Ben attended the United States Naval Academy. Upon graduation in 1999, he was commissioned by the United States Marine Corps, where he served for six years, including a six-month deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following his tour in Iraq he was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruiting Command where he ran a nationwide officer recruiting program. He found this work to be very challenging, but also a great learning experience. Recruiting exposed him to the more corporate side of the Marine Corps, and helped him make the decision to pursue an MBA.

Currently, he is attending business school to pursue his interests in finance and investment banking.

How was your transition back into the school environment?

Going to business school means a lot of uncertainty and a lot of unknowns. That surprise and challenge can be good. It is a difficult transition because you have to go back into an academic environment. With that being said, change is healthy, and it helps you to develop new skills. It is important to find an institution that teaches on your interests and gives you a sense of belonging and broadens your current skill set.

Applying to business school is difficult. It really helps if you have someone to guide you through it. I would advise finding people who you can relate to and who will give you information that will save you a lot of time in the process. One of my closest friends, who was two years my senior, helped me with the application process. He had "been there and done that" and was able to coach and mentor me. For example, he advised me to take classes in Accounting and Finance, which made me more competitive. He also took me to campus and exposed me to the culture beforehand. After the visit, I knew that I would fit in well.

The military was a great experience: I learned a lot, met a lot of people, and traveled the world. Now I can take that global perspective and apply it to my MBA experience.