Steve Russell graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry. Russell served 21 years – seven of those being overseas – including operation deployment to Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. Russell is highly decorated, having received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Additionally, his unit in Iraq was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for its role in the hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein. After defeating four opponents in one of the most contested races in the Oklahoma State Senate, he was then elected to represent Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
