Then, he was at Marine Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and then back to Haiti where he first commanded Marines, but then became American High Commissioner in that country from 1922 to 1930.
Returning to the States, he was the commander of the Marine Base at San Diego and then Marine Barracks in Quantico, Virginia, and in February 1933 he was made the Assistant Commandant USMC On March 1, 1934, he was appointed 16th Commandant of the Marine Corps and held that position until he retired on December 1, 1936.
During his tenure as Commandant, Russell changed the old system of promotion from seniority to advancement by selection and withdrew the 1st Marine Brigade from Haiti. Also, the Fleet Marine Force assumed new responsibilities; the Marine Reserves were given more attention and the number of ships carrying Marine detachments increased.
Major General Russell retired after 42 years of commissioned service and continued afterwards as a military journalist. He died in Coronado, Colorado, on March 6, 1947, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
He was a hereditary member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion in succession to his father who was a Union Navy officer during the Civil War.
--Cooter
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