Russ Hodgkins was born and grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts. After graduating from Quincy High School, he attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduating in 1980.
Russ became an Air Force pilot and spent the next 29 years on active duty. He is a combat veteran, serving in Operation DESERT STORM and flying 116 combat missions in the EF-111 aircraft. He served in the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Upon his retirement from the Air Force, Russ and his wife Donni moved to Amherst in 2009.
Russ and Donni have been married for 39 years. They have two adult sons, who are also Air Force pilots. They have one grandson.
Russ is employed as a commercial pilot for a New Hampshire based business aviation company
Education
- B.S. Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado
- M.S. Aviation Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, International Campus
- M.A. International Strategic Studies, U.S. Air Force Air War College, Alabama
Relevant Experience
- Experienced working in the inter-agency environment with multiple government agencies and departments with many moving parts
- Managed multi-million dollar programs in periods of both rising and declining budgets
- Serves on Amherst Ways & Means Committee; has firsthand knowledge of state and local spending challenges