Episode 22: Reflections of a General with General Ben T. Robinson

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Brigadier General Ben T. Robinson about his tenure as an Air Force General.

 

In 2019, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Ben T. Robinson as the Oklahoma Secretary of Military and Veteran Affairs.  In this position, Ben was responsible to the Governor for the successful execution of the Governor’s policy and guidance to state veteran agencies and support of Oklahoma’s military installations and the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Committee.  Ben served in this position from April, 2019 until January, 2022.

Prior to his Cabinet position, Ben was the founder, owner and president of Sentry One LLC, an aerospace consulting company.  Sentry One LLC had clients in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.  Prior to founding Sentry One, Ben was a Boeing Executive, Program Manager, Director of Boeing Aerospace Operations, and the Site Executive of Boeing site in Oklahoma City, OK.  His efforts at Boeing lead to the growth of the Oklahoma City Site from 500 to over 4000.  While at Boeing, Ben founded the Oklahoma Education and Industry Partnership which mentored STEM teachers from across Oklahoma. Ben is a guest lecturer on leadership in high schools, career technical centers and universities across the state. 

Ben retired as an Air Force Brigadier General in 2002. His nearly 34 years of active-duty service includes combat operations in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army.  Ben commanded two flying wings, two flying groups and a space center.  He was a director on the USAF Air Staff and the Vice Commander of Eighth Air Force.  He held a command pilot rating with nearly 5,000 flying hours in a variety of fixed and rotary wing aircraft with over 150 combat missions. 

Ben earned his bachelor's degree in Industrial Management from Eastern New Mexico University and a master's degree in Industrial Management from Central Michigan University.  In addition, he completed a one year course of study with MIT as an International Relations Fellow.  

Ben sits on a variety of boards such as New View Oklahoma, Atec, Inc, Project Lead the Way, the National Science Foundation, the Oklahoma Baptist University Engineering Board , the Dale K. Graham Veteran Foundation, VillagesOKC and the USO

Ben and his wife Linda reside in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They are active members of the Crossings Christian Church.  They have four children, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

 

To find out more about VillagesOKC go to www.villagesokc.org