A native of Manchester, Connecticut, Captain Jay Russo graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 2003. Captain Russo’s operational assignments include tours with HSL-42, USS IWO JIMA (LHD-7), HSM-48, and HSM-51. While at HSL-42 he deployed onboard USS NORMANDY (CG-60) and USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58) to CENTCOM supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a crewmember of IWO JIMA, he deployed to SOUTHCOM and earned his Officer of the Deck Underway qualification. At HSM-48 he deployed as Detachment FOUR Officer-in-Charge onboard USS NICHOLAS (FFG-47) to CENTCOM and EUCOM. In 2019, Captain Russo reported as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of HSM-51 in Atsugi, Japan. While in command, HSM-51 won the 2020 Golden Wrench, the CNO Safety ‘S’, the Battle ‘E’, and the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Excellence Awards.  
 
Ashore, Captain Russo served at HSL-40 as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Instructor Pilot, in the J-3 Directorate on the Joint Staff in Washington D.C., as Executive Officer of the MH-60R East Coast FRS, HSM-40, and as Deputy Director of Navy Appropriations Matters (FMBE) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Financial Management & Comptroller (FM&C). He reported as Deputy Commodore in July 2024 and assumed command of HSM Wing Pacific in December 2025. 
 
Captain Russo holds a BS in Computer Science from USNA, an MBA from the University of Florida, and is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College (non-resident program). He is a Certified Defense Financial Manager and has flown over 3,000 hours in naval aircraft.

Last Updated: 2 December 2025