Management

Fred Wagenhals, Founder & Executive Chairman

If ever there is a testimony to the all-American success story, inventor and entrepreneur Fred Wagenhals has lived it. In a career spanning more than five decades, Wagenhals, by the age of 21, had established his reputation as an innovator with the various inventions he designed, built, and patented. Those inventions included a two-man, jet-pumped boat design used in jet ski watercrafts; 1:3-scale, gas-powered mini-cars used in various television shows and films; a computerized motor that powered the mechanical bulls popularized by the 1980 move Urban Cowboy, the Jolly Rancher motorized stagecoach; and the NASCAR die-cast miniature collectable cars, to name a few...
Founder & Executive Chairman of AMMO, Inc. - PRESENT Fred Wagenhals is Founder and Executive Chairman of AMMO, Inc., (Nasdaq: POWW), a leading vertically integrated producer of high-performance ammunition and components and owner of GunBroker.com, a global online commerce leader serving the firearms and shooting sports industries that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world, acquired in April 2021. AMMO was founded in 2016 by Wagenhals with a single vision -- to change, innovate, and invigorate the complacent munitions industry for the next generation of shooters. Wagenhals and his executive leadership team have accomplished that and more in just six years. AMMO has experienced explosive growth and is expected to continue in 2022 and beyond. The company has gone from an OTC stock to being listed on Nasdaq: POWW; the revenue in 2016 was $2 million and in 2022, AMMO’s annual revenue is projected to be $250 million. AMMO has quadrupled staff at its Scottsdale headquarters and Wisconsin manufacturing facility and is building a 160,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Manitowoc, Wisconsin scheduled to open July 2022. AMMO has built a comprehensive ammunition and brass case product line with more than 60 different products such as STREAK Visual Ammunition which, through its patented technology allows the shooter to visually see the bullets’ path toward its target, patented armor piercing and hard armor piercing incendiary ammunition, ballistic match multi-purpose and signature-on-target ammunition, each supporting the Company’s US and ally nations’ military and the law enforcement community. GUNBROKER.COM In 2021, AMMO acquired GunBroker.com for $240 million. GunBroker.com is an online marketplace matching buyer and seller together focused on the ammunition, firearms, accessories, and broader outdoors market. After transactions occur, the seller is responsible for shipping and the price is determined through site interaction. GunBroker.com then charges a service fee for supporting the transaction. The acquisition of GunBroker.com provided AMMO access to a business model with consistent cash flow, low operating costs, and industry leading margins. GunBroker.com promotes responsible gun ownership and offers its customers a safe, secure, and transparent venue to buy and sell guns online by strict adherence to gun ownership policies and regulations through licensed firearms dealers as transfer agents. ACTION PERFORMANCE COMPANIES Prior to starting AMMO, Wagenhals was the powerhouse marketer, product architect, promoter, and manufacturer in the world of motorsports as founder and CEO of Action Performance Companies, Inc. At Action, Wagenhals shaped the company’s success by negotiating long-term, exclusive licenses with motorsports’ most popular drivers and teams by using diverse distribution channels and creating innovative and strategic branding; and, by maintaining an outstanding reputation for creativity, quality, and authenticity. In just nine years, Wagenhals catapulted Action Performance from three employees working around a card table to more than $407 million in sales and over $45 million in profits. There was no one in the motorsports industry that was even close to what Wagenhals was creating with Action Performance Companies. Action Performance produced die-cast miniature race car replicas sold through a collectors' club, at racing venues, and through other mainstream distribution channels. Action also manufactured various racing souvenirs such as miniature replica drivers' helmets and sold racing-style clothing including t-shirts, leather jackets, and baseball caps for children, teens, and adults. The company's enormous growth came in the 1990s as interest in stock car racing skyrocketed in the U.S. There were few other companies serving this niche market and Action Performance took advantage of its marketing acumen and rode the wave of racing popularity by strategically buying other companies and continually exceeding unique marketing expectations. At the onset, Wagenhals clearly understood that for Action Performance Companies to get the significant funding it needed to be successful, he had to secure the rights to reproduce the most revered car in NASCAR -- driver Dale Earnhardt's black “number three.” Wagenhals sold his home, moved into a small apartment, and paid Mr. Earnhardt his last $300,000, his personal bank account was now depleted – a fearless, but strategic move by Wagenhals that paid off significantly in time. Wagenhals knew he now had a corner on what would be a booming market. By 1998, Action had positioned itself as one of the major toy makers in the United States. NASCAR toys were said to be the third bestselling item in the entire toy industry, and Action Performance had approximately 60 percent of the NASCAR market. Wagenhals successfully navigated Action Performance onto the NYSE and in 2005 he sold the company for more than $245 million. Awards, Accomplishments, and Accolades 2023 – Recipient of the NC Drag Racing Hall of Fame Pioneer Award 2022 – Phoenix Titan 100 Recipient 2021 – AMMO acquired GunBroker.com, the largest online marketplace dedicated to firearms, hunting, shooting and related products for $250 million 2011 – Named Professor of the Year for teaching a sports entrepreneurship course at the University of Arizona 2010 – Inducted into the Die-Cast Hall of Fame 2005 – Wagenhals sold Action Performance Companies for more than $245 million 1998 – Wagenhals successfully navigated Action Performance onto the NYSE 1998 – Action had positioned itself as one of the major toy makers in the United States. NASCAR toys were said to be the third bestselling item in the entire toy industry, and Action Performance had approximately 60 percent of the NASCAR market 1997 – Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Inc.– sponsors included Ernst & Young LLP, the Kauffman Foundation, the NASDAQ Stock Market, USA Today 1997 – 1998 Anheuser-Busch Entrepreneur in Residence Award from the University of Arizona College of Business and Public Administration 1996 – Wagenhals established a critical alliance with giant toymaker Hasbro in 1996. The two companies develop a line of highly popular and successful racing toys called Winner's Circle.
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Jared R. Smith, Chief Executive Officer

