2006 Distinguished Alumnus

Dr. Vincent J. Russo

 Dr. Russo, who graduated in 1964 with a master’s degree in materials engineering, was named as a Distinguished  Alumni in 2006. He a retired member of the Senior Executive Service and culminated his career as the Executive Director of the Aeronautical Systems Center . Russo entered federal service in 1962 when he was commissioned a Second Lt. through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Rochester . He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1968 as a student at AFIT and a project engineer and project manager in the C-5A Galaxy System Program Office. In 1974, he earned his Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from the Ohio State University . Russo held a variety of senior technical positions within system program offices, various laboratories and laboratory staffs. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1986 and he retired in 2003. Russo is currently the Executive Advisor to the President of the University of Dayton, a board member, consultant or advisor with several commercial and not-for-profit organizations, and the President and CEO of Growing Splendid Leaders LLC. Recently, Dr. Russo was the Vice Chairman of the Transformation Opportunities Study for the Air Force Research Laboratory, an activity that could help shape the future for science and technology in the Air Force.