Steven Dane Russell (born May 25, 1963) is the President and CEO of JAARS, Inc. He is a retired American soldier and former politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district from 2015 to 2019. Before that, he served in the Oklahoma Senate from 2009 to 2013. Russell is a member of the Republican Party.
Russell reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and was involved in the capture of Saddam Hussein during the Iraq War. He served in the Oklahoma Senate and ran for the House of Representatives when James Lankford did not seek re-election. After winning two terms in the House, Russell was defeated for re-election in 2018 by Democrat Kendra Horn. After serving as Executive Pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from 2019 to 2022, he became President and CEO of JAARS, Inc. on October 1, 2022.
Early life
Russell was born on May 25, 1963, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Clyde E. "Gene" Russell and Donna J. Porter Russell. He grew up in Del City, Oklahoma, and was the youngest of three children. Russell was very sick at birth because of a different blood type from his mother.
Russell attended Del City Elementary and Kerr Junior High. In 1977, he became a Christian after reading a Gideon's New Testament he found at Kerr. In 1980, Russell was an exchange student in Germany, living in Kasseedorf near Eutin in Schleswig-Holstein. He graduated from Del City High School in 1981, where he was President of his senior class and voted most likely to succeed. After earning a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, Russell went to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He graduated with a degree in Public Speaking and was appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry.
Military career
Russell received his Infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia. On December 21, 1985, he married Cindy Myers, whom he met at Ouachita. He completed training at the U.S. Army Infantry Officers' Basic Course, Airborne School, and Mortar School. A year later, he graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School in Class 11–87.
Russell served for 21 years in airborne, light, and mechanized units in the Arctic, desert, Pacific regions, Europe, and the Continental United States. He served more than seven years overseas and was deployed to Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Russell led the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry "Regulars" during combat in Tikrit, Iraq, from spring 2003 to spring 2004. His unit was part of Colonel James Hickey's 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. His unit was widely covered by media outlets including CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, TIME, Associated Press, and Reuters during the first year of the war. His unit played a key role in capturing Saddam Hussein and was featured in documentaries such as the Discovery Channel's "Ace in the Hole" and BBC Panorama's "Saddam on the Run." He was also featured in a documentary titled "Sacred Honor," which highlights his military career and political transition. Additionally, he appeared in "To War with the Fourth," a documentary book about the history of the U.S. Army's Fourth Infantry Division from World War I to the Global War on Terror.
Russell received several honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. His unit in Iraq was also awarded the Valorous Unit Award for its role in capturing Saddam Hussein.
Russell remained in command of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry until June 2005, when he was chosen to become the Chief of Tactics at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He declined a Queen's University Fellowship in Kingston, Canada, to attend the U.S. Army War College and was promoted to colonel. However, he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2006. He returned to Oklahoma with his wife and five children.
Post-military career
After retiring, Russell began working to support veterans and help give soldiers a stronger voice during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He created an organization called Vets for Victory with other decorated veterans. Together, they held rallies in multiple states to encourage the public to support military personnel. Russell also traveled across the country with well-known veterans, including 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.
Russell became a motivational speaker and has spoken in hundreds of cities since 2007. He gave keynote speeches at events such as the Ring Banquet at the U.S. Air Force Academy. In 2012, he was honored with the Paul R. Smith Award for his service in Iraq at the American Veterans Center’s 15th Annual Awards Gala. His speaking career is managed by Premiere Speakers Bureau in Franklin, Tennessee.
Russell is also a writer. His articles have been published in many major newspapers and magazines. He authored We Got Him!: A Memoir of the Hunt and Capture of Saddam Hussein, which was published by Simon & Schuster in December 2011. A previous version of the book was published by Deeds Publishing the same year. The book has received praise for its detailed descriptions of combat and the events leading to Saddam Hussein’s capture. It includes endorsements from General Tommy Franks, and the foreword was written by General Ray Odierno.
Russell has appeared on many national television and radio programs as a commentator on military and foreign affairs. He has also appeared on Spike TV’s Deadliest Warrior and four episodes of Gun Stories on the Outdoor Channel.
Additionally, Russell founded Two Rivers Arms, a company that makes replicas of the Iraqi Tabuk AK-47 and Iraqi Tabuk Sniper Rifle. The company created several special replicas of these rifles for the movie American Sniper, which was directed by Clint Eastwood.
Oklahoma State Senator
Russell started his public service in 2008 after winning a very competitive election in the Oklahoma State Senate. He got the most votes in the first Republican primary but did not win with 42% of the vote, leading by 15 points. He later won the Republican runoff election with 67% of the vote.
As a state senator, Russell wrote the Soldiers Relief Act, which made Oklahoma’s military service members exempt from paying taxes, helping more than 50,000 soldiers and their families. He also created the Soldiers Credentialing Act, a law that allowed soldiers to receive credit for their skills through direct certification instead of completing more schooling, helping them enter the workforce quickly. Russell also wrote several bills related to the Second Amendment that became law. After publishing his book, Russell announced he would not run for reelection and chose to focus on his business, public speaking, and work with veterans.
