People

Dead Air Silencers announced that Cris McRae, formerly of Magpul Industries Corp, joined as Senior Product Manager for Accessories. McRae brings over a decade of firearms industry experience in product development and commercialization to drive innovation and strategic growth.

Colt has appointed Jillair Kubish as President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2026. Kubish brings over 20 years of firearms industry experience, including a decade at Colt in senior leadership roles overseeing Military and Law Enforcement programs, plus prior U.S. Government service and consulting expertise.

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has promoted attorney Bill Sack to Senior Director of Legal Operations. In this role, Sack will oversee SAF's legal program, including litigation management, case tracking, and public education. Executive Director Adam Kraut praised Sack's coordination of outside counsel and legal program management during his tenure with the organization.

Azimuth Technology promotes Roman Hallock to Director of Operations effective March 9th, 2026. With over eight years at the Naples, Florida-based precision manufacturer, Hallock will drive operations strategy and company growth across the defense, aerospace, and military sectors.

C&H Precision announced the hiring of Bryce Laemmlen as director of business development. Laemmlen brings over a decade of tactical and optics industry experience, including his previous role as Military and Law Enforcement Account Manager for Vortex Optics, and will lead strategic growth initiatives across military, law enforcement, and commercial markets.

Azimuth Technology announced the promotion of Mauricio Giraldo to Vice President of Operations after more than 13 years with the precision manufacturing company. Giraldo will lead manufacturing strategy and operational performance across Azimuth's platform, focusing on production excellence and process optimization for the defense, aerospace, and military sectors.

Justin Moon, founder and CEO of Kahr Arms, is the 2021 recipient of the Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Bushnell® has recognized Tom Beckstrand with the 2020 Bill McRae Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to optics and the outdoor industry. The rifle and optics editor for Guns & Ammo, Beckstrand is a dedicated writer and passionate shooting sports educator.

 Clarus Corporation subsidiary Sierra Bullets announces the appointment of Keith Enlow to president, effective August 17, 2020.

SDS Imports announces the appointment of Dave Biggers as General Manager. Biggers, an firearms industry veteran, will take over daily operations at the SDS Knoxville facility and oversee imports and distribution of the entire SDS product line while leading the effort to scale the organization to meet projected growth.

Over his 24-year tenure with the company, Dave Emary's tinkering and envelope pushing helped accomplish some of the biggest breakthroughs at Hornady. For his groundbreaking work, Emary was honored as one of Outdoor Life's Top 25 for Innovation in 2007. Although retiring, he will continue working for Hornady as a consultant.

With over 22 years of service as a Department of Army Civilian, Shoot Like A Girl's Founder and President, Karen Butler, retired on November 21, 2016 as Executive Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal.

In 2014, Buckeye Firearms Foundation announced an initiative to put a trauma kit in every school building in Ohio. Now, one Boy Scout from northwest Ohio is seeking to further that goal as an Eagle project.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) has recognized Scottsdale, Arizona's Carrie Lightfoot, founder of The Well Armed Woman, as "Local Champion" for her efforts to promote firearm safety in the region.

Les and Roberta DeAsis, founders and owners of Benchmade Knife Company, are the recipients of Knife Rights' 2013 Freedom's Guardian™ Award. The formal presentation of the award was made during BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia.

Blue Heron Communications announces the retirement of Bill Booth, who will end his 19-year stint as an account executive and firearms expert for outdoor-specialty agency effective March 31. Booth joined Blue Heron following his retirement from his first career as a police officer. Booth reached the rank of lieutenant in the Oklahoma City Police Department during his 28-year career in law enforcement, which included extensive work in crime scene investigations and as a SWAT operator and trainer. Booth's expertise as an armorer, marksman and ballistician gave him instant credibility with clients and the outdoor media in his work with Blue Heron's firearms and shooting-related clients, most notably Smith & Wesson and Thompson/Center.

Lew Danielson, Crimson Trace's founder and CEO has been elected into the Oregon State Engineering Hall of Fame. The 1979 OSU graduate used his love of design and passion for the firearms industry to design the original, instinctively activated laser grips design.

Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced that Champion Shooter Doug Koenig won his fifth NRA World Action Pistol Championship held September 12-16 in Philipsburg, Germany. Koenig's score of 1,916 points left him in a three-way tie for first place. With the tiebreaker coming down to the number of "X" counts, Koenig edged out Kevin Angstadt with 184 "X" hits to take the Overall Title.

Lou Denys has been named Match Director of the prestigious 2013 Smith & Wesson IDPA Indoor National Championship according to an announcement made today by officials with the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and Smith & Wesson.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is pleased to release the latest documentary for the NRA Life of Duty online network, presented by Brownells. This Patriot Profiles video, brought to you by Smith & Wesson, shares the compelling story of Lt. John Nores, a warden with the California Department of Fish and Game, and others within the multi-agency team at war with drug cartels over illegal cultivation sites.