Center for Strategy and Technology Faculty
Mr. Benjamin D. Phillips — Managing Director
Ben "Dabs" Phillips has over 25 years with the active duty and reserves as a fighter pilot and acquisition specialist. His private sector roles include as chief financial officer, strategy consultant, founder and board member across a variety of industries. Senior staff positions include program management and security oversight roles within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, as lab director in the Air Force Research Laboratory, and as chief of current operations at a combatant command. He holds a BS in Physics, an MA in Political Science, and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management. Interests include ancient languages, old truck maintenance, and the subtle art of growing entrepreneurs, among others.
Colonel Daniel Ruttenber — Deputy Director
Colonel Daniel “Sunday” Ruttenber is a mobility pilot, weapons school graduate, political military affairs strategist, and seasoned air advisor who has commanded at the squadron and group levels and has worldwide operational and strategic staff experience in USFK, NATO, and USAFE-AFAFRICA. Colonel Ruttenber’s academic experience encompasses an undergraduate degree in computer science and various graduate degrees including management, military arts, and national resource strategy. His acquisition experience includes service as the Chief, Global Mobility Division, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. His joint experience includes service as Presidential Nuclear Strike Advisor, National Military Command Center, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Married to a retired Air Force pilot turned non-profit entrepreneur/advocate with three minions, in his free time he enjoys smoking BBQ, surfing, swimming, biking, and coaching youth sports for the minions.
Dr. Eric Keels — Professor
Dr. Eric Keels is a professor in the Blue Horizons program and conducts policy-relevant research on issues related to global security. His research focuses on civil war dynamics, human rights, international conflict management, post-war processes, and rebel group organizations/ideology.
Mr. Anthony Franks — Professor
Tony Franks has over 24 years with the US Air Force active duty and reserves as a bomber/tactical airlift pilot and cyberspace operations officer. He currently serves as a reserve vice wing commander. He has served in multiple major and combatant commands, deploying 7 times worldwide. He holds a BS in Business, MS in Theology, and a MA in Strategic Studies. He has been teaching at Air University for 6 years. Prior to that, he was an airline pilot for 8 years. Interests include mentorship, keeping up with his 3 children, and camping.
Mr. John Carter — Adjunct Professor
John “JC” Carter spent the majority of his Air Force career in operations, accumulating over 3400 hours flying the O‐2, A‐10 and F‐16. His staff assignments included a tour as the director of the Commander’s Action Group for Air Combat Command and Chief of Space Requirements on the Air Staff. He served as the Commander of an A‐10 squadron, Commandant of the Air Force Weapons School, Vice Commander of the 51st Fighter Wing in Korea and Vice Commandant of the Air War College. After retiring from active duty, Mr. Carter spent over 10 years as an administrative faculty member in various positions at Air University, culminating as the AU/A3, Director of Operations. Mr. Carter holds a Bachelor’s degree from Duke University, Masters degrees from Embry‐Riddle Aeronautical University and the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies, and he spent a year as a National Security Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Lt Col Erica Tortella — Senior Military Professor
Lt Col Erica Tortella is a recent graduate of the Grand Strategy Seminar at the Air War College and the former Civil Engineer Squadron Commander at Peterson Space Force Base. She is a career Civil Engineer Officer with 20 years of active duty service and has experience at the base, major command, Headquarters Air Force, and Air Force Civil Engineer Center levels. Prior to command, she was a Wing Executive Officer, a graduate of Blue Horizons, and worked on the Commander's Action Group for Pacific Air Forces. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering, MS in Engineering, MS in Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration, and MS in Strategic Studies with a Grand Strategy Concentration.
Major Eric Kordus – Operations Officer
Maj Eric “Zigzag” Kordus is a Senior Pilot with over 1,200 flight hours, including over 150 combat hours. He completed three assignments as an instructor pilot in the F-22A and graduated from the US Air Force Weapons School. Maj Kordus also served as the Operations Branch Chief, Next Generation Air Dominance System Management Office, Air Combat Command, responsible for developing Next Generation Air Dominance requirements. Maj Kordus is a graduate of the Blue Horizons program and serves as the Blue Horizons Operations Officer. He was commissioned in 2012 from ROTC at the University of North Dakota and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, a Master's degree in Military Operational Art and Science, and a Master’s degree in Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration.
Master Sergeant Israel Navarro – Operations NCO
MSgt Israel “Izzy” Navarro is a Cyber Operations NCO with a core background in network infrastructure and secure communications. He has experience in multiple aspects of communications to include assignments with deployable communications units, Air Control Squadron, Distributed Common Ground System, Joint Air Defense Operations Center, and multiple base communication squadrons. His hobbies include woodworking, laser engraving, 3d printing, CNC engraving, pen turning, archery, hunting and shooting sports.