Captain (Ret.) Edward Lundquist

Captain Edward Lundquist, U.S. Navy (Retired), is chief engagement officer of Echo Bridge LLC, in Springfield, Virginia, his own company. He served on active duty with the Navy as a surface warfare officer and public affairs officer and has a BA in Journalism from Marquette University and a master’s in journalism and public affairs from the American University. He is an IABC Fellow and an accredited business communicator. Captain Lundquist is the communications chair of the Surface Navy Association and a member of the SNA executive committee. He writes on naval, maritime, defense and security issues for international trade and professional journals.

Captain (Ret.) Ted J. Venable

Ted Venable completed over 31 years active duty in the Navy as an aviator, with assignments in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean. His last flying assignment was as commanding officer of an FA-18 Hornet squadron, VFA-86. He compiled over 4000 flight hours and over 600 carrier arrested landings. His last active duty assignments included Operations Officer for USS America Carrier Battle Group Staff, Defense and Defense and Naval Attaché in Greece, and Chief of Staff for Enterprise Battle Group during Operation Enduring Freedom.

After retirement in 2003, Ted Venable joined the Staff of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S FOURTH Fleet in early 2005 as the Counter Illicit Trafficking Program Manager. In 2007, he also assumed the role as UAS Program Manager for this Naval Component to Southern Command. As FOURTH Fleet is the CNO-designated Theater of Innovation, he has spearheaded land-based MALE UAS deployments to El Salvador and Panama and has executed Group 1 through Group 3 UAS deployments on U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command vessels over the past ten years. He is recognized as the subject matter expert in UAS Maritime Operations in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility.

Captain Dennis Monagle

Captain Dennis Monagle is a native of Athens, Georgia. He graduated from Indiana University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science. He earned his Master of Science degree in Management from the University of Maryland. He was designated a Naval Aviator in May 2000. He has accumulated nearly 2000 flight hours in various Navy aircraft.
Captain Monagle’s operational tours include two tours with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN (HM-14) first as an Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) Mission Commander, and later as a Department Head and the Maintenance Officer. As ship’s company, Captain Monagle served in the Air Department as the V-2 Division Officer and as a Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer (“Shooter”) aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71). Captain Monagle commanded Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FIFTEEN (HM-15) in Norfolk, VA.
Captain Monagle’s shore assignments include the MH-53E Fleet Replacement Squadron as a Flight Instructor and Evaluator. Captain Monagle has completed multiple acquisition tours with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, first as an Assistant Program Manager for Systems Engineering (AMPSE), followed later as the H-60 Sustainment Integrated Product Team (IPT) Leader. He reported to the Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA) in Fort Meade, MD to serve as Military Deputy PEO for Command and Control (C2). He led a team of Joint Service military members and DoD Civilians in modernizing C2 software systems for use by the Joint Services and Coalition Partners. He returned to NAVAIR to serve as the Deputy Program Manager for Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS).
Captain Monagle is DAWIA certified as a Level III Program Manager. He is designated as an Acquisition Professional, and assumed the Multi-mission Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Office as the Program Manager in March of 2022.
 

Captain Gurpartap "GP" Sandhoo

GP is currently a Navy Reserve (NR) Engineering Duty Officer assigned to the Defense Innovation Unit’s space portfolio, where his focus is on operationalizing commercial space technologies for national security space. Previously he led the innovation efforts of the Tenth Fleet’s Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group’s reserve team. From 2017-2019, he led the reserve team supporting the acquisition and life cycle support of naval platforms at Naval Sea Systems Command. He also led and provided operational and technical support for the National Reconnaissance Office/Space and Naval Warfare Systems Commands’ Space Field Activity HQ reserve unit. From 2009-2012, GP was the lead of the Navy Reserve detachment under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. GP is a member of U.S. Navy’s’ Space Cadre with expertise in space operations (VS8) and acquisition (VR2).

