A native of Wildwood, New Jersey, Russell served in the United States Air Force during the early years of the Cold War. He was actively involved in the Apollo Moon landings and the Space Shuttle program. He served as a technical adviser to the German Air Force and during the height of the Cold War was assigned to remote locations to gather intelligence data on Soviet submarines and nuclear Underwater test for the CIA and other government agencies.
He graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in management and teaches a class in creative writing at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. He is married and makes his home among the magnificent red mountains of Southern Utah.