Elliot Ackerman

Elliot Ackerman (born April 12, 1980) is an American author, currently based in Istanbul. He is the son of businessman Peter Ackerman and author Joanne Leedom-Ackerman and the brother of mathematician and wrestler Nate Ackerman. 2Early life At the age of nine, his family moved to London. The family moved back to Washington, DC, when he was fifteen. 2Career Beginning in 2003, Ackerman spent eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as both an infantry and special operations officer. He served multiple tours of duty in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. As a Marine Corps Special Operations Team Leader, he operated as the primary combat advisor to a 700-man Afghan commando battalion responsible for capture operations against senior Taliban leadership. He also led a 75-man platoon that aided in relief operations in post-Katrina New Orleans. He was also briefly attached to the Ground Branch of the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division. Ackerman served as Chief Operating Officer of Americans Elect, a political organization founded and chaired by his father, Peter Ackerman, and continues to serve on its Board of Advisor