Wes's Story

At the heart of Invader Coffee is founder and CEO Wes Whitlock, whose biography is as extensive and diverse as his businesses. Wes founded Invader Coffee in 2016 in Austin, Texas where he currently resides, operates his 3 businesses, maintains both a storefront and gym (free to all military, LEO, and veterans), and runs his podcast “Going Rogue with Wes Whitlock.”

Wes has traveled the world extensively and his experiences have proven to be invaluable.  Much of his life was spent abroad working in Spain, Yemen, Israel, Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Italy, Netherlands and Germany. However, he remains partial to Italy and calls it his second home.

Invader Coffee was birthed as a result of Wes's time spent in Italy. His immersion contributed to the development of his devout appreciation for the culture and history of Italy which is directly reflected in his projects, especially coffee.

Timeline:

(1993 - 1999) Honorably served in the Marines for 6 years. Wes was Honorably Discharged as a Sergeant with a Top-Secret Government Clearance. Once a Marine, always a Marine.

(1999 - 2004) Moved to Italy to study Business and Art of Rome at the American University of Rome. Wes immersed himself in the local culture, worked in local gyms, learned Italian, and graduated with a BS in International Business and Administration.

(2004 - 2007) Moved back to Washington D.C. and worked for the government as a High Threat Protection Specialist. Wes deployed to Afghanistan to work on long-range protection teams and other assignments, including working on the US Ambassador’s detail (Zalmay Khalilzad). Wes also worked in Iraq for this same client.

(2007 - 2014) Moved to Austin, Texas for a position at Dell as an Executive Protection Specialist for the CEO and his Family for 6 years.

(2011 - Current) Started Rogue American Apparel and continues to hold the CEO position.

(2015 - Current) Acquired his second business Disciples of Iron, achieving exponential growth.

(2016 - Current) Started Invader Coffee.
 
(2017) Awarded “Veteran Business of the Year” by Crown Royal as a result of charitable contributions. Waved the starting flags for a Circuit of the Americas F1 Race and took a lap around the track.

(2020 - Current) Started his podcast “Going Rogue with Wes Whitlock.”