COL Bennett was commissioned as an Engineer officer upon graduation from The Citadel in 1997. His first assignment was with the 27th Combat Engineer Battalion (Airborne) at Fort Bragg North Carolina where he served as a Sapper Platoon Leader, Battalion Air Officer, and Company Executive Officer.
Following graduation from the Engineer Captain’s Career Course, he served as the Base Defense and Group Engineer for the 20th Area Support Group in the Republic of Korea. From there he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division where he served as a Battalion S-1 and Brigade Engineer in Iraq and later as a Company Commander with the 326th Engineer Battalion and 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Following Completion of Advanced Civil Schooling at Clemson University he was assigned to the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers where he served as a Project Engineer at Fort Benning Georgia and Senior Program Manager with the District Headquarters in Savannah GA. While assigned to the Corps of Engineers, he returned to Iraq to serve as the Engineer Operations Officer for Combined Joint Task Force Troy (Counter-IED).
COL Bennett served as the Chief of Plans, Brigade Engineer, and Battalion Executive Officer for 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division where he deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. COL Bennett then served as the Chief of Strategy and Policy Branch for the US Army Pacific in Hawaii. He commanded the 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion in the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) in Vicenza Italy. Following Battalion Command COL Bennett served as the Chief of Construction and Chief of the Commander Transition Group at US Central Command in Tampa FL.
COL Bennett has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from The Citadel. Subsequent post graduate studies include a Ph.D. and four Master’s Degrees. His Ph.D. in Engineering is from Clemson University where his dissertation was focused on the targeting of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) networks. COL Bennett’s Master’s Degrees include: a Master of Science in Engineer Management from the University of Missouri-Rolla, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University, a Master of Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He has also published multiple academic and journal articles on a variety of military subjects.
COL Bennett’s awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star with (2 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal with (2 OLC), and the Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals. COL Bennett is a recipient of the Bronze de Fleury Medal and is a certified Project Management Professional.
He and his wife Audrey have two daughters Erin and Laine.