Col. Benjamin K. Bennett was born March 1981, in Albany, N.Y. He graduated cum laude from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. In 2011, Bennett was selected as a Force Management Officer (FA-50). He is a graduate of the Infantry Officers Basic Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College, Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, and Senior Staff College. Bennett holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College.
Bennett’s most recent assignment was serving as the USCENTCOM Manpower Division Chief, managing the command permanent manning, reserve augmentation, Joint Manning Documents, and policy. While assigned to USCENTCOM he also served as the USCENTCOM Coordination Team-Gaza (CCT-G) Chief of Staff helping to operationalize the President’s vision for sustained peace between Israel and Hamas.
Additional assignments include serving as the Headquarters Department of the Army Maneuver Branch Chief in the G8, where he managed the Army’s heavy combat platform portfolio. He also served as the Global Force Management Branch Chief for USAFRICOM managing the rotational forces for the command, the 4th Infantry Division Force Manager and Secretary to the General Staff, the Sacramento Valley Recruiting Company Commander, and 2-12 Infantry Company Commander in Iraq.
Bennett’s overseas tours include South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, and Israel.
His awards include the Bronze Star, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, four Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, NATO Medal, Ranger Tab, Master Combat Infantryman Badge, Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army Staff Badge, and Recruiter Badge.