An Oregon native, Russ graduated with a B.S. Wildlife Science from Oregon State University in 1986. He has been employed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for 25 years and currently serves as the Oregon Wolf Coordinator in La Grande. He is a former District Wildlife Biologist in Heppner where he worked with a variety of game and nongame wildlife species.  His personal interests include photography, traditional archery, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, and spending time in the outdoors with his two boys.