Ben Prill: BourbonSmoke Woodworking

Ben Prill is a Milwaukee native. Little did he know, he was living just a few miles away from his future spouse, Katie (shout out to Katie from LLbK). While Ben was in high school, he started looking at his next steps in higher education. He cast a wide net, applying to every service academy and for every scholarship available.

He was selected to receive ROTC scholarships from both the Army and Air Force. Ben came to the decision to stay a little closer to home, leading him to begin his 17-year (and counting) Air Force career. While earning an accredited degree in athletic training, Ben attended his Air Force ROTC classes at Marquette University, where he then met his wife, Katie.

A Journey in Service

While Katie finished her degree in nursing, the two continued to date and, shortly after, tied the knot, and were off to his first duty station, Vandenberg AFB, California. Since then, the Prills have bounced between MT, TX, LA, AZ, AL, SD, VA, and now back to AZ while raising their two kids. During this military journey, Ben cross-trained from an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Operator to an Aircraft Maintenance Officer.

Throughout his career, Ben encountered many terrains—and many leaders who shared one thing in common: a passion for running. “The run was my Achilles heel (no pun intended). After moving to Barksdale AFB, LA and having a boss who was an avid runner, I buckled down and hit the pavement.” What started as a way to improve fitness became a true outlet. Ben pushed himself further—5Ks, 10Ks, and eventually his first half-marathon. Running became a daily practice, and he even stopped listening to music, finding clarity in the quiet rhythm. That kind of mindfulness is something many of us strive for.

Eventually, Ben and his family landed an assignment at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. “The winters were no joke; they really put a damper on being able to go for a run outside,” He says. These long, icy winters ultimately sparked his next passion-fueled project.

Meet BourbonSmoke Woodworking

While serving as the Squadron commander to 700 individuals, Ben needed to find another outlet since his running time got iced out. In his garage, Ben tinkered with a mix of successful and, he admits, not-so-successful projects, soon realizing he needed better tools to take things to the next level

The following military move took Ben’s family to Virginia, which led to more time (and better weather) for Ben’s passion to get stoked by the fire. And luckily, the cutting board projects were stacking up!

So, in 2023, he launched BourbonSmoke Woodworking. A brand that specializes in custom cutting/charcuterie boards, coin racks, beverage flight holders, coasters, engraved patches, holiday decorations, and more. He offers laser engraving technology, custom shapes, epoxy accents, and Navy-themed logos as an authorized Navy crafter!

Around this same time, his wife Katie turned him on to Spouse-ly, an online marketplace for military, LEO, and first responders’ spouses and service members. Ben became a vendor, and his business began to take root.

His business goes beyond creating unique and beautiful gifts. He partners with a non-profit organization each quarter, donating a portion of his sales to these worthy causes. “These non-profits are all veteran-based and oriented towards helping our veterans and their families. They include Forever Warriors, Mission 22, and Pets for Patriots.”

Ben continues to serve full-time as an active-duty Air Force officer, and through his business, he not only brings awareness to these non-profits but also supports their causes as much as he can.

Ben’s Advice to Resilience?

“Do not overreact! In my career field, I have seen too many senior leaders give a knee-jerk reaction to something small. That wears people out. I believe that not everything is as bad as the first report is when you get it. I try to always stay even-keeled and think with a clear head. And I always remember, “this too shall pass.”

Ben’s key to resilience is a valuable reminder to sometimes give ourselves a second to think. It’s a mindset that reminds us resilience isn’t about rushing. A mantra that is a staple in military culture and reflects this outlook is ‘slow is smooth, and smooth is fast’; it’s about staying steady and intentional, even when the pressure is on.

Between leading, serving, and building within the military community, you can find Ben (and Katie) enjoying a nice glass of bourbon on their Arizona home’s back porch, watching the sunset, and savoring the slow moments in between.