Larry W. Benton received a commission as a Second Lieutenant from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in August 1992. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Engineer Officer Advance Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff Officer Course, and the United States Army War College.

Brigadier General Benton began his military career in December 1986, enlisting in the Louisiana Army National Guard in Delta Company, 527th Engineer Battalion, achieving the rank of Sergeant. After commissioning as a Second Lieutenant, he was assigned to various positions of increased authority through company commander and various battalion staff positions. On Sept. 1, 2011, to Aug. 31, 2012, he was assigned battalion commander of the 528th Engineer Battalion, Monroe, Louisiana.

Brigadier General Benton’s deployments include Desert Storm and Desert Shield; Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; numerous State Active Duty deployments for natural disasters to include Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He was assigned as the Task Force Engineer for Task Force Bon Voizen—New Horizon Haiti 2011 following the 2010 earthquake disaster. Previous assignments include deputy brigade commander for the 225th Engineer Brigade, recruiting and retention commander, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, commander (Rear Detachment), and director of Personnel and Manpower for the Louisiana Army National Guard, headquartered at Jackson Barracks, New Orleans.

Brigadier General Benton was appointed commander of the Louisiana State Guard on April 1, 2023, by the adjutant general. He serves as commander of the organized volunteers with unique skills and experience that can serve as key resources for LANG and LMD.

Brigadier General Benton is a graduate of the United States Army War College with a master’s degree in Strategic Studies (2018); a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, Bank Management from Louisiana Tech University (1992); a master’s degree in Gerontology from Northeast Louisiana University (1997); and a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Louisiana (1999). His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, the Bronze de Fleury Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Operation Enduring Freedom Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Desert Shield/Storm Campaign Medal.

He is married to the former Heather Renea Weese and has two children—Seth Michael, age 21, and Lydia Lynn, age 19. He is from Haughton, Louisiana, and currently resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.