In this capacity, he oversees tertiary health care delivery for the entire organization which includes one large medical center, eight outpatient clinics and 4,500 employees with an operating budget of more than $810 million. The facility serves over 108,000 Veterans per annum. Prior to this appointment, he served as Director/CEO of the Miami VA Healthcare System from 2012-2018 and as Director/CEO at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina. From 2010 – 2012.

He began his VA career in 1982 as a staff dietitian at the Buffalo VA Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. He progressed into multiple management positions serving as Chief of Nutrition and Food Service at the VA hospitals in Syracuse, NY and West Palm Beach, FL eventually working his way to the Chief of the Integrated Nutrition and Food Service Department between Miami and West Palm Beach VA Healthcare Systems. He then served as the Assistant Director of the Miami VA Healthcare System 2001-2002 prior to his appointment as Associate Director of the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System from 2003 through August 2010.

He received his master's degree in health systems administration at Rochester Institute of Technology in 2005 and was recognized as a distinguished alumnus in 2013. He received his bachelor’s degree in clinical Dietetics in 1982 from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He is board certified as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). He is a recipient of the Veterans Administration Administrators Hands and Heart Award in 1985 awarded when working as Oncology Dietitian at the Bay Pines VAHS and Secretary's Award for Dietitian of the Year in 1996. He is a senior member of the American Society for Quality and has maintained his registered dietitian (RD) status.

In 2006 he received the ACHE Regents Award for establishing the Treasure Coast Health Care Executive Network, a local chapter of ACHE. He served as President of the chapter from 2006-2008 and board member thereafter. In 2011 he received the ACHE Distinguished Service Award. In February 2015 he received the Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in recognition of his service to all people regardless of race or faith.

Mr. Russo has served on numerous boards and committees within the Department of Veterans Affairs and external to the agency. Past appointments include Chairperson of FirstChoice Credit Union Board 1999 – 2010, West Palm Beach, FL; Miami -Dade County Military Affairs Board, 2013-2018, and Chairperson of the Federal Executive Board of South Florida 2016-2017. He is currently serving as the Director representative to the National Association of VA Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) since 2017. As Medical Center Director/CEO he is member of the federal Senior Executive Service (SES).