Award-winning travel writer Bud Russo first came to New Mexico as a student in 1960s.

When he graduated from New Mexico State University, he began work as a technical writer for the Manned Space Flight Program at the very beginning of America’s venture into space. After earning a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University, he turned to industrial journalism – making a career of writing about factories and manufacturing technologies all over North America as well as Europe and Asia, where he not only learned how people of different cultures live but also satisfied his curiosity about how the world works. After 40 years, he returned to New Mexico to retire; his retirement was quite short.

Bud became staff writer for Southwest Senior newspaper and that assignment evolved into Explore! New Mexico, which has included hosting a radio show, creating multi-media podcasts for travel-related businesses, and New Mexico Mile MarkerTM radio stories. His travel articles have also been published in New Mexico Journey magazine, SuCasa magazine, and Las Cruces Magazine.

When not working, Bud devotes his leisure to hiking, camping, and visiting natural and historic sites and parks.

“When I began exploring New Mexico,” he says, “I wanted to tap into all the experiences I had, to share them with friends I knew and friends I had yet to meet, so they could come to appreciate the marvelous diversity of my adopted state and its people.”

Bud makes his home in the enchanted Chihuahua Desert of Las Cruces. He is actively involved with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, National Federation of Press Women and New Mexico Press Women.