Faith, Family, and Adventure

If you’ve been following blacksheepwarrior.com for any length of time, you know this space was built on tactical gear reviews, operational mindsets, and providing up-and-coming writers the chance to publish their own tactical content.

For 14 years, this site has been up and running. While it hasn’t always been hyper-active—especially since 2016—it has nonetheless plodded along, surviving right alongside my family as life took its bumps and crashes.

But the number “14” isn’t just important in blog years. It was also the exact length of my career with the United States Border Patrol, which started back in 2008.

For 14 years, that was my world. I served in the Border Patrol, spending over half of that time as a Task Force Agent (TFA) with the DEA in Tucson and Billings. It was fast-paced, high-stakes, and demanding.

But in 2022, life threw a red flag. I was medically retired.

When the uniform comes off, the noise stops, and the dust settles, you’re forced to ask yourself a foundational question: Who am I when I’m not chasing the next case?

Thankfully, I found that answer through my identity in Christ. And just like my life, this is the beginning of a brand-new chapter for this blog.

Shifting Gears: From Tactical to Practical Life

I still love tactical topics, and I always will. The mindset never truly leaves you. But the reality is, I’m no longer deeply embedded in the tactical industry day-in and day-out. My focus has naturally shifted to the things that are sustaining me, challenging me, and keeping me moving forward today.

Moving forward, blacksheepwarrior.com is evolving. We are shifting our target to cover three core pillars that define my life right now, and that I feel called to share:

1. Life/Family and Transition

Law enforcement retirement—especially medical retirement—was a profound psychological and physical challenge, not only for me but for my family. I want to talk openly about the often-turbulent transition out of federal law enforcement, the hurdles of identity loss, and the challenge of building a fulfilling, faith-focused life for myself and my family after the career ends.

Family and friends sitting on the patio next to a bonfire and enjoying life

A picture of Will and his wife Karine in the plaza mayor de Salamanca at night

2. Faith and the Journey

You can’t spend years working major drug and criminal investigations without seeing the darkest corners of humanity. My faith in Christ’s plan for my life helped me through those dark times. But more importantly, my faith has grown, and I have so much to share regarding what God has done for me—especially over the last few years.

A photo of the sunset from the beach in Fortaleza Brazil

3. The Open Road: Overlanding & Travel

Travel and overlanding are two of my passions. Like many of you, I don’t feel like I get to do enough of it due to the constraints of daily life. I am looking forward to sharing my adventures through posts and videos. When I’m not hitting the trail, I will be focusing on the build-out of “Thirsty Girl,” our 2020 Ford F-150 overloading build featuring a Lone Peak camper setup.

A natural forest picture with a F-150 and Lone Peak camper next to a Fire and Wills Wife Karine

The Mission Hasn’t Changed—Just the Terrain

The name Black Sheep Warrior was always about taking the narrow path and choosing the hard right over the easy wrong. We are still doing that. We’re just doing it out on the trail, in our personal lives, and in our quiet moments of reflection.

Join Me for the Next Turn

Whether you’ve been here since day one or you stumbled across this site looking for tactical insights, life transitions, faith, or overlanding articles, I’m incredibly grateful you’re here.

The road ahead looks a lot different than the one behind me, but I promise it’s going to be an authentic, unfiltered ride.

Pack your gear, clear your mind, and let’s see where the road takes us.

— Will D.