David Benson
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David Benson Email & Phone Number

Director of Training, Tradecraft, and Innovation at Valens Global at Valens Global
Location: Holly Springs, North Carolina, United States 12 work roles 5 schools
1 work email found @smu.edu LinkedIn matched
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Current company
Role
Director of Training, Tradecraft, and Innovation at Valens Global
Location
Holly Springs, North Carolina, United States

Who is David Benson? Overview

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Quick answer

David Benson is listed as Director of Training, Tradecraft, and Innovation at Valens Global at Valens Global, based in Holly Springs, North Carolina, United States. AeroLeads shows a work email signal at smu.edu and a matched LinkedIn profile for David Benson.

David Benson previously worked as Director of Wargames at Valens Global and Chief Technology Officer at Valens Games. David Benson holds Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Political Science from University Of Chicago.

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Email format at Valens Global

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{first_initial}{last}@smu.edu
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Profile bio

About David Benson

I have spent twenty years in and around national security, mostly in education or training, and now I am bringing that experience to the public though games. Over the past dozen years, I have focused my research on #informationtechnology and its effects on #internationalrelations and #nationalsecurity. While I love #technology, and believe our world would be worse off without it, I cannot help but notice an entropy in the world pushing people apart. Our current social, political, and educational systems groan under the pressure. As with all previous changes in information technology, the solution lies in the technology itself.Games, especially online games, are the one truly novel experience that pulls people together rather than pushes them apart. People can craft their own unique information sphere that validates their pre-existing worldview, but they cannot create an equally robust online gaming environment full of other players. Playing games together forces people to spend time together, and creates a shared experience in a way that nothing before has. Better still, there are ways to adapt computer games such that people of many backgrounds and with different capabilities can enjoy the same game. A grandfather can be half a world away from a grandchild, and still spend hours with her building real memories of true, shared affection even in a virtual world. A coordinated raid in a combat game destroys nothing, but builds and reinforces relationships.While it would be nice if playing games together led to greater comity and understanding, gaming together can help reduce the stresses in society even if gaming makes everyone like each other less! When everyone reads different books, listens to different podcasts, and watches different videos the words we use lose their shared meaning. If we cannot communicate then cooperation, conciliation, and collaboration become virtually impossible. However, when we play games, the game forces us to communicate in an environment where stakes are low but communication is essential. Practicing communication in low-stakes environments can lubricate the high-stakes communication we engage in every day. Clear communication more reliably reduces conflict than mutual affection. Even loving families fight, but the fiercest enemies can negotiate to avoid war.I do not know if I am right, but I believe the effort is worthwhile. What we have done so far is clearly not working. At least playing games is fun. So what do you say? Will you come play with me?

Listed skills include International Relations, Political Science, Politics, Research, and 20 others.

Current workplace

David Benson's current company

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Valens Global
Valens Global
Director of Training, Tradecraft, and Innovation at Valens Global
AeroLeads page
12 roles

David Benson work experience

A career timeline built from the work history available for this profile.

Director Of Wargames

Current

Washington, District Of Columbia, US

I am the Director of War Games at Valens Global. We create the highest quality games for clients of all type. These games are not "gamified learning," nor are they "serious games." We make games for people who are serious about games, and consequently they are serious fun. Our games draw in players, and immerse them in an alternate world that allows.

Jan 2023 - Present

Chief Technology Officer

Current

We offer technology supporting strategic simulations for adult education and workforce development. Our simulations allow leaders, decision makers, analysts, and interested individuals to learn about the complex world through experience.

Jan 2023 - Present

Professor Of Strategy And Security Studies

Montgomery, Alabama, US

I am course director for Foundations of International Politics and Information and Cyber-strategy. I also advise theses and dissertations related to information and cyber-strategy and China. My research emphasis is how information technology—especially related to the internet—changes global political interactions and strategic choices. My current research.

Jun 2016 - Feb 2023

Research Fellow

Dallas, TX, US

  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the EAGER project on Government cyber policy
  • Joint appointment in the Political Science and Computer Science Departments
Jun 2015 - Jun 2016

Research Fellow

Chicago Project On Security And Terrorism
Apr 2010 - Aug 2015

Conference Coordinator & Assistant Writing Director

Chicago Project On Security And Terrorism
Oct 2010 - Jun 2015

Research Fellow

Office Of Naval Research, Project
Jun 2012 - Jun 2013

Program Coordinator

University Of Chicago, Program On International Politics, Economics And Security
Jun 2011 - Jun 2012

Senior Analyst

Columbia, Maryland, US

  • Designed an online Network Analysis training course for use by Battalion through Corps level intelligence analysts
  • Worked in a Joint environment, including Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, DOJ, DOS, and DHS personnel
  • Presented information in an easy to understand and use manner to warfighters at the Brigade, Division and Corps level
  • Designed 15+ pre-deployment training exercises to control complex threat environments
  • Fused intelligence from all major sources to create a comprehensive view of the threat environment
  • Instructed 2000+ senior military and government personnel in advanced technology for counter-terrorism
May 2007 - Jul 2010

Officer

Arlington, Virginia, US

  • Commissioned through Officer Candidate School in December 2003
  • One deployment to Iraq, 2005-2006
  • Lead teams of 30-100 in Iraq, 2006 to stabilize Salah-ad-Din and develop local policing capabilities
  • Planned and built active defenses of strategic areas, incorporating intelligence with force structures
  • Trained 2 Kurdish Infantry Battalions and 3 Iraqi Police Battalions for independent operation
  • Managed 50+ interpreters, dispersing $100,000+ in cash salaries for providing translation support
Sep 2003 - Mar 2007

Chinese-Mandarin Crypto-Linguist

Arlington, Virginia, US

  • Learned Chinese to a proficiency level of 3/3
  • Taught the Platoon Operations Center portion of the tactical intelligence course, Ft. Huachuca.
  • Collected, Analyzed and Fused tactical and strategic level intelligence, dealing with East Asia
Sep 2000 - Dec 2003
5 education records

David Benson education

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Political Science

University Of Chicago

M.A., International Relations

University Of Chicago - Committee On International Relations

Certificate, Mandarin Chinese

Defense Language Institute

Bachelor Of Arts, Political Science

Brigham Young University

A.A., General Education

Grossmont College
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about David Benson

Quick answers generated from the profile data available on this page.

What company does David Benson work for?

David Benson works for Valens Global.

What is David Benson's role at Valens Global?

David Benson is listed as Director of Training, Tradecraft, and Innovation at Valens Global at Valens Global.

What is David Benson's email address?

AeroLeads has found 1 work email signal at @smu.edu for David Benson at Valens Global.

Where is David Benson based?

David Benson is based in Holly Springs, North Carolina, United States while working with Valens Global.

What companies has David Benson worked for?

David Benson has worked for Valens Global, Valens Games, School Of Advanced Air And Space Studies, Southern Methodist University, and Chicago Project On Security And Terrorism.

How can I contact David Benson?

You can use AeroLeads to view verified contact signals for David Benson at Valens Global, including work email, phone, and LinkedIn data when available.

What schools did David Benson attend?

David Benson holds Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Political Science from University Of Chicago.

What skills is David Benson known for?

David Benson is listed with skills including International Relations, Political Science, Politics, Research, Foreign Policy, Qualitative Research, National Security, and Policy Analysis.

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