Jared R. Smith is Chief Executive Officer since July 2023 and joined AMMO, Inc. in January 2023 as COO and President, bringing a wealth of management and C-Suite experience to the AMMO team. For the five years preceding joining AMMO, Jared was General Manager with Fiocchi of America, a global manufacturer of premium ammunition for competition, hunting and defense applications. During his tenure with Fiocchi, Jared initially served as the Director of Procurement and Supply Chain, and subsequently, the Vice President-International Strategy and Development. As Fiocchi’s GM, Jared maintained full P&L ownership and managed separate manufacturing operations while overseeing three acquisitions, and lead Fiocchi’s revenue growth in 3 short years from $95 million to more than $200 million.

Rob Wiley, Chief Financial Officer

Rob Wiley was appointed Chief Financial Officer on January 14, 2019. He previously served as the Controller since May 2018 and was responsible for the accounting department, including external financing reporting, compliance, accounting policy, and tax accounting. Prior to joining AMMO, Inc. Mr. Wiley was a Corporate Tax Accountant at Moss Adams, LLP from June 2015 through April 2018. He earned his Master of Taxation at Arizona State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Arizona State University. Mr. Wiley is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Arizona.

Tod Wagenhals, Executive Vice President

Mr. Wagenhals has been AMMO’s Executive Vice President since 2016 and has significant experience in marketing and contract manufacturing, as well as overseeing companies’ day- to- day operations and production. He oversaw the construction and completion of AMMO’s 185,000 square foot world-class ammunition manufacturing facility in Manitowoc, WI, which opened on September 22, 2022. In 1992 Mr. Wagenhals was appointed Executive Vice President, Secretary, and a Director of Action Performance Companies, Inc., (Nasdaq: ACTN) a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of licensed motorsports collectibles and merchandising. His responsibilities included managing the day-to-day operations, new product development, and oversight of the company’s..
contract manufacturing operations in China. Mr. Wagenhals held those positions through 2000. In 2000 he founded Tod Wagenhals, Inc. (TWI), a sales and marketing company. TWI designed, manufactured, and distributed officially licensed sports and celebrity products, apparel, collectibles, and other memorabilia through contracts with the NFL, NASCAR, and other major professional sports organizations. TWI also marketed golf collectibles through a special division, Tour Fan Golf Collectibles, at major PGA Tour and PGA venues such as The PGA Championship and The Ryder Cup. From 2008-2011 Mr. Wagenhals became a managing member, partner, and President of Kinesis Industries, LLC. Kinesis was established to develop, manufacture, and distribute micro-generation renewable energy products, such as the K3 Wind and Solar Charger and e-chain charger for consumers worldwide. In 2011-2017 Mr. Wagenhals worked as a managing partner for Winners Companies, LLC., which is a commercial development company. From 2017 to Present Mr. Wagenhals was appointed Executive Vice President of Ammo Incorporated. Mr. Wagenhals graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Arizona in 1988 and played on the University’s golf team from 1985 - 1988.
