Russell was hired as a full time capatin in Feburary of 2021.

Russell is a long term resident of Charleston having completed Charleston Elementary, Sunset Middle and graduating from Marshfield
High School.

He began at Charleston RFPD in 1993 at 14 years of age as a Junior Firefighter.

After graduating High School, served with the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and in the former Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo war conflict.

After his Military service, Russell returned to the Charleston Community and the Fire District as a volunteer firefighter. 

He also then started a family while acquiring gainful employment with Coos County until Jan 2021 when he was hired as a full time Captain with Charleston RFPD.

As of Jan 2025, I have accumulated a total of 29 years of service to the Charleston fire district.

Russell is a second generation career firefighter for Charleston Fire after his Dad, Battalion Chief Rusty Shield (Ret).

Rusty joined CRFPD in 1987 and served until his retirement in 2017. Besides Rusty, Russell's Mom Debra Shield, 3 sisters and brother all served a Junior and volunteer firefighters.