GP started his career in the Navy after serving as a Platoon Sergeant in 2nd Medical Battalion during operations Desert Shield and Storm. In 1992, he was commissioned as an Engineering Duty Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. GP holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Space Systems, a D.Sc. in Aeronautics, Astronautics and Propulsion from George Washington University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He is 2016-2017 Fellow of the MIT Seminar XXI.
 

Captain William Docherty

Capt Docherty joined the Royal Marines in 2014, upon completion of Officer training at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, he was posted to 4 SCOTS, The Highlanders on an exchange draft as a Platoon Commander of a Mechanised Infantry Platoon. During his time with the Highlanders, he deployed on Op SHADER IV in Iraq as a Team Commander and later the Company Operations Officer, training the Iraqi Border Guards and the Iraqi Commandoes in their conflict with Daesh. He was then posted to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines as a Recruit Troop Commander, leading 249 and 265 Troop through their 32-week Commando training course. He then went on to complete a Mortar Platoon Commanders Course before taking command of 42 Commando Mortar Troop working to develop mortar tactics during exercises in the UK and Germany. He later became the lead for developing partner relationships in West Africa where he planned and delivered multiple training packages with West African partners in Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia. After completing an Intelligence Officer Course, he was posted to 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group as the SO3 ISR, shortly afterwards deploying to Norway to complete Artic Warfare training and taking part in the NATO exercise Cold Response 22. He is currently leading the Intelligence Cell at 30 Commando as the SO2 J2

Commander Antonio Mourinha

Commander António Mateus Anjinho Mourinha is a Portuguese Navy officer currently serving as Director for the Portuguese Maritime Operational Experimentation Centre and the first Portuguese Free Technology Zone at Troia and Setubal Bay. He is also Innovation Adviser to the Chief of Portuguese Naval Staff.
Commander Mourinha was born in Elvas, Portugal, in 1972. He joined the Portuguese Navy by entering the Naval Academy in 1990, having completed his degree in Naval Military Sciences in 1995.
He is a Navigation Officer by trade, getting his specialization in 2003. In his naval training CDR António Mourinha completed several other courses mainly related to MSO, like the Royal Navy’s “British Sea Fisheries Officers Enforcement Course” (2008) or the U.S. Coast Guard “Advanced Boarding Officers Course” (2009).
In his tours at sea, from 1995 to 2005, he embarked in several naval units namely, FS “Honório Barreto”, Sail Training Ship “Creoula”, FF “Cte. Hermenegildo Capelo”, FF “Cte. João Belo” and in USS “Nashville”, as Staff Officer for the mission “Africa Partnership Station 2009”, off the west coast of Africa.
Commander Mourinha got also three commands at sea: he was the first commander of the FPB “Oríon” from 2001 to 2002, later, between March 2005 and August 2006, he commanded the patrol vessel “Cuanza”, and later, from 2013 to 2015 he commanded the FS “João Roby”.
Ashore Commander António Mourinha served at the Patrol Boat Squadron between 2007 and 2010, being the head of the Maritime Enforcement Office. During this first commission ashore, he keep embarking often as sea rider for maritime enforcement training of the fleet assets.
After, he served at the Fleet Command Staff, from 2010 to 2013, as head of Subsurface and Maritime Enforcement Section of the Operations Division, being responsible for the constabulary operations of the fleet. At the Fleet Command he was also leading the operational experimentation of Maritime Unmanned Systems and the planning of the related exercises of the REPMUS series.
Later Commander António Mourinha served at the Portuguese Naval Staff, as Head of Concept, Development & Experimentation Section, being responsible for developing concepts of employment, operational requirements and related operational experimentation. He was also the secretary of the Portuguese Navy Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) working group. In this duty he was the Portuguese Navy representative in the NATO Joint Capability Group on Unmanned Air Systems, in the NATO Maritime Tactical Unmanned Air Systems Working Group (being the secretary) and in the NATO MUS Initiative Steering Board.
In his last appointment he served at the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) as Planner of Operation Sea Guardian and subject matter expert for Maritime Security and Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) being involved in the development of the new NATO MUS Exercise Dynamic Messenger
His main hobby is spearfishing, being international judge for the World Underwater Confederation, he participated in several International Championships.
António is married and has two children.
 

