS, NCIS Headquarters, Washington, DC (2002-2004), Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Counterintelligence, Washington Field Office, Washington, DC (2004-2006); Deputy Assistant Director, Cyber Department, Washington, DC (2006-2008); Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Middle East Field Office, Manama, Bahrain (2008-2009); and Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Norfolk Field Office, Norfolk, VA (2009-2012).

Immediately prior to his appointment as Executive Assistant Director, Special Agent Russ served as the Acting Executive Assistant Director for the newly formed Cyber Directorate (2016). He served as the Assistant Director for Intelligence and Information Sharing (2014-2015); First Director, Joint Detachment Apollo-Afghanistan (2013), where he led, managed and executed strategic capabilities against the adversary. Special Agent Russ also served as the Assistant Director for Financial Management and Planning (2012-2013). In this role, he was responsible for the entire range of human capital management and process development.

His personal awards include two Secretary of Defense Medals, Global War on Terrorism (2002/2013); Non Article 5 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (2013); and the Joint Civilian Commendation Award (2013).