Randy Russell

Randy Russell serves as WFP USA’s Chairman of the Board and is president and partner of The Russell Group, an agricultural and food consulting firm. Throughout his career, he has served in a number of agricultural policy positions, both inside and outside of government, including chief of staff for Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block, deputy assistant secretary for economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, vice president for agriculture and trade policy at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, director of government relations for The Pillsbury Company, and the 1981 Farm Bill coordinator for the USDA. Russell received a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in economics from George Mason University.

In addition to his service for WFP USA, Randy has been actively involved in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program in Northern Virginia. He was a Big Brother for ten years and was named President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Northern Virginia Council of Big Brothers/Big Sisters and served on the Board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the National Capital Area. Randy is also on the Board of Governors of the Bryce Harlow Foundation, encouraging the highest standards for professional lobbying and government affairs, and has and continues to serve as a mentor for fellowship recipients interested in going into advocacy.

Randy and his wife, Beth, live in McLean, VA, and have six children. The Russells are co-founders of The Golden Phoenix Foundation, working to address the issue of childhood abandonment around the world. He and Beth are also active members of the National Council for Adoption, which helps promote domestic and foreign adoptions as well as foster care.

Randy and Beth have a small farm in Round Hill, VA where they raise alpacas, as well as an assortment of other animals.