Russell B. Price Russell B. Price serves as the Director of the F-35 Directorate (Joint Strike Fighter) in Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity, Mr. Price holds direct accountability for organizing, training, and equipping the Air Force Personnel within the F-35 Joint Program Office to facilitate the development, delivery, and sustainment of all airborne, ground-based and surface platforms along with cutting-edge capabilities for both domestic and allied nations. His oversight encompasses the management and mentoring of more than 700 civilian and uniformed staff members. Most recently, Mr. Price fulfilled the role of Chief of Staff for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office's Air Vehicle Program Office in Arlington, VA, a position he had held since July 2021. A seasoned leader with over 30 years of military and civilian experience, Mr. Price directed the strategic development, production, and sustainment of the F-35A, B, and C variants for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy, as well as seven international partners and twelve foreign military sales clients. He led a team of 500+ personnel and managed the program's budget while spearheading Congressional briefings. Mr. Price retired as a Command Sergeant Major after 32 years of military service, culminating as senior enlisted advisor to multiple general officers. His key assignments included the 335th Signal Command (Theater) and the 351st Civil Affairs Command. He oversaw personnel, operations, training, and readiness, and advised on strategic planning and resource allocation. His deployments include tours in Kabul and Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and Jisr Diyala/Hawr Rajab, Iraq. EDUCATION: 1992 Helicopter Adventure, Inc. Commercial & Instructor License 1997 Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communication with a minor in Marketing, East Tenn State University, Johnson City, Tenn. 2012 Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training, Department of Defense, Arlington, Va. 2013 United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Resident Class 63, Ft. Bliss, Texas 2013 Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership, Excelsior College, Albany, N.Y. 2016 Power of Process & Leading Transformation 2019 Nominative Leader Course, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa. 2021 Senior Executive Fellows, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass. CAREER CHRONOLOGY: 1. June 1992 – October 2024, The U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Grade level: E9 (CSM), Nominative Command Sergeant Major, culminating as the Division Command Sergeant Major, 335TH Singal Command (Theater) 2. July 2013 – February 2014, Deputy Program Manager, Extractives, Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO), US Department of Defense, Office of Secretary of Defense, Arlington, Va. 3. February 2014 – August 2015, Strategic Communications Lead, Connected Logics, Inc. (Supported Power Projection Enablers), Fort Belvoir, Va. 4. August 2015 – May 2016, Manager of Cultural Optimization, Optimize Consulting, Inc. (Supported Defense Logistics Agency HQ, J-5 Strategic Plans & Policy), Fort Belvoir, Va. 5. May 2016 – January 2020, Management Analyst, Enterprise Process Management, Defense Logistics Agency HQ, Fort Belvoir, Va. 6. January 2020 - July 2021, Executive Officer to the Defense Logistics Agency Chief of Staff, Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters, Fort Belvoir, Va. 7. July 2021 – August 2025, Chief of Staff, Air Vehicle Program Office, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, Arlington, Va. 8. August 2025 – present, Director, F-35 Directorate (Joint Strike Fighter), Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Arlington, Va. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster Army Commendation Medal Oak Leaf Cluster Army Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters DLA Director's Strategic Goal Award OCCUPATIONAL BADGES: Combat Action Badge Parachutist Badge Army Staff Identification Badge New Zealand Parachutist Badge German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Sliver