Benjamin Sledge is a wounded combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly under the Special Operations community (Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command) of the U.S. Army. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and two Army Commendation medals for his actions overseas. Upon returning home, he began work in geopolitical intelligence, then moved into mental health. He holds multiple certifications in Crisis Response, Trauma Care, and Suicide Prevention and continues to work in the veteran community. A prolific communicator, Sledge has written several articles on masculinity, the military, relationships, and faith that have gone viral on social media, and his essays are featured regularly on Medium within a variety of their publications. His book, Where Cowards Go To Die, chronicles his time in war and personal struggles to readjust, and is set to be released by a major publisher on July 5, 2022. He has consulted and spoken on behalf of major entities ranging from The U.S. Census Bureau, The U.S. Military Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Colorado State University, Volunteers of America, and several other nonprofits and businesses.

Sledge lives in Colorado with his wife, daughter, and son. You can learn more about him or contact him at benjaminsledge.com. “In 5 years of doing these events, and of all the 100+ speakers—which included 2 US cabinet level secretaries—Ben stood out as one of the best.” —Drew Zachary, U.S. Census Bureau