Charles Clayton Keebaugh

Charles Clayton 'Charlie' Keebaugh is a Republican businessman and U.S. Air Force Special Warfare veteran from Niceville, Florida, who ran for the U.S. House in Florida's 1st Congressional District in 2026. He served 10 years in the Air Force, including as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (Tactical Air Control Party) attached to the 75th Ranger Regiment, with deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and completed Army Ranger School. After his service he held senior executive roles in the commercial and defense sectors and founded small businesses, helping lead organizations onto the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies five times, and co-owned the Black Rifle Coffee Company franchise in Niceville. He holds an MBA from Northcentral University and completed executive education at Harvard Business School. He describes himself as an 'Obstacle Remover,' a husband and father, and listed veterans, families, and national security among his priorities.