The Combat Veterans for Congress PAC is endorsing the 96th Combat Veteran for Congress in five years; he is a fiscally conservative candidate who believes in a smaller less intrusive federal government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense.  He understands and is an advocate for the precepts of the US Constitution, will work to rein in the out of control federal spending by irresponsible members of Congress, and will work toward unleashing the private sector to grow once again. He is an independent thinking Republican and will champion working families, senior citizens, and Veterans.  Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, USA (Ret) (Ranger) has over 21 years of service as US Army Infantry Officer and resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; he is running for a vacant Congressional seat in the 5th Congressional District of Oklahoma that was occupied by Congressman James Lankford (R-OK-5) who is now running to represent Oklahoma in the US Senate.  Steve Russell was born on May 25, 1963 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.   Steve attended Del City High School in Del City, Oklahoma and graduated in May 1981.  Steve then matriculated at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Speaking in May 1985.  In May 1998, Major Steven Russell, USA graduated from the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with a Master of Arts Degree in Military History.

Steve Russell attended Ouachita Baptist University on a 4 year Army ROTC Scholarship, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Infantry in May 1985.  Second Lieutenant Russell reported to US Army Infantry Officer’s Basic School at Fort Benning, Georgia for officer training.  Upon graduation in February 1986 he went on to US Army Airborne School in Fort Benning and got his Airborne wings in March 1986 and then completed the US Army Mortar School in April 1986 at Fort Benning.   2nd LT Russell reported as the Airborne Mortar Platoon Leader for C Company (Airborne), 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry at Ft. Wainwright, AK; he was promoted First Lieutenant on November 22, 1986.  In March 1987, 1st LT Russell became the Airborne Rifle Platoon Leader of the 2nd Platoon, of C Company (Airborne). In June 1987, 1ST Lt Russell reported to US Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, and graduated in August 1987, and earned the coveted Ranger Tab. He completed the winter phase training at US Army Northern Warfare School at Fort Wainwright, Alaska and completed training in December 1987, having completed the summer phase as a cadet in July 1983.  Then he went through Korean Airborne School in the Republic of South Korea, completing training in March 1988.  Still at Ft Wainwright, 1st LT Russell served as the Battalion Adjutant of the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry from April 1988 to January 1989.  From January 1989 to December 1989, 1st LT Russell served as aide-de-camp to the Assistant Division Commander of the 6th Infantry Division (Light).  On September 1, 1989, 1ST LT Russell was promoted to Captain.   In January 1990, Captain Russell received orders to the US Amy Armored Officers Advanced Course at Fort Knox, KY and completed training in May 1990.  In June and July 1990, CPT Russell graduated from the Battalion Maintenance Course at Ft Knox, KY and the Air Cround Operations School at Hurlburt Field, FL.  In August 1990, CPT Russell was assigned as Air Operations Officer (S3) of 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry at Ft Irwin. He took command of C Company, 1stBattalion, 52nd Infantry,  and transitioned to his company to the Bradley fighting Vehicle from March 1991 to June 1991.  In January 1993, after completing nearly two years of command, CPT Russell reported to Ft Benning, GA  as a Small Group Instructor. While a Small Group Instructor from 1993 to 1996, CPT Russell completed the Combined arms Service Staff School at Ft Leavenworth, KS from June to August 1993.  In June 1996, CPT Russell served as a Combined Arms and Tactics Doctrine Writer until June 1997 when he became the Executive Officer of the US Army Infantry School at Ft Benning, GA.  On September 1, 1996, Captain Russell was promoted to Major.  In June 1997, Major Russell was selected for the US Army Command and General Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and graduated in May 1998.  From June 1998 to May 1999, he served as Secretary to the General Staff of the 1stInfantry Division in Wurzburg, Germany.   In June 1999, Maj Russell became the Battalion Operations Office (S3) of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry (TF 1-26) and deployed from Schweinfurt, Germany to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian II with the 1st Infantry Division.  Maj Russell’s superb planning of combat operations was widely credited with pacifying the difficult Gnjilane area of MNB-East Kosovo. On December 6, 1999, Maj Russell returned to CONUS; he was assigned as the Executive Officer for the 1st Battalion 26th Infantry in Schweinfurt, Germany from February 2000 to December 2000.  Maj Russell was awarded with the Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO Medal, and various Service and Campaign Medals. In January 2001, Maj Russell was selected as aide-de-camp to the  US Army Forces Commander at Headquarters, at Fort McPherson, Georgia, the commander of all Army ground forces in the continental United States.  In December 2001, Maj Russell deployed to Camp Doha, Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as the Chief of Future Operations for Coalition Force Land Component Commander (CFLCC); he planned the operational level Afghanistan Combat Operations from December 2001 to February 2002.  Maj Russell planned and executed the directive to train the Afghanistan National Army, and deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan to work with the Afghanistan national leadership, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and the 3rd Special Forces Group.  On February 1, 2002 Major Russell was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.  LTC Russell served as the delegate to the UN Afghanistan Security Conference in April 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland.  LTC Russell re-deployed from Operation Enduring Freedom in August 2002 back to CONUS to become the Chief of Training (G-3), in III Corps at Fort Hood. Texas.  