Russ Billings

Russ Billings (BA, MS) is a nationally recognized Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) expert. With over two decades of high school physics and chemistry teaching experience, Russ went on to work as an education specialist and program manager for NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center from 2009 to 2013. Known for creating dynamic, interactive experiences for students of all ages, Russ uses a holistic educational approach, focusing on relationships, relevancy, and rigor. In the last two years he has helped create and develop a sustainable, scalable STEM platform for hands-on interaction by using recycled materials; this management system is but one example of how Russ is able to dynamically increase the impacts of a program with the smart optimization of resources. Russ was a 2004 NASA Astronaut Class candidate interviewee and finalist, which afforded him the opportunity to experience the direct application of STEM at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  Inspired by this experience, he created an underwater, zero-gravity classroom for his physics class in 2006.   He has received recognition for this program and his work with NASA, including awards from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Daimler Chrysler, NASA, and the Civil Air Patrol.   Russ currently works as an educational and business building consultant throughout the State of California.