Russell is an Experimental Psychologist and former DARPA Program Officer known for pioneering the first military-sponsored virtual reality therapy for PTSD, now used in VA facilities nationwide. He has served as Chief Scientific Officer at the American Psychological Association and as Executive Director for STEM at the U.S. Department of Education. For the past 17 years, Dr. Shilling has been developing and researching AI conversational agents to enhance learning, engagement, and mental health. He also partnered with Sesame Workshop to create award-winning media supporting military and veteran families. A recognized leader in innovation R&D, he advises philanthropies, startups, nonprofits, and others on responsible AI, XR, and game technologies—advancing the use of emerging technology to improve education and psychological well-being. A parent of two adult sons who are autistic, he also applies his expertise to technology solutions to improve the quality of life for the autism community.