William Russell, who once served as HUD’s deputy assistant secretary for public housing, has been tapped by the Trump transition team to lead HUD on a temporary basis and serve as special adviser to the incoming HUD secretary. Russell has been credited with transforming the Sarasota Housing Authority from one of the worst in the nation, to receiving the Florida Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials’ Agency of the Year Award. Russell began at HUD last week and is expected to stay for roughly four to six months.