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Arsenault

Lieutenant-Colonel Dan Arsenault was born and raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2001. After graduating with a Political Science degree from the Royal Military College of Canada, he attended Air Navigator training in Winnipeg. He began his flying career with the Pathfinders of 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron, followed by postings to Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit and as Executive Assistant to the 14 Wing Commander.
In 2015, he had the privilege to serve on secondment as the Staff Officer to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, followed by two years in Chief of Military Personnel as a Career Manager, Directorate Coordinator, and Staff Officer Transition Services.
He gladly returned to Greenwood and flying operations in 2018 as the Deputy Commanding Officer of 404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron and, for a short time, the Block IV Aurora Implementation Lead. In 2021, he attended the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, Ontario.
LCol Arsenault has had the opportunity to deploy in multiple capacities: as a Tactical Navigator during Op MOBILE; as a Strategy Division Planner attached to the 609th Air Operations Center in Doha, Qatar; and as the Chief Air Coordination Element at Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.
He is a graduate of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College and the Canadian Forces College. He holds a Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University and a Master of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College.
 

Major General Gregory Gagnon

Major General Gagnon is the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, U.S. Space Force. In this capacity, he serves as the Senior Intelligence Officer to the Chief of Space Operations and is responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations for intelligence policy, oversight, and guidance of Space Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. He exercises overall responsibility for the Space Force Intelligence Community Element, which is the 18th member of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Additionally, he serves as the Chief, Service Cryptologic Component with delegated authorities from the Director of the National Security Agency.

Mr Andrew Campbell

Andrew S. Campbell is the Director, Air Operations, National Air Security Operations (NASO), Air and Marine Operations (AMO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). AMO’s mission is to safeguard our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. AMO has approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We conduct our mission in the air and maritime environments at and beyond the border and within the nation's interior.
Director Campbell is a U.S. Navy veteran with over 30 years of military and federal law enforcement service. In his current role, he is responsible for providing oversight for all domestic and international operations requiring the use of AMO national strategic assets, including long-range P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, Predator B unmanned aircraft systems, and Mongoose technical collection-equipped aircraft.
Director Campbell began his law enforcement career with the former U.S. Customs Service as a P-3 pilot prior to the formation of the Department of Homeland Security. In November 2002, Director Campbell reported to Surveillance Support Branch West in Corpus Christi, Texas, and served as a P-3 Mission Commander for five years before being reassigned to AMO Headquarters as a NASO staff officer.
After serving on the NASO staff for two years, Director Campbell was assigned to Training, Safety, and Standards as Director, Safety and Risk Management. During his time in this role, AMO saw a decrease in its 10-year cumulative accident rate from 4.52 accidents per 100,000 flight hours ending Fiscal Year 2009, down to 3.5 ending in Fiscal Year 2012. Director Campbell completed his duties at AMO Headquarters, assigned to Operations and NASO as the Mongoose Program Manager, before transferring to National Air Security Operations Center–Albuquerque to serve as DAMO. Within this position, he was responsible for AMO’s Mongoose program which conducts operations with international, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Prior to his time with the former U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Director Campbell was a commercial airline pilot with Comair Airlines. In the U.S. Navy, he was a P-3 Instructor Pilot, a P-3 Mission Commander, an EP-3 Electronic Warfare Aircraft Commander, and a maintenance check pilot. Director Campbell’s service included a sea tour with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two, a permanently forward deployed unit in Rota, Spain, and a shore tour with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. He was awarded three Air Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals.
Director Campbell holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Mr Guy Thomas

Guy Thomas, inventor of satellite AIS, spent 35 years in signals intelligence, leading surveillance missions and systems development in the US Navy, US Air Force, and at Johns Hopkins APL.

