Steve Russell (politician)

Early life

Russell was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Clyde E. "Gene" Russell and Donna J. Porter Russell on May 25, 1963. Russell grew up in Del City, Oklahoma. The youngest of three, Russell nearly died at birth due to an opposite blood type with his mother. After weeks of intensive care, he recovered and would face several other brushes with death. At the age of seven, Russell was nearly killed by the deadly tornado that hit near Lake Eufala, Oklahoma on June 11, 1970 while visiting his grandparents. Later that year, Russell nearly died from a ruptured appendix and underwent two surgeries with weeks of intensive care at Midwest City Hospital.

Russell attended school at Del City Elementary and Kerr Junior High. He became a Christian reading a Gideon's New Testament he picked up at Kerr in 1977. Graduating from Del City High School in 1981, Russell was President of his senior class and voted most likely to succeed. After earning a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, Russell attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. After graduating with a degree in Public Speaking, Russell was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry.

Military career

Receiving his Infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Russell married Cindy Myers, whom he met at Ouachita, on December 21, 1985. Russell would graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry Officers' Basic Course, Airborne School, Mortar School and a year later from the U.S. Army Ranger School in Class 11–87.

Russell served 21 years in airborne, light and mechanized assignments in the Arctic, the desert, the Pacific, in Europe and in the Continental United States. He served more than seven years overseas and deployed operationally to Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Russell commanded the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry 'Regulars' and conducted combat in Tikrit, Iraq from the spring of 2003 to the spring of 2004. His task force was a part of Colonel James Hickey's 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Russell's battalion was broadly covered during the first year of the war by CNN, Fox News Channel, ABC, NBC, CBS, TIME, Associated Press and Reuters. His unit was a central player in the hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein and has been featured in the Discovery Channel's Ace in the Hole and BBC Panorama's 'Saddam on the Run' documentaries.

Russell is highly decorated, having received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and his unit in Iraq was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for its role in the hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein.

Russell continued in command of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry until June, 2005, when he was selected to become the Chief of Tactics at the US Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA. Turning down a Queen's University Fellowship to Kingston, Canada for the U.S. Army War College and promotion to colonel, Russell retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2006. He returned to Oklahoma with his wife and five children.

Post-military career

Russell began an active veterans advocacy career upon retirement and worked closely with other veterans to bolster the soldiers voice in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He formed Vets for Victory with several decorated warriors holding rallies in several states to embolden the public to support the troops. Russell also toured the country with many distinguished and highly decorated veterans such as David Bellavia, author of House to House; Marcus Luttrell, author of Lone Survivor; Jeremiah Workman, author of Shadow of the Sword; and Sean Parnell, author of Outlaw Platoon.

As a motivational speaker, Russell embarked on a successful speaking career in hundreds of cities since 2007. He has been featured as a keynote speaker at such notable events as the Ring Banquet at the U.S. Air Force Academy and was honored as the Paul R. Smith Award recipient for his distinguished service in Iraq at the American Veterans Center 15th Annual Awards Gala in 2012. He is managed by Premiere Speakers Bureau of Franklin, Tennessee.

Russell has also been a successful writer and author. His opinion pieces have appeared in many major publications, and he is the author of "We Got Him!: A Memoir of the Hunt and Capture of Saddam Hussein", published by Simon and Schuster in December 2011. An earlier version of the work was published by Deeds Publishing that year. The book has received critical acclaim for its vivid portrayal of combat and the events surrounding the hunt for the Iraqi dictator and his capture. It received numerous endorsements to include General Tommy Franks and the forward was written by General Ray Odierno.

Russell also has appeared on many national television and radio shows as a military and foreign affairs commentator. In addition, he has made appearances on Spike TV's Deadliest Warrior and four episodes of Outdoor Channel's Gun Stories.

Russell is also the owner and founder of Two Rivers Arms, a small rifle manufacturing business that makes copies of the Iraqi Tabuk AK-47 and Iraqi Tabuk Sniper Rifle. The company built half a dozen special Iraqi rifle replicas for Clint Eastwood's film American Sniper. The Two Rivers Arms Tabuk Sniper model used in the film was featured and field tested in Guns & Ammo Magazine's AK-47 fall 2015 issue.

Political career

Russell began his service to the public in 2008 when he defeated four opponents in one of the most contested races in the Oklahoma State Senate that year. Russell won the initial Republican primary with 42% of the vote, leading by 15 points. He won the Republican run off with 67% of the vote.

As a state senator Russell authored the Soldiers Relief Act that made Oklahoma’s serving military tax exempt, affecting over 50,000 soldiers and their families. He also authored the Soldiers Credentialing Act, the law that allows credit for soldiers skills through direct certification rather than lengthy schooling allowing them to quickly enter the work force. He was also the lawmaker most known for the defense of the 2nd Amendment, restoring lost firearms freedoms and as a staunch defender of the Bill of Rights. Shortly after the publication of his book, Russell announced he would not seek reelection and he decided to focus on his business, public speaking and veterans advocacy.

In January 2014, Russell announced he would seek the seat of the United States House of Representatives in Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, which was being vacated by James Lankford in his US Senate bid. On June 24, 2014, Russell led the field in the six-way Republican Primary. On Tuesday, August 26, 2014, Russell won a major victory despite being heavily outspent to win the Republican nomination. On November 4, 2014, Russell was elected to Congress with 60.1% of the vote, handily defeating Democratic State Senator Al McCaffrey and three Independent candidates, Buddy Ray, Tom Boggs and Robert Murphy.

Committee assignments

Personal life

Russell is a fifth-generation Oklahoman. His hobbies include teaching Sunday school, reading and studying history, playing the guitar and singing, as well as collecting military antiques and firearms. Russell has been married to the former Cindy Myers of Columbus, Arkansas since 1985. They have five grown children, three of whom were adopted from Hungary.

Education

Russell is a graduate of Del City High, Class of 1981. He was inducted into the Del City Hall of Fame in its very first class along with professional football player Bob Kalsu who was killed in Vietnam and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist John Smith.

Russell graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a BA in Public Speaking. He was the president and pledge master of his fraternity and cadet corps commander of the ROTC Cadets.

Russell also earned a MMAS in History with a focus on East Asia from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1998. His other military education includes the Infantry Officers Basic Course, the Armored Officers Career Course, the Combined Arms Staff School and the Battalion Commanders Course.

Russell's military skills schools include, Airborne School, Ranger School, Northern Warfare Summer and Winter Phase, Mortar School, and the Bradley Gunners and Commanders Courses.

Military Awards and Decorations

Russell has been decorated for campaign service, meritorious achievement, and valor. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for valor and service, the Meritorious Service Medal (six awards), the Joint Forces Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (three awards), the Army Achievement Medal (four awards), the National Defense Service Medal (two awards), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Nato Medal (Kosovo), and Russell is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He was awarded the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the US Army and Korean Parachutists Badge.