East High School graduate, Class of 1968, D. Gordon Russell currently serves in two significant career roles as University of Colorado Associate Registrar and as a U.S. Navy (Reserve) Rear Admiral, Commander of the Navy Intelligence Reserve Command.
Gordon Russell graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor of arts degree in 1972. After graduation, he served as an employee of the University of Colorado-Boulder in the Student Recreation Center until 1980. It was at this stage in his career that Russell enlisted in the active U.S. Navy at the Navy Aviation Officer Candidate School. He received his officer commission in May, 1981 and reported to a Navy aviation training squadron, where he finished basic and intermediate flight training as the top Naval officer in his class.
After serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy for two years, Russell requested release from active duty to return to the University of Colorado- Boulder as Director of the Student Activities Finance Office for approximately three years. While employed at the University of Colorado- Boulder, Russell remained in the U.S. Navy (Reserve), affiliated with the Navy Intelligence Reserve Command.
During his two-track careers as an employee at University of Colorado-Boulder, Russell served his country and his state simultaneously. From 1984 through 1990, Russell was on active duty as a reserve officer with the U.S. Navy Intelligence Command. He generated a distinguished Navy career serving as an intelligence analyst and imagery interpretation officer. He progressed to various division and department head assignments. He also served briefly as an assistant intelligence officer aboard the USS Carl Vinson, a U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carrier.
Meanwhile, Russell advanced in his career at the University of Colorado-Boulder as Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Services from 1985 to 1988, as Acting Registrar from 1988 to 1989, and as Associate Registrar from 1990 to the present. From January, 2002 to May, 2003,
Russell was recalled to active duty with the U.S. Navy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as Chief, Operational Intelligence Division, Joint Intelligence Center, United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida.
Upon release from active duty in May, 2003, Russell was assigned as Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas. In October, 2004, he assumed command of Naval Reserve Intelligence Area 13 at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. In January, 2007, Russell was promoted to Chief of Staff, Navy Intelligence Reserve Command with the rank of a U.S. Navy four-stripe Captain.
In April, 2008, Russell was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as the Strategic Intelligence Officer for the Multi- National Force in Iraq. Russell remains on active duty serving as Commander, Navy Intelligence Reserve Command. Upon assuming his advanced position, Captain Russell was promoted to Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Reserve), where he leads a force of 4,000 Navy reserve intelligence personnel. He currently is stationed on active duty in Little Creek, Virginia, adjacent to the Norfolk Naval Base.
Admiral Russell’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal.
