Meet Benjamin Sledge
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 and within geopolitics. With over 20 years of experience as a creative director, he has designed logos, websites, graphics, and ads that have been prominently featured in highly regarded publications such as TIME magazine and The New York Times.
A prolific communicator, Sledge has also 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. From CNN and The New York Times to Fox News and The Daily Wire, his writing and graphic design have graced the pages of diverse publications. His book, Where Cowards Go To Die, chronicles his time in war and personal struggles to readjust and was released in July 2022 to critical acclaim. To date, his book has won the following awards and accolades:
Gold Medal Winner, Nonfiction Book Awards for Biography & Memoir
Gold Medal Winner, Readers' Favorite Book Awards
Winner, 2024 Book Excellence Awards
2023 Chanticleer Military & Front Lines First Place Winner for Narrative Non-Fiction
2023 International Book Award Finalist for Autobiography/Memoir
Winner, 2022 NYC Big Book Award for Military Nonfiction
Sledge 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 even shared the stage with influential figures such as Tim Tebow.
Sledge lives in Colorado with his wife, daughter, and son. You can learn more about him or contact him at benjaminsledge.com.
What Are People Saying About Ben and His Work?
“Well s**t—THAT was intense! Where Cowards Go to Die is an intensely personal plunge down the rabbit hole of the Global War on Terror.”
—Peter Zeihan, Geopolitical expert and author of the New York Times bestseller, The End of the World is Just the Beginning
“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.”
—U.S. Census Bureau Official
“Ben Sledge not only can bring clarity to real life situations, but through exceptional stories and examples draws you in further to take a look at the reality of where your heart stands with the subject at hand.”
—Jake Luhrs, Lead Vocalist of Grammy-Nominated band, August Burns Red
“Ben Sledge is a real industry expert. He personally coached me through writing about very raw wartime experiences and generously shared insights about what it takes to professionalize my writing. Ben provided insight into getting published, as well as helped me mature my own writing voice and process. As a result, my work was picked up and distributed by a number of online publications. Because of his support, I am much better positioned to further my professional writing aspirations.”
—BryanLane, USMC | Iraq and Afghanistan Combat Veteran | Artificial Intelligence & Tech Leader at FDIC | Multiple Bylines in Medium Publications on War & Technology
"Seldom have I read a memoir, autobiography, or documentary that reads like thriller fiction, complete with that all-important sense of reality... verisimilitude. Benjamin Sledge has achieved just that and impresses with vivid descriptions of war and all the brutality that entails. Where Cowards Go To Die is a fascinating, albeit horrific, dive into the world of war, a dive that is a life-changing event for everyone concerned, including the reader who most likely never has and never will personally experience it.”
—Readers Favorite Book Review
