Business Executives for National Security (BENS) Business Executives for National Security is a nationwide network of elite business leaders who are united in the belief that private-sector expertise and best practices help the Department of Defense and other national security agencies execute their missions to keep America secure. Founded in 1982, BENS has a long history of bringing the best talent in business together with senior national security leaders to apply their experience and innovative ideas to solve some of the Nation’s most complex and pressing security challenges. Operating as a non-partisan, non-profit organization, BENS does its work at no cost to government.