Rob Russell serves as the Acting Regional Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Region 6 headquartered in Irving, Texas. Mr. Russell recently served as the Regional Deputy Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Region 6. His staff oversees risk management, and both physical and cyber security activities for private and public sector partners across Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. He regularly interacts with state and local homeland security officials and is the CISA Director’s representative to the region’s stakeholders.
Prior to this position, Mr. Russell served as the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Regional Advisor for both Region 6 and 8 which are in the Office of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security. In this role, he is responsible for implementing Presidential Executive Order 12977 to enhance the quality and effectiveness of security in and the protection of buildings and non-military Federal facilities.
Mr. Russell also spent time as the Social Security Administration Lead Security Advisor in the development of the Program of Requirements for the National Service Center (500M project work). During his tenure with the SSA, Mr. Russell received two Associate Commissioner’s Citations. He managed the planning, development, and evaluation of the SSA’s field facility security risk assessments/analysis initiatives to ensure the cost-effective protection of facilities, equipment, personnel, monies, documents, and computer systems. He administered the Security Operations and Policy for developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive physical security program in the headquarters and field offices, and conducted risk assessments and corrective safeguard actions in the SSA Headquarters and field facilities
Mr. Russell was born and raised in SW Florida. He honorably served in our United States Armed Forces for 21 plus years. After retirement, he served as a Sheriff Deputy Criminal Detective in Charlotte County, Florida before entering federal service in July 2005.
Mr. Russell is married to his high school sweetheart Elizabeth (Libby) and they enjoy their kids and grandchildren. Rob is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, where he received a B.S. in Vocational Workforce Education and Human Resource Development. He also earned associate degrees in Criminal Justice and Personnel Management from the University of Maryland. His hobbies include motocross, fishing, hunting, and golfing.