PeopleofSuperintelligence

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Adam Russell

Also known as Adam H. Russell

Adam Russell is an anthropologist whose work spans AI research and government AI strategy. He won a Rhodes Scholarship in 1995 after studying cultural anthropology at Duke, and he went on to study social anthropology at Oxford. Starting in 2009, he was a program manager at IARPA, and from July 2015 until 2020 he was a program manager at DARPA, working on Human Domain research. In 2023 he became director of the AI Division at the Information Sciences Institute, and in April 2024 he was named chief vision officer of the United States AI Safety Institute. As of October 2026, he is a Distinguished Principal Scientist at the Information Sciences Institute, on assignment to the National Science Foundation to lead its X-Labs initiative.

Timeline

  1. 1995

    A Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford

    He wins a Rhodes Scholarship in 1995 as a Duke cultural anthropology major. He goes on to study social anthropology at Oxford, earning an M.Phil. and a D.Phil.

  2. 2009

    Program manager at IARPA

    He joins IARPA as a program manager in 2009. There he develops and manages high-risk, high-payoff projects for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

  3. 2015–2020

    Human Domain research at DARPA

    He joins DARPA as a program manager in July 2015. His work there focuses on Human Domain problems in social and behavioral science.

  4. 2020

    Chief scientist at ARLIS

    In 2020 he leaves DARPA to become chief scientist of the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security at the University of Maryland.

  5. 2022

    Acting deputy director at ARPA-H

    In 2022 Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra names him acting deputy director of the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). He helps stand up the agency before its inaugural director is selected.

  6. 2023

    Director of ISI's AI Division

    In 2023 he becomes director of the AI Division at the Information Sciences Institute. He also hosts the AI/nsiders podcast, where he interviews the ISI researchers behind the institute's AI work.

  7. April 2024

    Chief vision officer at AISI

    In April 2024 Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo names him chief vision officer of the United States AI Safety Institute. He develops the institute's strategic vision.

  8. As of October 2026

    Lead for NSF's X-Labs initiative

    He is a Distinguished Principal Scientist in the AI Division at the Information Sciences Institute. He is on assignment to the National Science Foundation to lead its X-Labs initiative.

Sources and credits

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  1. Two receive Rhodes - The Duke Chronicle dukechronicle.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Adam H. Russell - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Adam Russell | Information Sciences Institute isi.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. UMD Research Scientist Tapped to Lead New Federal… | UMD Right Now umdrightnow.umd.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Adam Russell to Lead USC Information Sciences Institute's Artificial Intelligence Division - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering viterbischool.usc.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. AI/nsiders Podcast: Meet the Humans Behind the AI of ISI | Information Sciences Institute isi.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Announces Expansion of U.S. AI Safety Institute Leadership Team | NIST nist.gov. Checked 15 October 2026.