Major General Benedict is currently serving as the Commanding General of Second Marine Aircraft Wing, headquartered on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. He has served as a Marine Corps Officer and Naval Aviator for more than thirty years and has commanded at all levels as a Marine Aviator. His staff appointments have spanned the operational, planning, policy, diplomatic, and acquisition arenas.
All his field grade commands included operational deployments and force employment. From 2013- 2015 he commanded the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) during which time he led two overseas deployments: one while serving simultaneously as the Commanding Officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) during its first full rotation supporting the Africa and European Commands areas of responsibility; and the second with the MEU to the Africa, European, and Central Commands. From 2006 to 2008, Major General Benedict served as the Commanding Officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367, including operations in Iraq.
Major General Benedict’s Joint assignments have included service as the Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5) at U. S. Central Command furthering Combatant Command operations and objectives in the Middle East; as the Director Politico-Military Affairs, Middle East, within the Joint Staff J-5, where he proposed strategies, plans, and policy recommendations on the Middle East to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff to support his provision of military advice to the Secretary of Defense and President; as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff where he traveled as part of the Secretary of State's travel team; and as the Chief of Policy and Assessment Branch, Joint Staff J-5, Joint Operational War Plans Division.
Other senior staff assignments within the Marine Corps include service as the Director of Manpower Plans and Policy, where he was responsible for determining total manpower needs, and preparing plans, policies, programs, and instructions on manpower matters; as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, where he provided support to assist and advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps on all matters relating to Marine Aviation; as Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps where he served as the Director of the Commandant's personal and extended staff group; as Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Acquisition, and Development, supporting the Department of the Navy's Acquisition Executive; and as Head, Future Operations Group, Plans, Policies and Operations.
Early tours include Aviation Combat Element Operations Officer for 22d MEU; Squadron Logistics and Operations Officer for HMLA-167; and Operations Officer and Air Officer for 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.
Major General Benedict has served overseas in support of several combat, contingency, and support operations. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Naval War College, the Marine Corps War College, and the MIT Seminar XXI fellowship program.