Special Agent Lee M. Russ, a member of the Senior Executive Service, serves as the Executive Director, Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Office of Special Projects and as the Department of the Air Force Special Access Program Security Director. Mr. Russ directs 427 personnel at 52 field offices delivering security, investigative, counterintelligence, polygraph and program security management support for all programs protected under special access controls to securely acquire and deploy operational and intelligence capabilities to warfighters worldwide. Mr. Russ also integrates traditional OSI services and capabilities with a comprehensive program security, network accreditation and information assurance program.
A career Special Agent with the OSI, Mr. Russ has directed and led law enforcement and counterintelligence investigations and operations at every Air Force level. He served as an active duty OSI Special Agent from 2001 until 2006, when he became a civil servant. He has served as a Special Agent, deployed Counterintelligence Collections Manager, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Program Security Officer, Command Program Security Officer, Special Agent in Charge and Deputy Director. Prior to his current position, Mr. Russ served in a career-broadening opportunity as the Director of Counterintelligence and Global Special Access Program Security at the Department of Defense Special Access Program Central Office, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
EDUCATION
2001 Air Force Office of Special Investigator’s Basic Course, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
2006 Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, American Intercontinental University, Schaumburg, Ill.
2010 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Brookmont, Md.
2018 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagger Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2021 Excellence in Government Fellows Program, Partnership for Public Service
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 2001–July 2004, Special Agent, Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 216, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
2. January 2003–July 2003, Counterintelligence Collections Manager, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
3. July 2004–August 2006, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, OSI Detachment 334, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. August 2006–July 2009, Special Agent, Program Security Officer, OSI Office of Special
Projects, Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
5. July 2009–July 2010, Student, National Defense Intelligence College, JB Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
6. July 2010–June 2014, 2010 Special Agent, Command Program Security Officer, Office of Special Projects, JB Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
7. June 2014–June 2017, Special Agent in Charge, OSI Office of Special Projects, Detachment 9, JB Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
8. June 2017–June 2018, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2017–December 2020, Deputy Director and OSI Office of Special Projects, JB Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
10. December 2020–July 2022, Director, Counterintelligence and Global SAP Security, Department of Defense SAP Central Office, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. July 2022–present, Executive Director, OSI Office of Special Projects and Department of the Air Force Special Access Program Security Director, JB Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award (x4)
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
2011 OSI Civilian Special Agent of the Year
2014, 2016 National Counterintelligence Security Award (Physical/Technical Security Award)
2014, 2016 DoD Counterintelligence Award (Counterintelligence Functional Services Award)
(Current as of November 2022)