Liverpool - HMS Eaglet

Military experience

Phil Russ was born in Sale, Cheshire in 1962. In 1989 he married Karen and they now live in Macclesfield, Cheshire with their two children, Timothy (1995) and Adam (1998). Educated at Sale County Grammar School he gained A-levels in Mathematics, Physics, and Biology before going up to the University of London (Queen Mary College) where he graduated in 1983 with a BSc (Honours) Degree in Physics. In 1986 he was awarded a MSc in Computer Science from the University of Manchester.

Since graduating he has worked for the Royal Armaments Research and Development Establishment, the National Computing Centre, and Siemens plc, where as a Business Information Specialist, he achieved his Chartered Engineer Status. In January 1997, Karen accepted an overseas secondment and the family moved to the USA remaining there until March 1999. In April 2000 he joined the Lairdside Maritime Centre (Liverpool John Moores University) and was appointed Director in September 2001. In 2004 he was awarded a PG Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Warwick. Most of his spare time is spent sailing with his family on their yacht, Annapolis, currently moored on Ullswater in Cumbria.

Phil Russ joined HMS Eaglet, Mersey Division Royal Naval Reserve in December 1983. Achieving a first class pass at his fleet board he went on to receive his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate and served as Gunnery Officer, Navigating Officer, and First Lieutenant of a Mine Counter Measures (MCM) Vessel. Shortly after the role of the RNR changed in 1994 he successfully completed the MCM Staff Officers Course and served as a MCM Tasking Authority Watchkeeper for a variety of exercises at home and abroad. In June 1999 he volunteered for Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) and served as the Deputy Squadron Operations Officer to the First MCM Squadron which included a three-month deployment to the Mediterranean and Black Sea as the on call MCM force. On completion of his FTRS commitment (April 2000) he returned to HMS Eaglet as Recruiting Officer and OIC for the Battle of Atlantic Commeporation Service. Appointed Unit Training Officer (Specialist) in 2001 he was mobilised in January 2003 to join the UKMCMFOR (MCM1) Battle Staff for Op Telic and subsequently served as Chief of Staff to the US MCM Commander during break through operations to Az Zubayr, Iraq. Prior to demobilisation (August 2003), he successfully completed the Advanced Minewarfare Course. Promoted Commander in September 2005 he was appointed SO1 Maritime Trade Operations. It was during this appointment that he was selected for the Advanced Command and Staff Course. Having successfully completed ACSC11 (2007-08) he was awarded psc(j) and a MA in Defence Studies. An appointment as SO1 Employer Support followed (2008-2010) before taking Command of HMS Eaglet in April 2011.