You’ve probably seen the name popping up in veteran circles or heard it mentioned on high-profile podcasts like the Shawn Ryan Show. Usually, it's tied to something intense—human trafficking rescues, the Afghanistan withdrawal, or harrowing stories of addiction recovery. But there’s a massive point of confusion that keeps bubbling up online: the connection between Ben Owen and the massive coffee empire known as Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC).
Let’s clear the air immediately. Ben Owen is the President of Black Rifle Co, a data intelligence and digital media agency. Despite the nearly identical name, he is not the founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company. That’s Evan Hafer.
It’s an easy mistake to make. Both operate in the veteran-entrepreneur space. Both use the "Black Rifle" branding, which taps into a very specific subculture of tactical gear and military advocacy. Honestly, the naming overlap has led to more than a few confused emails and social media tags over the years. But if you’re looking for the guy who spent time in South Memphis turning "dope houses into hope houses," you’re looking for the data guy, not the coffee guy.
Who is Ben Owen?
Ben Owen isn’t your average suit-and-tie executive. He’s an Army Infantry veteran with a life story that reads like a gritty Netflix documentary. Before he was running a data firm, Owen was a homeless veteran struggling with a severe heroin and cocaine addiction. We’re talking about a $1,000-a-day habit that nearly ended him.
He didn't just survive; he pivoted. Hard.
After getting clean, Owen leveraged his military background and a natural aptitude for tech to build a career in leadership and brand awareness. His agency, Black Rifle Co, focuses on the "nitty-gritty" of data intel. This isn't just about marketing spreadsheets. During the 2021 collapse of Afghanistan, Owen used these data tools to help coordinate the "underground railroad" that got American citizens and vulnerable Afghan allies through the gates at the Kabul airport.
He was literally on video calls with families on the ground while bombs were going off at Abbey Gate. That’s the level of intensity we’re dealing with here.
The "Other" Black Rifle: A Tale of Two Brands
It’s kinda wild that two distinct entities in the same niche have such similar names. You have:
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- Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC): The publicly-traded coffee giant founded by Evan Hafer, Mat Best, and Jarred Taylor. They sell beans, "Ready to Drink" cans in gas stations, and a lifestyle brand built on 2A rights and veteran support.
- Black Rifle Co: Ben Owen’s firm. They specialize in digital media, strategy, and data intelligence.
While BRCC is a consumer goods powerhouse, Owen’s Black Rifle Co operates more in the B2B (business-to-business) and humanitarian sectors. If you see Ben Owen talking about "Black Rifle" in an interview, he’s usually referring to the data-driven work that funds his true passion: boots-on-the-ground activism.
From Trap Houses to Hope Houses
The work Ben Owen does through his nonprofits, Flanders Fields and We Fight Monsters, is where the "Black Rifle" data expertise meets the real world. He uses his understanding of how people move and hide in digital and physical spaces to find individuals who have "fallen off the map."
In places like South Memphis, Owen hasn't just talked about the fentanyl crisis; he’s lived in it. He’s known for buying up former trap houses—the same kinds of places he used to frequent as an addict—and converting them into sober living facilities. It’s a full-circle redemption story that sounds almost too cinematic to be real.
The Memphis Mission
Memphis is a tough city. Owen has been kidnapped for ransom twice and stabbed once during his missions to rescue people from organized crime and trafficking. He’s stated publicly that since 2019, he hasn’t seen actual heroin on the streets of Memphis—it’s all fentanyl now.
His approach is controversial to some because it’s raw. He believes in "suffering" as a catalyst for change and often tells parents they are "loving their children to death" by enabling their addictions. It’s a "tough love" philosophy born from the perspective of someone who had to hit a rock bottom so hard it broke.
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Why the Data Intelligence Piece Matters
Why does a veteran recovery advocate need a data company? Because "hiding in plain sight" is a technical skill.
Whether it’s tracking down a veteran who has disappeared into the homeless camps of a major city or helping a family escape a war zone, data is the compass. Ben Owen’s Black Rifle Co provides the resources and the "eye in the sky" that makes the ground work possible. It’s about leveraging modern technology to solve ancient problems like addiction and slavery.
He’s even been invited to CIA headquarters—a detail he often shares with a bit of dark humor, noting the irony of a former "crackhead" being brought in as a subject matter expert on data and human movement.
Navigating the Confusion in 2026
If you’re trying to follow Ben’s work or looking for his agency, make sure you’re looking at blackrifle.company and not the coffee site. As of early 2026, Owen remains heavily involved in the North Georgia mountains when he isn't in the trenches of Memphis.
The distinction matters because their missions, while both veteran-focused, are fundamentally different. One is about culture and commerce; the other is about rescue and recovery.
Actionable Takeaways for Supporting the Mission
If Ben Owen’s story or the work of his "Black Rifle" agency resonates with you, here is how you can actually get involved or learn more without getting lost in the coffee search results:
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- Look for the Nonprofits: If you want to support the recovery work, search specifically for Flanders Fields or We Fight Monsters. These are the entities handling the sober living homes and trafficking rescues.
- Verify the Source: When listening to podcasts or reading articles, check if the "Ben Owen" mentioned is the Army vet from Georgia. There are other Ben Owens out there, but only one running a data firm while fighting the fentanyl epidemic.
- Support Veteran Data Initiatives: The use of data intel for humanitarian purposes is a growing field. Look into how open-source intelligence (OSINT) is being used by veteran groups to assist in disaster relief and missing persons cases.
Ben Owen has built a life that balances high-level digital strategy with the grimiest, most dangerous work imaginable. He’s proof that a brand name is just a label, but the work behind it—the actual sweat and risk—is what defines the legacy. Don't let the similar names fool you; the "other" Black Rifle is doing a very different kind of heavy lifting.