Command - Senior Reserve Officer
Commander Sharon Russell currently serves as the Senior Reserve Officer for USCG Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia, PA. She assumed this role in August 2022. In this capacity, CDR Brown serves as an advisor to the Command on the operational readiness and employment of more than 200 reserves.
CDR Russell graduated from OCS in February 2003 and served on Active Duty for 3 years stationed at USCG Marine Safety Unit Houma, LA. Upon transferring to the Reserve component, she was assigned to Sector St. Petersburg where she continued to work on her Marine Safety qualification. In 2011, then LT Grau was recalled to Active Duty for almost 18 months and served as the Maritime Security Project Officer for the Republican National Convention, which was held in Tampa in 2012. Assignments as an officer also include Sector Miami Command Center, District 7 Staff, Sector Jacksonville Prevention and Joint Staff South.
CDR Russell has supported numerous hurricane events such as Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Florence and Irma. CDR Russell has also served in numerous Command and General Staff roles to include Liaison Officer and Planning Section Chief for the 2019 Golden Ray incident in St. Simons Sound, Georgia and as the Incident Commander for COVID-19 Vaccine Incident Command.
A native of Florida, CDR Russell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Emory University, a Master of Arts degree in Environmental Policy from American University and a Master of Arts degree in Emergency Management from Tulane University. Personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals; Coast Guard Commendation Medal; Coast Guard Achievement Medal; the Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device (4); Armed Forces Service Medal; the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.
CDR Russell earned the Marine Safety Qualification Insignia and holds ICS qualifications for Incident Commander and Planning Section Chief. CDR Russell also holds the Defense Operations and Readiness and the Incident Management and Preparation Officer Specialty Codes.