CIA Clandestine Services Officer
Mr. Russell has a rather laid-back personality. Never much of a screamer (except during his Army days), he does harden his countenance when someone fails him. Mr. Russell tries at all times to be relaxed, and has the patience "of a saint," according to one associate. He tries to always see the positive side of any obstacle, but maintains his candor and will point out deficiencies so that they can be improved. Usually can be found joking about with a half-grin on his face.
Mr. Russell maintains a working knowledge of a wide assortment of the tools of his trade. Generally he maintains on his person a SIG-SAUER P229 and two spare magazines as well as a light burglary kit and an encrypted cell phone.
His qualifications in weapons (as of 1999) include:
US: M9, M1911A1, M4A1, M16A2, M249, M240B/G, M60E3, M203, M2BMG, Mark 19, LAW, AT-4, M40A1, M24, M82A1
NATO: Browning/FN Hi-Power, SIG P226/229, H&K P7/USP/Mk23, FN FiveseveN, SA80A1, FAMAS F-1, G3, G36, P-90, FN FAL/FNC, PSG-1
Warsaw Pact: AKM (all variants), AK-74, Makarov, Dragunov, RPD/RPK, PKM, RPG-7, -11, -18
Mr. Russell is intimately familiar with the capabilities of several different forms of high-explosive, to include C4, Composition B, PETN, Semtex, various brands of det-cord. He is trained in high-speed offensive and defensive driving with many vehicles. His personal vehicle that he uses while at home in the States is a '9X BMW Z3, even though it is slightly unsuitable for the driving that he gets to do in Northern Virginia.
James Hillary Russell was born in Arlington, Virginia to John Hillary Russell and Mia Russell on 05 November 1969. His father worked for the CIA first as a security officer and later as a Special Protection Officer (SPO) for Ambassador Helms during the first Iranian hostage crisis, but was luckily extracted before the second (and infinitely more famous) crisis. His mother, Mia, was an editor and reviewer for various publishing houses, and an avid fan of the outdoors. "Jack," a childhood nickname that stuck with him, attended Bruton High School near Camp Peary, Virginia, graduating in June '87 with a 3.8 GPA. He didn't travel very far for college, either, deciding to attend the University of William and Mary. Using an Army ROTC scholarship, he pursued a degree in Political Science, graduating Cum Laude (as he partied a bit too much in his sophomore year) in 1991. Once in the Army, he branched Infantry, attending Ranger School, Airborne, Air Assault and Pathfinder school. Much to his disappointment, he missed the Persian Gulf War, but was in Bravo Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and took part in the bloody events of the Battle of Mogadishu on 03-04 October 1993. After rotating back, he served for a year as commander of Bravo Company, 2nd-506th PIR, before his application was accepted to participate in the Special Forces Assessment and Selection--the "Q-course". In September of 1996, Captain Jack Russell was granted his long tab and joined the 7th Special Forces Group. In January 1999, Major Jack Russell was permanently seconded to the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations. Inside the National Clandestine Service, he was assigned to the Special Activities Division's Special Operations Group.