Business Executives for National Security

Business Executives for National Security (BENS), a nationwide, non-partisan organization, is the primary channel through which senior business executives can help enhance the nation's security. BENS members use their business experience to drive our agenda, deliver our message to decision makers, and make certain that the changes we propose are put into practice. BENS has only one special interest: to help make America safe and secure. BENS members have been using their business experience to find practical solutions to pressing national security challenges since 1982, when the organization was founded by business executive and entrepreneur Stanley A. Weiss.

To be recognized across the National Security Enterprise as the leading provider of no-cost, non-partisan, no self-interest business advice and thought leadership on current and emerging threats to national security organizations and to our country.

Goal One: Expand awareness of BENS resources within the national security enterprise; and drive greater impact for our military and government partners.

Goal Two: Exemplify excellence by operating at leading edge non-profit best practices; maintaining a skilled/motivated/well-organized team to produce great work for our partners; develop/adhere new RM process.

Goal Three: Fill Gaps by ensuring that our membership contains a diverse mix of critical skills, C-Suite experience, diversity, and geographic representation to deliver assistance to gov't/military partners.

BENS is fully committed to the development of its leadership team and has implemented a dual approach to address not only the work that we do/how we do it, but also the HR practices within the organization. We have designed/implemented a Mission Space, which gathers the leadership team and next level down every 2 weeks to discuss, candidly, critical issues on the horizon, and plans for implementation. This open forum provides an opportunity to work across functional areas to produce best results and provide cross awareness/development for the leadership team. In addition, we have created a standing Committee of the BENS Board of Directors responsible for Human Resources practices to include development, succession planning, compensation, benefits and recruitment/retention, supported by our COO, and HR Executive.

External changes in the last year have spurred adaptations in both how we operate as a staff, and how we interact with our members and government partners. We now conduct our meetings with members and government partners using both virtual technologies and in person meetings. Providing both options increase the participation for members/and partners. Because of this dual approach, there has been a significant uptick in the number and pace of activities, which has enhanced the member experience as well as our interaction/responsiveness to our government partners. We have also implemented 2 additional outreach Podcasts: 5 Questions with the CEO where BENS CEO interviews a select private-sector leader to discuss industry best practices for assisting the national security agencies in executing their missions to keep America secure. And, InFocus-Building the Base, an in-depth series focused on shaping the future national security industrial base. Leaders/entrepreneurs from high tech, financial, industrial, and public sectors share their perspectives about how we can all work better together to ensure our national security and prosperity. Internally for the BENS Team, we now offer both virtual and traditional office spaces providing flexibility for our staff regarding work styles. We have also initiated the Mission Space – which is a dedicated conference room in our offices with technology to record/display BENS’ current critical missions and responsibilities/acknowledgements notated. This space is made available to our Regional Staff so that the complete BENS team is aware and can “see" the progress/goals of our critical missions.