LTC Benjamin Elliott

LTC Ben Elliott is currently a Ph.D. student in the industrial-organizational psychology program at the University of Minnesota, sponsored by the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York.

A native of Kearney, Nebraska, he graduated from USMA in 2007 with a B.S. in psychology. He commissioned as a Military Intelligence officer and was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with the 3rd Brigade (Light), 25th Infantry Division. There he served as human intelligence platoon leader, executive officer, and battalion assistant intelligence officer. 

Following Military Intelligence Captains Career Course, LTC Elliott was assigned to Joint Base Lewis McCord, Washington, with the 3rd Brigade (Stryker), 2nd Infantry Division, serving as a reconnaissance squadron intelligence officer and brigade assistant intelligence officer. He was assigned to the National Training Center as an observer, coach, and trainer (OC/T) on the Cobra Team, Operations Group.

In 2016, he earned an M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University in Washington, D.C. and served as an interagency fellow at the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he served as a counterterrorism analyst assigned to the Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism. He was assigned to the Joint Intelligence Operations Center, J2 Directorate, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he served as the chief, China Geostrategic Branch, Chief of Operations, China Division, and the executive assistant to the director for Intelligence (J2).

LTC Elliott’s operational deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. His military education includes the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College, and Joint Forces Staff College.

LTC Elliott’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (2 CS), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 CS), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Num. 4), NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), and the Air Assault Badge.

He is married to the former Jamie Vogt of Orono, Minnesota, and they have three children - Zoey, Wyatt, and Selah. They currently reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.