Heston Russell

Heston Russell is a retired Special Forces Major and decorated combat veteran who has dedicated his life to serving Australia—both in uniform and beyond it.

A fifth-generation Army veteran, Heston joined the Australian Army at 17 and went on to graduate from ADFA with a Bachelor of Arts (History & Indonesian) before commissioning from the Royal Military College, Duntroon. His early career saw him deployed to Timor-Leste as a Platoon Commander with 2 RAR.

In 2010, Heston earned selection into the elite 2nd Commando Regiment, where he served as a Commando Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer and Adjutant. Across multiple operational deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East, and through domestic counter-terrorism missions across the Asia-Pacific, he built a reputation for leadership under pressure. He later completed an exchange posting with United States Special Operations Command.

Promoted to Major in 2016, Heston served as Officer Commanding of the Commando and Support Staff Selection and Training continuum at the Special Forces Training Centre before completing his final deployment to Iraq as the Special Operations Joint Lead Planner.

After leaving the ADF in 2019, Heston founded Voice of a Veteran, spearheading national campaigns to protect Special Forces honours and successfully advocating for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. He went on to establish the Veteran Support Force and launch the annual Veteran Games—an initiative addressing critical gaps in veteran health and community connection.

A landmark 2023 defamation win against the ABC cemented his role as a powerful voice for integrity, accountability and veteran welfare.

Heston is the author of Heston Russell – Forging the Will to Fight (2025) and is a sought-after speaker on leadership, mindset, culture, identity and mental health. Off the stage, he’s passionate about fitness, travel, writing, and life with his beloved sausage dog, Copper.

Heston’s list of Honours and Awards:

• Defense Meritorious Service Medal (US) Defence Long Service Medal
• Australian Operational Service Medal – Greater Middle East Operation United States Joint Service Commendation Medal
• NATO Non Article 5 Medal with Clasp Afghanistan United States of America Army Commendation Medal NATO Non Article 5 Medal with clasp – ISAF Afghanistan Medal
• Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp ICAT Clasp ‘CT/SR’ to the Australian Service Medal
• Medalha Solidariedade de Timor-Leste (Timor -Leste Solidarity Medal) Australian Service Medal with clasp TIMOR-LESTE
• Australian Defence Medal
• Meritorious Unit Citation – Task Force 66 (Special Ops Task Groups IV-XX) Commander 1st Division Commendation
• Order of Saint Maurice – Peregrinus (awarded by the Head of the United States Infantry Corps)