Dr. Bennett received his B.A. in History from Tulane University, his M.S. in Human Relations from Golden Gate University, his M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College, and his Ph.D. in Adult and Extension Education from Texas A&M University. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, he rose to the rank of colonel, serving in various assignments that took him around the world on land, in the air and at sea, commanding infantry units at every level from platoon to regiment and working on Service, Joint (multi-service), and Combined (US and allied) Staffs. As a Marine, most of his service was in operational units in the United States and in Asia. Of notable exception was a tour as the senior speech writer for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Charles Krulak, and a one year fellowship for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Representative Newt Gingrich. He is a veteran of the Multi-national Peacekeeping Operation in Beirut, Lebanon, Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and Operation Unified Assistance, the tsunami relief operation, in Indonesia.

In addition to publishing numerous articles and book reviews, Dr. Bennett has taught as a full-time faculty member at Texas A&M University and the National War College and as an adjunct faculty member at Blinn College, Central Texas College, George Washington University and Norwich University. Prior to becoming Chancellor, he held the Commandant of the Marine Corps Chair at the National War College in Washington, D.C.