James T. Russell (born 1931 in Bremerton, Washington) is an American inventor. He earned a BA in physics from Reed College in Portland in 1953. He joined General Electric's nearby labs in Richland, Washington, where he initiated many types of experimental instrumentation. He designed and built the first electron beam welder. In 2000, Russell received The Vollum Award from Reed College. As of 2004, Russell was doing consulting from an in-home lab, in Bellevue, Washington.