COL Russell Hoff enlisted in the Army in 1990 in Strategic Communication Repair. He graduated from the United States Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Monmouth, NJ. He went on to receive his commission in May 1997 as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Branch from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelors of Science in Economics.
He later received a Masters in Business Administration with distinction from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA in December 2007. COL Hoff is Level III certified in Program Management and Level II certified in Contracting under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA).
His Infantry assignments include Rifle Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, and Headquarters & Headquarters Company Executive Officer with 3/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; Division G3 Training Management Officer, Rifle Company Commander, Afghan National Army Embedded Training Team Leader, and 2nd Brigade Assistant Operations Officer with 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY including deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom I & III.
In 2004, COL Hoff became an Army Acquisition Officer and his assignments include serving as a Small Arms Requirements Developer, Combat Development Directorate, Fort Benning,
GA; Contingency Contracting Team (CCT) Leader, 619th CCT under 900th Contingency Contracting Battalion, Fort Drum, NY; Chief of the Regional Contracting Center (RCC), Forward Operating Base Echo, Operation Iraqi Freedom; and Chief of RCC at FOB Shank, Afghanistan. Assignments at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, MI include Assistant Product Manager, Armored Security Vehicle, Non-Tactical Vehicles, and Allied Tactical Vehicles under Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS & CSS); Senior Trail Boss and Military Deputy for PM Synchronized Fielding, and Product Manager for Allied Tactical Vehicles under PEO CS&CSS. After earning a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, COL Hoff assumed responsibilities in his current position as the Project Manager for Close Combat Systems, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, and the Venezuelan Parachutist Badge.