russell shilling, ph.d.
ラッセル・シリング
strategy • policy • research & development (r&d)
Russ (ラス) is a leading innovator across multiple sectors and disciplines and has devoted his career to social impact. He has a long track record of creating successful teams with technology innovators, researchers, government, nonprofits, and philanthropies to use technology to tackle challenging problems.
He is a former Navy Captain who served as a Navy Aerospace Experimental Psychologist focused on using technology to revolutionize training, education, human factors, and psychological health.
After leaving military service, Russ worked with the White House. He transitioned to a political appointment to create the first STEM office at the U.S. Department of Education, where he promoted the development of innovative R&D technology programs and educational equity.
After the Obama Administration ended, Russ lent his expertise to help various philanthropies and nonprofits establish a large R&D fund to address intractable teaching and learning challenges that disproportionately affect Black and Latino students, and students of all races experiencing poverty.
He has also served as the Chief Scientific Officer for the American Psychological Association, where he helped craft federal policy based on behavioral sciences to inform need and impact.
Russ holds a B.A. in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Shilling grew up in West Virginia and currently resides in the Washington DC area with his wife Elaine and their two sons with autism.
venture impact
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Shilling was the driving force behind the first military-funded program in virtual reality therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — now used in numerous clinics.
He led innovative programs on artificial intelligence and affective computing to address psychological health problems as a program officer at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
In addition, he pioneered programs that used big data analytics to improve the effectiveness of educational games.
Shilling also led a program with Sesame Workshop to create award-winning programs to help military children cope with grief, injuries, and separations.
His work aided in the launch and growth of numerous start-ups and small businesses.
donald e. stokes
russ's favorite innovator
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“every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation.”
— dean lawrence kamen (born april 5, 1951)
russ’s favorite quote