Bennett Bridgman

Captain Bennett Bridgman serves as an Assistant Professor of Air and Space Studies within the Air Force ROTC program (Detachment 695) at the University of Portland, dedicating his expertise to developing future Air Force officers and military leaders.

His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from North Carolina State University, earned prior to his 2018 commissioning as a U.S. Air Force weather officer.

Professor Bridgman's professional focus centers on operational meteorology for defense applications, with deep expertise in military weather forecasting, environmental intelligence systems, and airborne operations safety. His field experience spans tactical forecasting for F-16 and A-10 aircraft in combat zones, parachute operation safety protocols, and multinational training programs across Europe and Africa. This practical knowledge directly informs his instructional approach in Air Force ROTC curriculum development.

As an ROTC instructor, he mentors cadets through Detachment 695 with emphasis on leadership development and technical meteorology skills, drawing from his firsthand experience in U.S. military installations worldwide. His international service history provides unique context for training cadets in cross-cultural military operations.

He remains actively engaged with the Air Force ROTC unit at the University of Portland, integrating real-world airborne operation scenarios into cadet training exercises and leadership development programs.