He led reconnaissance operations in aircraft, cruisers, and submarines, spending a year+ in hostile waters, and 2,000+ hours in unfriendly airspace in reconnaissance aircraft. Quadruple qualified, he was also one of the Navy’s first space cadre.

He led the mission systems acceptance tests of both the Navy’s EP-3E and the USAF RC-135W, Rivet Joint Block III, and was allowed to wear both USN and USAF wings, a unique honor.

He also served as the US’s Science & Technology Advisor for Maritime Domain Awareness from 2003 to 2012.
 

Mr Jeremy Mucha

Mr. Mucha currently serves as the Technical Director, National Communication Systems, aligned under the Commander, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), and located at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, Virginia. As the Technical Director in the NRO Communications Systems Directorate, he directs strategic planning and technical execution of the acquisition roadmap for the NRO’s information technology and transport infrastructure in support of the satellite reconnaissance mission. Additionally, he serves as the senior naval civilian and advocate at the NRO for naval requirements across a wide range of space capabilities. Mr. Mucha was promoted to this Senior Level position in August 2019.
Mr. Mucha began his federal career in 2002, at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego. During this assignment, he worked as a systems engineer on several SATCOM terminal programs and also as a test and evaluation engineer on the Wideband Global SATCOM payload interoperability and characterization test team. Mr. Mucha’s next assignment was as a project manager and systems engineer in PMW/PMA 170 within PEO C4I. He led a team to develop and field the Global Broadcast System Split Internet Protocol project and also served as the Lead Engineer for the Commercial Broadband SATCOM Program.
In 2008, Mr. Mucha’s first CAP assignment was as the Assistant Program Manager – Engineering for PMW/PMA 170. He led the satellite communication, tactical communication, and GPS navigation divisions in establishing consistent and rigorous engineering processes. Mr. Mucha’s next CAP assignment was to establish the role of APM - Engineering for Air Integration in PMW 750.In this capacity, he was responsible for guiding the engineering efforts of TacMobile,TBMCS, JADOCS, and aircraft integration programs.
In 2015, Mr. Mucha established the Key Leadership Position of Assistant Program Executive Officer - Engineering within the MIDS Program Office and led a staff of over 90 engineers. He led a period of rapid growth for the MIDS JTRS program, including the integration of the CMN-4 terminal on multiple new aircraft types. Mr. Mucha was asked to spearhead NAVWAR 5.0’s innovation initiatives in 2017 in support of high velocity learning and rapid prototyping.

Mr Lee Stuart

Mr. Lee Stuart manages Maritime Domain Awareness for United States Fleet Forces Command within the Maritime Operation Center, and serves as the Program Director for US Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS). Graduating Maine Maritime Academy in 1994, Lee has worked within the commercial maritime industry with a focus on marine transportation, port and terminal operations before transitioning to USFF in 2009. Mr. Stuart represents CNO/USFF at various NCAGS treaty obligations to include NSWG, PACIOSWG, and SIANC-NCS. Additionally he represents USNAVNORTH/USFF at the MDA Executive Steering Committee, Maritime Security Regime Round Table, and at Theater Security Cooperation efforts globally.

Mr Matan Peled

Matan was an officer in the Israeli navy for eight years before co-founding Windward with Ami Daniel, whom he met while serving in the navy. Matan previously managed the company’s product team, and currently runs the sales operations in the US. Over the last 10 years, he has helped grow the company across four continents and become a world leader in the field of maritime insights. Matan holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from IDC Herzliya University.

Mr Philip L. Hoffman

Philip is leading efforts to expand the use of UMS for deep ocean exploration at NOAA. He also serves as the NOAA R&D lead under the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technologies (CENOTE) Act of 2018; coordinates joint R&D and operations with the U.S Navy and is NOAA’s R&D liaison to other federal agencies conducting UMS work, especially those activities taking place in the Gulf of Mexico. Philip sits in NOAA UMS Operations Center in Gulfport, MS. Prior federal service includes leading NOAA’s Cooperative Institutes Program, work in NOAA Fisheries and with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.

