Russell Thomas graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in History. Commissioned a 2ndLt in the U.S. Marine Corps, he graduated from the Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, VA, and then the U.S. Army Armor Officer Basic Course in Fort Knox, KY. He has operational/combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2011).
Russell Thomas still serves in the USMC reserve with the MAGTF Staff Training Program Detachment. He is a graduate of the USMC Command and Staff College blended seminar program, the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, and the National War College.
Russell Thomas transitioned from active to reserve duty in 2008 and entered service with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2009 as a Special Agent. He was transferred to the Washington Field Office (WFO) and assigned to an international terrorism squad. Russell Thomas served as an assaulter, sniper, and medic with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team. In 2017 Russell Thomas was selected to join the FBI’s National Tactical Team. In 2022 he was assigned to the National Defense University as an Assistant Professor and Interagency Chair. Currently Russell Thomas is the FBI Chair at the Marine Corps University.