Elbert Ross was born on October 6, 1964, at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. He enlisted in the U.S. Army to attend the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, on August 1, 1982, and he entered the U.S. Military Academy on July 1, 1983. He was commissioned a 2d Lt of Infantry in the U.S. Army on December 19, 1987, graduating from the Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Area Studies. His first assignment was as an Airborne Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-Armor Platoon Leader, Headquarters Executive Officer and Battalion Assistant S-3 with 3rd Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Air Borne Battalion Combat Team, forward deployed to Vicenza, Italy, under the Southern European Task Force in support of NATO operations. Capt Ross served with this unit through Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991, and he left active duty and joined the Army Reserve on February 1, 1993. He attended Baylor University School of Law in Waco, Texas, from February 1994 to February 1997, and then served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State from August 1997 to May 1999. Ross served as a Paramilitary Case Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency (Special Operations and Programs Officer) from June 1999 to June 2003, at which time he returned to active duty in the Army as a Civil Affairs Officer with the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, on June 3, 2003. LTC Ross stood up and commanded the first company in the Civil Affairs expansion toward formation of the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. He deployed in support of numerous operations and missions, including to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, supporting operations throughout the CJTF-HOA seven-country Area of Operations. He then commanded the U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School's Civil Affairs Instructor Detachment, and also instructed, before assuming command of Company B, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. LTC Ross then served as a charter member of U.S. Africa Command at Stuttgart, Germany, from its Transitional/Provisional status to full activation, as a Directorate Executive Officer, and as International Engagements Branch Chief in the Department of State-led Directorate for Outreach. LTC Ross was then assignment to the 3rd Infantry Division as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, G-9. He deployed with the 3rd ID as the Deputy Director of Stability Operations, CJTF-3, Headquarters, Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan, followed by service with the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade in the Civil-Military Operations Center and then as Chief of Plans within the S-3 at Fort Bragg. He retired from the Army on September 1, 2015.

His Legion of Merit Citation reads:

Exceptionally meritorious service from 19 Decmber 1987 to September 1, 2015, while serving in positions of increasing responsibilty culminating as Deputy Director, Stability Operations, Regional Command South, Kandahar, Afghanistan, and Chief of Plans, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Ross’ visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to excellence, and superior managerial skills ensured success in all of his numerous, diverse, complex and demanding duties. Lieutenant Colonel Ross’ outstanding performance of duty, culminating more than 20 years military service , was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, the Civil Affairs Regiment, and the United States Army.