Mr Scott Bewley

A retired Navy Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) of 20 years, Mr. Bewley served in USS BARRY (DDG 52), USS JOHN S MCCAIN (DDG 56), and USS ANTIETAM (CG 54) where he served as Executive Officer. He also served on Destroyer Squadron 21 embarked in USS JOHN C STENNIS (CVN 74). Mr. Bewley is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School Combat Systems department with a Masters in Applied Physics. He entered the acquisition community in 2006 as a SWO Acquisition Professional into PEO IWS, subsequently serving in IWS 5 leading advanced ASW program development, and then IWS 10 as the Warfare System lead for CVN 78 overseeing the procurement, integration, and installation of NAVAIR, NAVWAR and NAVSEA warfighting systems into the first of class new construction aircraft carrier. After retiring from active duty in 2011, Mr. Bewley transitioned to government civilian service, serving in PEO IWS 10 as the Combat System Chief Engineer for all Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Ships followed by a tour in IWS 1 as the Strategic Planner for the AEGIS Combat System and the Future Integrated Combat System. In January 2019, Mr. Bewley went on detail as a direct report to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research Development and Acquisition (ASN (RDA)) leading the standup of the Naval Digital Integration Support Cell (DISC), a new acquisition program office supporting OPNAV with the objective to achieve digital transformation and integration across the naval enterprise in support of the Fleet’s Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) vision and CNO Design. Taking over as the acting principle program manager upon formal stand up of the DISC program office on 01 Oct 2019, he subsequently assumed the principle deputy program manager position upon arrival of the selected Navy active military O-6 program manager in February 2020. Most recently, Mr. Bewley became the Chief of Staff (CoS) and Business Director for NavalX in October 2022.

Mr Sean Trevethan

Sean Trevethan is a former Royal Navy Commander and a graduate of the UK’s Advance Command and Staff Course. He has seen service in the Arabian Gulf as part of several Carrier Strike Groups, in Afghanistan within Joint Force Support and more recently as the Royal Navy’s Fleet Robotics Officer. In his role as Fleet Robotics Officer he was charged with cohering the future capability development of all Unmanned Systems within the Royal Navy, with the specific challenge of accelerating capability into service, rising to the challenge of delivering this across the full DOTMILPFI Spectrum. He also served as the Co-Chair of the NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative – developing new technologies with allies.

He was the UK Exercise Director for REP 19 in Portugal where the UK contributed a full Maritime Operations Centre and the UK and US led NATO’s largest Operational Experimentation Exercise with conventional and Unmanned Assets – developing tacdev at pace, exploiting several systems such as armed USVs for the first time. In the UK he led 2 Amphibious Operational Experimentation Exercises (Autonomous Advance Force 1.0 and 2.0 respectively), again blending cutting edge technologies with conventional force elements to deliver an enhanced operational effect. Trevethan took up his latest post as the Secretary for the NATO Naval Armaments Group in 2020 where he is charged with coordinating the efforts of 1100 Maritime SME’s, both Military and Civilian to develop capability cooperatively and produce technical standards that are key to NATO interoperability moving forward.

The Maritime Capability focus areas of NATO involve a Digital Transformation to enhance situational awareness, exploiting new systems and sensors augmented by AI. A fresh look at high end warfare including innovative techniques for Anti-Submarine Warfare and Surface Force Protection.

When out the office, Sean is a father to 3 beautiful children who make sure he is up to date with the latest trends on tik tok! In order to keep up with his children he has to undergo an intense ‘fitness’ regime for his health and sanity.

Ms Andrea Bell-Miller

Andrea R. Bell-Miller currently serves as the Director of International Programs for the US Navy’s Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC). She is leading the NATO Maritime Unmanned System Initiative as the appointed Head of Delegation for the United States. Beyond NATO, she leads over 20 bilateral international agreements as the US Navy’s Technical Project Officer for Unmanned Systems and Naval Mine Warfare.