United States Representative
In January 2014, Russell announced he would run for the seat in the United States House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, which was becoming available because James Lankford was running for a Senate seat. On June 24, 2014, Russell was the top candidate in the Republican Primary but did not get enough votes to win the nomination. On August 26, 2014, Russell won the run-off election. On November 4, 2014, Russell was elected to Congress with 60.1% of the vote, defeating Democratic State Senator Al McCaffrey and three other candidates: Buddy Ray, Tom Boggs, and Robert Murphy.
On June 28, 2016, Russell won the Republican Primary for re-election to Congress with more than 80% of the vote, defeating Frank Volpe. On November 8, 2016, Russell was elected to a second term in Congress.
Russell was listed as one of the most effective lawmakers in Congress during his time in office by the Center for Effective Lawmaking. He ranked 22nd among 245 Republicans and was in the top six in his class of elected officials.
Russell was the lead Republican sponsor, along with Democratic Congressman Matt Cartwright, of H.R. 4904, the MEGABYTE Act of 2016, which became law on July 29, 2016, during the 114th Congress, 2nd Session (2016). This law requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to direct each executive agency’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) to create a software licensing policy that allows agencies to share software licenses to save money. The law has saved an estimated $120 million each year since it was signed into law.
Russell was the main sponsor of H.R. 5785, An Act to Provide for an Annuity Supplement for Certain Air Traffic Controllers, which became law on December 8, 2016, during the 114th Congress, 2nd Session (2016). This law prevents retired air traffic controllers from losing part of their retirement benefits if they work full-time as air traffic control instructors for the Federal Aviation Administration.
Russell played a key role in changing the 1982 Uniformed Spousal Protection Act. His amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act would stop future divorce cases from giving an ex-spouse an unfair share of a military retirement benefit. The amendment received support from both political parties and was signed into law on December 23, 2016.
Russell was the main sponsor of H.R. 194, the Federal Agency Mail Management Act of 2017, which became law on November 21, 2017, during the 115th Congress, 1st Session (2017). This law requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to help federal agencies manage mail more efficiently and save money.
Russell’s bill, H.R. 195, Continuing Appropriations for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2018, became law on January 22, 2018. Originally intended to reduce printing costs for the Federal Register, the bill was expanded to end the government shutdown that year.
Russell helped stop the privatization of air traffic control. He argued that privatization raised national security concerns and could limit access to the national airspace for all Americans. The Federal Aviation Administration’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center is in Oklahoma City. Russell, along with Congressman Ralph Abraham, was honored by several national aviation groups with the 2018 Hartranft Award from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Russell was the main sponsor of H.R. 6893, the Secret Service Overtime Pay Extension Act, which became law on December 21, 2018, during the 115th Congress, 2nd Session (2018). This law allows U.S. Secret Service officers, employees, and agents who perform protective services to receive overtime pay without limits.
On June 26, 2018, Russell was nominated as the Republican candidate for a third term with nearly 84% of the vote. However, Russell lost to Democratic opponent Kendra Horn on November 6, 2018. Most rating organizations predicted Russell would win because he was the current representative in a district that had not elected a Democrat in over 40 years. FiveThirtyEight gave Russell a 93% chance of winning. Russell could not overcome a 9,900-vote deficit in Oklahoma County, which includes three-fourths of the district’s population. His loss to Horn was a major surprise and showed how many Republicans lost seats in the House, leading to a Democratic majority. It also showed how urban voters, who usually support Democrats, are becoming more influential in states that traditionally support Republicans.
Post-political life
Russell began speaking publicly again about leadership, decision-making, and the capture of Saddam Hussein through Premiere Speakers Bureau. He also became the Executive Pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Russell started a nonprofit organization called "The Redeemed Flying Corps," which helps with aviation missions, and he was its first executive director. In October 2022, Russell became the President and CEO of JAARS, Inc., a mission aviation and support organization that was founded in 1948 by William Cameron Townsend.
Personal life
Russell has lived in Oklahoma for five generations of his family. His interests include teaching Sunday school, reading and studying history, playing the guitar and singing, and collecting old military items and guns. Russell is also a licensed pilot. He has been married to Cindy Myers from Columbus, Arkansas, since 1985. They have five adult children, three of whom were adopted from Hungary. They are members of First Southern Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he worked as the Executive Pastor.
Education
Russell graduated from Del City High School in 1981. He was honored as a member of the Del City Hall of Fame in its first class, along with professional football player Bob Kalsu, who died in Vietnam, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist John Smith.
Russell earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Speaking from Ouachita Baptist University. He led his fraternity and was responsible for new members. He also served as the leader of the ROTC Cadets.
Russell completed a Master of Military Arts and Science in Military History, focusing on East Asia, from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1998. His other military training included the Infantry Officers Basic Course, the Armored Officers Career Course, the Combined Arms Staff School, and the Battalion Commanders Course.
Russell completed several military skills schools, including 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 received awards for his service during military campaigns, for doing an outstanding job, and for showing bravery. His awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star Medal for bravery and service, the Meritorious Service Medal (received six times), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (received three times), the Army Achievement Medal (received four times), the National Defense Service Medal (received two times), 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 Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NATO Medal for Kosovo, and Russell is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He received the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the US Army and Korean Parachutists Badge.