Scott Russell is a 28-year veteran of the Baltimore County Fire Department, where he began his career as a paramedic who was assigned to the hazmat team. He now is a captain of the hazardous materials response team. Russell also is a lieutenant colonel (ret.) in the Delaware Air National Guard 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. His passion is disaster/emergency planning with the Air National Guard, specializing in hurricane evacuation/disaster response. Russell's company, Safety Through Knowledge, instills the basics of first responder training and creates training that's focused on the responder. His education consists of an associate degree in emergency medical services, a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in disaster/emergency management. Russell founded the nonprofit organization Society of One America’s Defenders, which is dedicated to building houses for combat wounded veterans.