Ben Ivan Funk (b. 1913) attended the University of Denver as a chemical engineering student before entering the armed forces, receiving his pilot's wings in 1936, and being granted his commission in 1937. He entered the regular officer corps in 1938 and was assigned to serve with the 19th Bombardment Group at Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the outbreak of World War II, Funk was flying a ferrying mission to the Middle East and was forced to island hop in the Pacific to evade Japanese forces during the retreat from the Philippines and Java by U.S. Forces. After returning home, he was assigned to the Air Materiel Headquarters at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and worked on combat modifications to the B-17 and B-24 bomber aircraft. Redeployed overseas, in 1944, he began to fly missions over Burma to reach Chinese air bases. In 1945, he was assigned to the 346th Bombardment Group at Okinawa. In August, 1946, Funk entered the Air Force Institute of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Management. He remained at Wright-Patterson AFB was assigned as Chief of the Aircraft and Missile section, and later as Deputy Chief of the Aircraft Procurement Division at Air Materiel Command Headquarters. In carrying out his duties in these roles, he contributed significantly to the evolution and development of aircraft such as the B-36, B-50, B-45, B-47, B-84, and F-86. In 1949, Funk completed the Harvard Business School's Graduate Program in Advanced Management. Funk was then assigned to the 84th Air Depot Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Erding, Germany. Returning to the U.S. in 1954, Funk was assigned to the role of Inspector General of the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB. He served in a variety of roles in the ensuing years related to weapons development and Ballistic Missile research and design. In 1958, he was assigned to be the first Commander of the newly minted Ballistic Missiles Center. In 1960, he was named Commander of the San Bernardino Air Materiel Area, headquartered at Norton AFB, California, and in 1962, became Commander of the Space Systems Division of the Air Force Systems Command at Los Angeles, California. Funk's career decorations include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, and Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster. He was rated a command pilot, and in 1959, he was accorded an honorary doctorate degree (Public Service) from Denver University. He retired from active duty on September 1, 1966.
From the description of Funk, Ben I. (Ben Ivan), 1913- (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10613730