LTC Russell was awarded the Joint Services Commendation Medal, and various Service and Campaign Medals. In September 2002, LTC Russell received orders to the Army Infantry Battalion Commanders Course and the Bradley Battalion Commanders Course at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Benning, completed training in November 2002, and returned to Fort Hood.  In May 2003, LTC Russell deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Tikrit, Iraq to take command of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry “Regulars” (TF 1-22 Infantry).  Task Force 1-22 was in the heart of the battle until redeployment in March of 2004; the Task Force was part of Colonel James Hickey’s 1st Brigade, 4thInfantry Division.  LTC Russell’s 1st Battalion was a central player in the “hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein” , and has been featured in Discovery’s “Ace in the Hole”, and BBC Panorama’s “Saddam on the Run” documentaries.  The 1st Battalion was broadly covered during the first year by CNN, FOX NEWS, ABC, NBC, CBS, Time Magazine, the Associated Press, and Reuters.  LTC Russell’s 1st Battalion returned to CONUS in March 2004, and he remained in command until June 2005.  LTC Russell was awarded with the Bronze Star Medal (with Combat “V”) and the Bronze Star Medal, and the US Army subsequently awarded LTC Russell’s Battalion the Valorous Unit Award (Army) (for the “hunt & capture of Saddam Hussein” in Iraq), and he also was awarded with various Service and Campaign Medals. In June 2005, LTC Russell received orders to report as the Chief of Tactics at the US Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, GA, where his impact on the maneuver career course will be felt for years to come.   In October 2005, LTC Russell was a Senior Service Selectee when he received a Foreign Fellowship from the US Army War College to matriculate at Queens University, in Kingston,  Canada.   LTC Russell was Honorably Discharged from the US Army on September 1, 2006, after 21 years of active duty service.  He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (with Combat “V” and Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf for six awards), the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaves for three awards), the Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaves for four awards), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award (Army), the Army Superior Unit Award, the NATO Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, the Korean Parachutist Badge, and numerous Service and Campaign Medals. Upon Honorable Discharge from the US Army LTC Russell moved back to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in September 2006 and after a brief break in 2007 he toured the United States as a motivational speaker with distinguished and highly decorated Combat Veterans who were awarded the Army and Navy Cross, including endorsed Combat Veteran For Congress, SSgt David Bellavia, USA (author of “House to House”), SO1 Marcus Luttrell, USN (SEAL) (author of “Lone Survivor”), and SSgt Jeremiah Workman, USMC (author of “Shadow of the Sword”).  LTC Russell is a successful motivational speaker and has made presentations in hundreds of cities across America.  In 2008, Steve Russell was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate representing the 45th State Senatorial District and served on the Finance, Homeland Security, Veterans & Military Affairs (Chairman), Public Safety (Vice Chairman), and the Health & Human Services Committees until 2012.  In 2010, Steve Russell founded and owns Two Rivers Arms, a small rifle manufacturing company located in Del City, OK.  LTC Russell founded Vets for Victory in Oklahoma, was a Board Member for Vets for Freedom in Washington, DC, is a former Military Advisor for the Concerned Veterans For America, and is an active Board Member of Warriors for Freedom in Oklahoma City. LTC Steve Russell is a Life Member of the NRA, American Legion Post 353, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9342, a Life Member of the Society of the 1st Infantry Division, a Life Member of the 26th Infantry Regimental Association, and an active member of the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society.  Steve Russell authored the book “We Got Him”, A Memoir of the Hunt & Capture of Saddam Hussein published by Simon & Schuster (the forward of the book was written by General Ray Odierno, Chief of Staff of the US Army).  On October 27, 2012, LTC Russell was honored at the American Veterans Center’s 15th Annual Awards Gala in Washington, DC, as the Paul R. Smith Award recipient for his distinguished service in Iraq.  LTC Russell has been endorsed by the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Organization, the Oklahoma Conservative PAC (OCPAC), Lt Gen William G. Boykin, USA (Ret), Lt Gen Richard “Dick” Burpee, USAF (Ret), Maj Gen Jay Edwards, USAF (Ret), Maj Gen Billy Bowen, USAF (Ret), The Tea Party Express, America’s PAC, and the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.  LTC Russell and his wife Cindy of 28 years have five children, Jessica (age 25), Matt (age 22), Chris (age 20), Patricia (age 19) and Hannah (age 18); they are members of the First Southern Baptist Church in Del City, Oklahoma.  

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, USA (Ret) (Ranger) who will bring to Congress private sector skills and wisdom to better solve problems in government and represent the 5th Congressional District of Oklahoma and the Republic.  If you review LTC Russell’s positions on his Web site, you will be pleased with his position on critical issues and they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  We look forward to working with LTC Russell, and are pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for Congress.  If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in the 5th Congressional District of Oklahoma, kindly pass this E-mail on to them, and ask them to support LTC Russell by working in his campaign, providing financial support for his campaign in any amount, and/or by networking with others who would be willing to support his campaign.  The military is one of the few remaining institutions producing the caliber of men and women needed to restore this nation to the greatness our Founding Fathers envisioned.  We have endorsed another Combat Veteran for Congress that General George Washington would have approved of.  He is a Veteran who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount “up to and including his life.”