Benjamin Beckmann is a notable figure in the fields of computer science and blockchain technology, currently recognized for his role as the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Shielded Technologies and as a Chief Technical Adviser at the Midnight Foundation. He has made significant contributions to these areas through his innovative work in developing the Midnight Network, a project he began supporting while previously employed at Input Output Global (IOG). ^{[1] [2]}​

Education

Benjamin Beckmann studied computer science at Western Michigan University, earning a Bachelor of Science (2001–2002) and a Master of Science degree (2003–2004). He later attended Michigan State University, where he completed a Ph.D. in Computer Science between 2005 and 2010. ^{[1] [3]}

Career

Beckmann began his career in academia and research, serving as an adjunct professor at Lansing Community College (2008) and later as an information technologist at Michigan State University (2009–2010), where he worked on enterprise identity management systems. From 2010 to 2019, he held a series of research and leadership positions at GE Global Research, progressing from Computer Scientist to Lead Computer Scientist and Senior Computer Scientist. His work included cloud-based engineering platforms, machine learning systems, and blockchain-related applications for industrial products and services.

In 2019, Beckmann joined Magic Leap as Lead Blockchain Architect, overseeing the development of blockchain-based data management and smart contract technologies. He subsequently became Managing Partner at Genesis Professional Group (2020–2022), where he led the firm's blockchain and artificial intelligence initiatives.

Beckmann joined Input Output Global (IOHK) in 2022 as Director of Architecture and Infrastructure, leading teams responsible for architecture specifications, formal models, and cryptographic technologies. He later served as Chief Technology Officer of the Midnight project (2024–2025), a blockchain platform focused on data protection and privacy-enhancing technologies. Since July 2025, he has served as Chief Technology Adviser to the Midnight Foundation. ^{[1] [2] [3]}