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 on USS NORMANDY in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He later deployed as Detachment Maintenance Officer on USS PHILIPPINE SEA again supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a crewmember of IWO JIMA, he deployed as Flight Deck Officer and earned his Officer of the Deck Underway qualification. With HSM-48 he deployed as Detachment FOUR Officer-in-Charge on USS NICHOLAS supporting NATO anti-piracy operations. 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).
 
Captain Russo holds a B.S. 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.