Russell Ponder is a Senior Advisor at the Patriot Group. Prior to retirement, General Ponder served as Director, Logistics, Engineering, & Force Protection, National Guard Bureau/A4 where he managed an overall budget of $4.6B for aircraft modernization and sustainment, logistics, engineering, force protection, and military construction. General Ponder helped define, develop and steer the implementation of policy and programs for Air National Guard (ANG) installations to optimize efficiency and management of $24B world-class facilities that support ANG’s missions, along with protecting US forces. He held various positions delivering advice, counsel, and advocating on behalf of the ANG on legislative and government policy matters. General Ponder has built and strengthened relationships with congressional representatives and senate officials to optimize opportunities to communicate relevant information to influence critical decision making. He also served as the Senior Military Advisor to the First Deputy Minister of Defense for NATO-led mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security forces and institutions.
General Ponder earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in National Security & Resource Strategy from Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC.
