The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
Biography
LTC Aaron C. Teller most recently served as the Commander of the 79th Ordnance Battalion from June 2020 to June 2022. During his command he deployed the Battalion to serve as the senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) headquarters in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations.
He is a native of Hillsville, Virginia, and a graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. He holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Teller’s assignments include Deputy Director of TRADOC Proponent Office– Explosive Ordnance Disposal (TPO-EOD), Deputy to the EOD Commandant, FBI Fellow, S3 and XO of the 3d Ordnance Battalion (EOD), Deputy Chief of Operations at the 20th CBRNE Command, and Commander of the 705th Ordnance Company (EOD) at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He modularized the 705th then deployed the Company in support of 4th Brigade 10th Mountain Division during Operation Enduring Freedom. Prior to Company Command LTC Teller graduated as an honor graduate from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Deputy Team Chief of a Military Transition Team. LTC Teller was commissioned Ordnance with a Field Artillery Branch Detail. As a Lieutenant he served in the 1st Battalion 321st Field Artillery (Airborne) and the 782nd Maintenance Support Battalion (Airborne), 82nd Airborne Division. Additionally, he deployed with XVIII Airborne Corps as the Ammunition Officer for Multi-National Corps – Iraq and with 1-321 FA (ABN) to Hungary to form Task Force Warrior with the mission to train free Iraqi forces.
Teller is EOD Team Leader certified and Joint Operational Planner qualified from the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School. His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. Other schooling includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, and the College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College.
Last Updated: