Russell King is the visionary Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at APEX TK, a leading company dedicated to being the nation’s most trusted partner in tackling the most complex national security challenges. As CTO, Russell spearheads the company’s technical vision, driving cutting-edge product strategies and orchestrating seamless engineering integration to deliver next-generation defense solutions, elite talent, and the capability to advance our sponsors’ missions.
With over 25 years of distinguished experience in undersea, missile, space, and air defense, Russell is a senior executive engineer renowned for his expertise and leadership. Previously, as the Managing Director for the Missile Defense Agency Division at The MITRE Corporation, he directed a $60M work program and crafted division-wide strategies to ensure mission-critical solutions for Integrated Air and Missile Defense. In this role, Russell was a trusted advisor to senior executives, leveraging his profound knowledge to align MITRE’s capabilities with the evolving needs of the MDA. His impactful work with the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program involved directing a $30M annual work program, managing over 150 subject matter experts, and providing high-impact recommendations that influenced the design of kill vehicles, boost vehicles, and ground systems. Russell’s leadership within the GMD Program Office since 2007 included roles such as TDA Deputy Director, GMD Deputy Chief Engineer, and Deputy Division Chief for GMD Requirements.
Before joining MITRE, Russell served as a U.S. Navy civil servant at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, where he led the test and mechanical engineering efforts for the Airborne Mine Neutralization System, effectively neutralizing threat sea mines through advanced unmanned underwater vehicle and shaped charge warhead technology. He also excelled in mechanical design, analyses, and concept development for unmanned underwater systems, deep submergence dive systems, towed sonar arrays, and electro-optical systems.
Russell holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from The University of Alabama and has completed executive education at the Harvard Kennedy School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. He is a former DAWIA Level III certified professional and former member of the Department of the Navy Defense Acquisition Corps.