Lieutenant Colonel Ben Early was born in Columbus, OH, and graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, in 2003. He reported to Quantico, VA, for Officer Candidates School in January 2005 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in March. Following commissioning, he was assigned to The Basic School, where he completed the Basic Officer Course and the Infantry Officer Course.
Upon completing the Infantry Officer Course in December 2005, Second Lieutenant Early was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines, where he served as a platoon commander and company executive officer. He deployed to Haditha and Kharma, Iraq, in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
From 2009 to 2011, Captain Early served as Platoon Commander for 1st Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team in Norfolk, VA. He deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Rota, Spain, participating in bilateral exercises in France and Israel. Upon return from deployment, Captain Early served as the company executive officer until attending the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Captains Career Course.
In 2011, Captain Early returned to Hawaii and rejoined 2d Battalion, 3d Marines. He became the company commander for Company G before deployment to Okinawa, Japan, as part of the Unit Deployment Program. He participated in combined arms training in Camp Fuji, Exercise FOREST LIGHT, PHIBLEX, and Jungle Warfare Training Center. Upon return to Hawaii, Captain Early became the company commander for Weapons Company. He was deployed again to Okinawa, Japan, where he participated in a bilateral exercise in the Republic of South Korea.
After redeploying to Hawaii in 2014, Captain Early moved to Austin, TX, where he served as the Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, Inspector-Instructor. He participated in the reserve Integrated Training Exercise and Mountain Warfare Training Center summer package.
In 2017, Major Early moved to Camp Lejeune, NC, and served as 2d Marine Division, Headquarters Battalion Operations Officer. In the fall of 2018, Major Early moved to 2d Battalion, 2d Marines as the Executive Officer, deploying for Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE in Norway, and the Unit Deployment Program in Okinawa.
In the summer of 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Early moved to Twentynine Palms, CA, to serve as the 7th Marines Executive Officer. In the summer of 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Early became the Operations Officer for the Tactical Training Exercise Control Group.
In the summer of 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Early moved to San Bruno, CA, and assumed the role of Inspector-Instructor for 23d Marine Regiment.
In June 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Early executed orders to Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Bangor, WA.