Jesse Russell is an inventor, electrical engineer, and business executive.  Over many decades he has helped shape the wireless industry through his leadership and standards development, innovative technologies, and new wireless service concepts. Jesse’s designs in wireless communication systems, architectures, and technology related to radio access networks, end-user devices, and in-building wireless communication systems are foundational for the wireless telecommunications we use today.

Jesse studied electrical engineering and received his B.S. degree from Tennessee State University in 1972.  As a top honor student, Jesse became the first African American graduate from a Historically Black College or University to be hired directly by AT&T Bell Laboratories. The following year on a scholarship from Bell Labs, he earned his M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

In 1988, Jesse led the team from Bell Laboratories that introduced the first digital cellular technology in the U.S., although the first system using the technology was not launched until 1993. He holds numerous communications patents, including “Base Station for Mobile Radio Telecommunications Systems” (1992), “Mobile Data Telephone” (1993), and “Wireless Communication Base Station” (1998). His positions at AT&T included director of the AT&T Cellular Telecommunication Laboratory and chief technical officer for the Network Wireless Systems Business Unit. From 1996 to 2000, Jesse served as Vice President of Advanced Communications Technologies for AT&T and Chief Wireless Architect for the AT&T Company.

During his years at AT&T, Jesse also provided leadership to industry organizations including the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the CTIA Technology Committee in the development of industry-wide standards for the transition from analog to digital technologies.

In 2000, Jesse became the president and CEO of incNETWORKS®, Inc., a company devoted to fourth-generation broadband wireless communications devices and wireless voice, video, and data communications equipment.

Jesse has been widely recognized for his industry achievements, including being named the U.S. Black Engineer of the Year in 1992. In 1995, he was also elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Jesse is a fellow of the IEEE and served as a Board Advisor for TIA.  In 2025, he was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career in wireless communications.