Exton native and Malvern Prep graduate Bill Russo has continued his rapid, six-year ascent in the nation’s capital by becoming former Vice President Joe Biden’s new communications director, writes Margie Fishman for the Wilmington News Journal.

“Bill is the kind of guy you can introduce to your grandmother or the prime minister, and you know he’ll make a good genuine connection with that person,” said Liz Allen, former deputy communications director for the Obama Administration and Russo’s longtime friend.

Growing up, Russo, now 30, was taught by his parents that charitable work is not an extracurricular activity, but essential to being part of a community.

When his father died of colon cancer eight years ago, Russo stayed in Pennsylvania to help his mother. He then applied for an unpaid internship at the White House, where he was placed in Biden’s scheduling office.

“I would follow Joe Biden anywhere,” he said.

Read more about Bill Russo in the Wilmington News Journal here.