Mr. Russell Porter

Russell Porter is the Executive Director of the USAID Secretariat for Countering Violent Extremism. In this capacity he coordinates USAID policy to address the drivers of violent extremism and insurgency. He previously served as the acting Deputy Assistant to the Administrator and director for Program Management and Coordination in the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs (OAPA). Russell set up and led the USAID Haiti Task Team in Washington following the 2010 earthquake. He served for nearly ten years in USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), directing programs in Latin America, and then serving as global program advisor, where he directed projects in Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and other programs in the region. He also served at senior press officer for USAID from 1993-1996. Russell’s experience outside of USAID includes working for the public affairs firm of Powell Tate (1998-2000). He worked for Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) in various staff positions from 1990-1993. Prior to that, Russell worked for the United Shareholders Association, which was run by T. Boone Pickens. Russell holds a BA from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and an MA in Latin American studies and international economics from the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University.