Ms. Bell-Miller aligning opportunity with action. Identifying way’s in which collaboration with our partners and allies can help to meet critical capability gaps, , whilst developing and delivering capability that’s not only interoperable but interchangeable.

As the US Head of Delegation to the NATO MUS Initiative, Ms. Bell-Miller was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal in October of 2020 which recognized her for leading the and cohering the efforts of 14 different nations in devising NATO’s largest Operational Experiment with Maritime Unmanned Systems in record time, with concept to delivery in just 5 months.

Rear Admiral Mike Studeman

Rear Admiral Mike Studeman assumed command of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) and became Director of the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) in August 2022. He is also a principal advisor to the Director of National Intelligence as National Intelligence Manager–Maritime.

He served most recently as the Director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Honolulu (2019-22) and the Director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Southern Command, Miami (2017-19). He previously commanded the Joint Intelligence Operations Center, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Hopper Information Services Center, Suitland, Maryland.

At sea, Studeman served as air intelligence officer for Attack Squadron Three Five (VA-35) Black Panthers onboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was also assistant staff intelligence office for U.S. 7th Fleet onboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and assistant chief of staff for intelligence (N2) with Carrier Strike Group Eight onboard USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom deployments.

Ashore, Studeman led analytic divisions at the Fleet Ocean Surveillance Facility, Rota, Spain, in support of Balkan operations. He was also the first Director of PACOM’s China Red Team at the Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Hawaii; the first Senior Intelligence Officer for China at the Office of Naval Intelligence; and the first Director of the Commander’s Initiative Group at U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Washington tours include Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations and Director of the Strategic Actions Group, Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Presidential Appointment as a White House Fellow, Director of Navy Unmanned Airborne Systems, Director of Navy Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance concepts, strategic issues lead for the Navy’s Quadrennial Defense Review Team, and Special Assistant to the Chief of Intelligence of the Department of Homeland Security.

Rear Adm. Michael Studeman is the son of a career naval officer and a 1988 graduate of the College of William and Mary. He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, a distinguished graduate of the National War College, and an honors graduate in Mandarin Chinese from the Defense Language Institute.

Rear Admiral Scott W. Ruston

Rear Adm. Scott W. Ruston is a native of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He is a 1992 graduate of Northwestern University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and his commission through Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps. He holds a Ph.D. in Critical Studies from the University of Southern California, and is a graduate of both the Air Command and Staff College and the Joint Forces Staff College.
Ruston was initially assigned to the “Scorpions” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Squadron 49 (HSL 49) flying the SH-60B, including deployments to the Arabian Gulf aboard USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 61) and USS Lake Champlain (CG 57). He was subsequently assigned to HSL41 as an instructor pilot, and then served as a department head with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 85 (HC 85), flying the UH-3H. He transitioned to the MH-60S as the squadron redesignated to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC 85), where he also served as detachment officer in charge (OIC) for RIMPAC 2008.

Staff tours include NATO Allied Command Transformation, where he supported the Multi-National Information Operations Experiment, and Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command, as deputy commander. He mobilized to Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa where he served as the deputy director for Effects (J39), Military Coordination Cell Mogadishu OIC, and deputy director for Theater Security Cooperation.
Command tours include: HSC 3 Squadron Augment Unit; Navy Reserve (NR) Commander United States Naval Forces Europe/Africa-Sixth Fleet Maritime Partnership Program Detachment 118; and NR Joint Staff

South, with additional duties as reserve assistant vice director, J7, overseeing the training, operational support, and professional development of 183 Joint reservists.
His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and additional unit and personal awards. Ruston has flown over 3000 flight hours, and is a Joint Qualified Officer. A Research Professor in his civilian career, Ruston directs Arizona State University’s Center on Narrative, Disinformation and Strategic Influence.