From the frontlines to the boardroom.
Ben's career didn't start in a boardroom — it started with a parachute. As a paratrooper in the United States Army, he learned what it means to make decisions under pressure, with imperfect information, when the stakes are real. That foundation never left.
After the military, Ben served as a firefighter for the City of Raleigh, where preparation, disciplined judgment, and calm leadership weren't just valued — they were required. Every shift reinforced the same lesson: the best leaders don't react to chaos. They prepare for it.
In the private sector, Ben moved into AI and automation roles at AT&T, working on the application of advanced technologies to real-world business problems. This experience gave him the ability to bridge the gap between what AI can actually do and what leadership teams need to understand — translating complex technical concepts into practical, actionable guidance.
Today, Ben is completing a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Management and Policy, focused on responsible adoption, governance frameworks, and risk management. His advisory work is grounded in established frameworks like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and shaped by years of real-world leadership across public service, corporate environments, and faith-based community work.