Wright State alum’s passion for technology leads to Outstanding Alumnus Award

In 1983, a teenage Michael Bennett sat in front of his family’s first home computer, completely captivated. The moment his father brought it home, he was hooked.

“Growing up, I was fascinated with technology, computers especially,” Bennett recalled. “When we got that computer, I knew right then that this was what I wanted to do. A degree in computer science was my best way forward, and the best place for that in our area was Wright State.”

That decision set Bennett on a path that would lead him to an impressive career in engineering and national security.

Now, 38 years later, he has been recognized as the 2025 College of Engineering and Computer Science Outstanding Alumnus Award recipient.

“It’s a real honor,” Bennett said of receiving the award from the Wright State University Alumni Association.

Bennett, who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and later an MBA with a concentration in finance, began his career early. Thanks to Wright State’s strong ties to the region’s job market, he landed his first industry position as a first-year student. By his sophomore year, he transitioned to Booz Allen Hamilton, the firm where he has remained ever since.

Now a director at Booz Allen Hamilton, Bennett leads a team of over 150 engineers specializing in physics-based modeling and analysis for the U.S. Department of Defense. His team provides critical engineering services to protect U.S. aircraft and other national assets against foreign threats. His work involves collaboration with multiple Air Force and intelligence centers, including the Air Force Research Lab, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Michael Bennett, a director at Booz Allen Hamilton, received the 2025 College of Engineering and Computer Science Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Beyond his technical contributions, Bennett also serves as the site lead for Booz Allen Hamilton’s Dayton office, overseeing more than 650 employees and managing an office expansion to support growing teams and hardware lab facilities.

Despite his busy career, Bennett has remained deeply connected to Wright State.

“I certainly couldn’t have forecasted that I would be here 38 years later, but it’s been a fantastic journey,” he said. “I was able to reconnect with Wright State as a corporate sponsor through my firm, and we’ve been doing that for 10 years now. That connection has been really impactful — and a lot of fun too.”

As Booz Allen Hamilton’s liaison for corporate sponsorship, he supports the College of Engineering and Computer Science, serving on its industry advisory board, participating in resume reviews and mock interviews, and celebrating the five Booz Allen Hamilton scholarship recipients awarded each year.

“Wright State helped me get a career that I love,” he said. “Like most, I worked quite hard in college, and now, getting to support Wright State through corporate sponsorship has been really rewarding.”

Bennett is a proud husband, father of two and grandfather of three. He enjoys running, hiking with his wife, April, who is also a Wright State alum, and staying engaged with his church’s finance committee and leadership team. He also provides technology support for computer systems and audiovisual equipment.