COL Daniel J. Von Benken
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, COL Daniel J. Von Benken graduated from Xavier University and was commissioned a Field Artillery officer in 2002. Following the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma he was assigned to the 18th Field Artillery Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Liberty, North Carolina where serving in 1-321 Airborne Field Artillery Regiment (AFAR), and later with 1-377th FAR (Air Assault) where he deployed as both a Battery Fire Direction Officer and Battalion S1. COL Von Benken remained with 1-377 until completing battery command in 2009.
Following command, COL Von Benken attended and graduated from the Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course at Fort Sill, OK and was then assigned to the US Army Human Resources Command serving as an Assignment Officer before leaving to attend the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 2012.
After CGSC, COL Von Benken was assigned to 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, serving as the Brigade Fire Support Officer and Chief of Operations for the Brigade’s deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan, and then as the Battalion S3 and XO for 2-77 FAR. Following his key and developmental time as a major, COL Von Benken attended the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and served his SAMS utilization tour as the Chief of Plans for I Corps.
COL Von Benken commanded 2-17 FAR from 2019-2021. Following command he attended the Army War College and was assigned to the J-35 directorate on the Joint Staff.
His education includes a bachelors in Psychology from Xavier University, a Masters in Human Resources Management from Webster University, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from both the School of Advanced Military Studies and the U.S. Army War College.
COL Von Benken has earned the Parachutist, Air Assault Badge, and Expert Soldier Badge. He has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Iraqi Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
COL Von Benken is married and has two children.