Naperville Resident, Army Vet Fills Indian Prairie D204 Board Position

A retired U.S. Army veteran and current Naperville resident will fill a Indian Prairie District 204 Board of Education vacancy beginning next week.

Benjamin White was recently appointed to serve a six-month term on the board and to fill the vacancy created by former board president Curt Bradshaw's recent departure, according to a District 204 press release.

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White will be formally seated at the Oct. 29 board meeting and will serve until the April 2013 election.

"We look forward to welcoming Benny to the team," said board president Susan Rasmus in the release. "He will bring a wealth of executive level experience and a strong educational background to the table."

White is a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served 22 years in the Army as a Field Artillery Officer, leading and mentoring soldiers throughout his military career before retiring from active duty in 2008," according to District 204. 

He taught at the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as Professor of Military Science/Battalion Commander of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Wheaton College.

Currently, he works with a junior ROTC program at Joliet West High School. White was among 21 people who applied for the position.

"The board was impressed with all five candidates that were brought in for interviews," Rasmus said in the press release. "Each possessed strong skill sets that offered positives for the board and district."

White has a bachelor's degree in Management Studies from West Point, were he also taught. He also served as Professor of Military Science/Battalion Commander of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Wheaton College.

White has a master's degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University and a MBA from Webster University. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Values Driven Leadership from Benedictine University, according to District 204.