Tobias Russell is the strategic research manager for the Environment and Natural Resources practice group at Pacific Legal Foundation. He conducts original research and analysis to support litigation and policy efforts that advance innovation, freedom, and prosperity. His work focuses on reforming environmental and energy policies, especially permitting and regulatory barriers, that restrict next-generation energy development and the responsible use of natural resources.
A longtime believer in limited government, Tobias’ thinking has been shaped by George Orwell, Thomas Sowell, the COVID-19 era of American politics, and his undergraduate study of constitutional law.
He joined PLF as a research intern in January 2025, became a research associate in April 2025, and assumed his current role in April 2026. He is committed to protecting individual rights and ensuring people can live free from undue government interference.
Tobias holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Davis, where he was a Regents Scholar. He lives in Sacramento and enjoys hiking, rooting for the New York Knicks, and tending to his pet fish.
