- array_merge: documentation ( source)
- array_flip: documentation ( source)
<?php
$customer['address'] = '123 fake st';
$customer['name'] = 'Tim';
$customer['dob'] = '12/08/1986';
$customer['dontSortMe'] = 'this value doesnt need to be sorted';
$properOrderedArray = array_merge(array_flip(array('name', 'dob', 'address')), $customer);