How Black Rifle Coffee Company Serves Veterans After the Uniform Comes Off w/ Dean Goble

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In this episode of Vegas Veteran Voices, we sit down with Dean Goble Jr., a retired Army Green Beret Warrant Officer and Director of Philanthropy at Black Rifle Coffee Company, for a deep conversation about service after service, Veteran philanthropy, and what real impact actually looks like when the cameras are off.

Dean opens the episode by clearing up the record around the Special Forces Foundation, explaining why he stepped down from leadership earlier this year and why that decision had nothing to do with Black Rifle Coffee Company. He walks through the reality of bandwidth, leadership transitions, protecting family time, and why stepping back can sometimes be the most responsible move for an organization’s long-term health.

From there, the conversation goes deep into how Black Rifle Coffee Company approaches philanthropy in the Veteran space. This is not a surface-level branding discussion. Dean breaks down the difference between writing checks and building long-term activations, why in-kind support like logistics and product can matter just as much as dollars, and how Veteran-focused initiatives are vetted to protect both the mission and the people they serve.

We talk about major efforts like Veterans Week, including the initiative that helped eliminate more than $34 million in Veteran medical debt, and events such as the Folds of Honor celebrity softball game that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the families of fallen service members. Dean also explains how partnerships with organizations like Merging Vets and Players and other community-based programs actually connect Veterans to real resources rather than just optics.

The episode also explores niche corners of Veteran culture and philanthropy, from Cowboy Christmas and rodeo-based giving models to unconventional fundraising efforts tied to Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Throughout the conversation, Dean emphasizes accountability, reputation risk, and why not every nonprofit partnership is the right one, even when intentions are good.

This is an honest conversation about leadership, responsibility, and what it means to continue serving after the uniform comes off. If you care about Veteran mental health, nonprofit transparency, Special Forces leadership, or how companies like Black Rifle Coffee Company engage in Veteran philanthropy, this episode goes far beyond the headlines.

This segment is supported by organizations and individuals who believe in Veteran-led storytelling and community impact. Vegas Veteran Voices is a nonprofit media platform dedicated to amplifying Veteran stories, reducing stigma, and highlighting meaningful work being done in the Veteran space.

In their words

“I spent a lot of time away from my kiddos when I was younger and so I’m trying to some degree make up for all that.”

“I always knew that I wanted to continue to serve in some degree.”

“I really didn’t care what I was doing as long as I was with people that I wanted to be with doing it.”