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Anthony Tate, Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Anthony Tate joined AMMO Inc. in March of 2020 with more than a decade of experience in the shooting sports industry. Currently, Mr. Tate serves as AMMO’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing, responsible for managing all brands, distribution channels, and deployment of sales for AMMO. Previously, Mr. Tate served as Director of Sales, responsible for managing the company’s key national accounts, business development strategies and supplier relationships worldwide. As the Director of Sales and currently VP of Sales & Marketing at AMMO, Tate has generated over $400 million dollars in revenue during his 4-year tenure. Before joining AMMO Inc, Mr. Tate represented hundreds of industry leading firearm and ammunition manufacturers at one of the largest shooting sports distributors in the United States, Davidson’s Inc. Mr. Tate managed growth and development of key accounts, contributing to over $175 million dollars in sales. In 2006, he won the U.S. Army Scholar Athlete Award while earning his Bachelor of Science Degree.

Beth Cross, Chief Operating Officer – GunBroker.com®

Beth Cross is a highly accomplished executive with more than 20 years of multi-channel online and big-box retail experience. Her expertise of consumer purchase behaviors from her decades of advancements at retail box stores including Walmart, Bi-Mart and Sportsman’s Warehouse was imperative to bring GunBroker.com to the next level. Ms. Cross began her retail career in 1998 spending 12 years in leadership roles within store operations focusing on visual merchandising, freight management, and customer relationships. She spent nine years in merchandising roles negotiating contracts and using analytics and marketing to drive record sales. Her vision to infuse efficiencies increased sales at every position,..
exponentially. Ms. Cross joined AMMO, Inc. in May of 2021 after the acquisition of GunBroker.com®. Since joining the AMMO, Inc. management team, her primary focus has been to analyze and optimize the GunBroker.com platform and integrate analytics to carve paths to increase sales and improve the shopper and seller experience. In May of 2022, Ms. Cross was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of GunBroker.com. During her short time at GunBroker.com, she has put GunBroker.com on a fast track to increased sales, efficiencies across the board from customer service, to financials, and marketing and advertising.
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Board of directors

Fred Wagenhals, Founder & Executive Chairman

If ever there is a testimony to the all-American success story, inventor and entrepreneur Fred Wagenhals has lived it. In a career spanning more than five decades, Wagenhals, by the age of 21, had established his reputation as an innovator with the various inventions he designed, built, and patented. Those inventions included a two-man, jet-pumped boat design used in jet ski watercrafts; 1:3-scale, gas-powered mini-cars used in various television shows and films; a computerized motor that powered the mechanical bulls popularized by the 1980 move Urban Cowboy, the Jolly Rancher motorized stagecoach; and the NASCAR die-cast miniature collectable cars, to name a few...
Founder & Executive Chairman of AMMO, Inc. - PRESENT Fred Wagenhals is Founder and Executive Chairman of AMMO, Inc., (Nasdaq: POWW), a leading vertically integrated producer of high-performance ammunition and components and owner of GunBroker.com, a global online commerce leader serving the firearms and shooting sports industries that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world, acquired in April 2021. AMMO was founded in 2016 by Wagenhals with a single vision -- to change, innovate, and invigorate the complacent munitions industry for the next generation of shooters. Wagenhals and his executive leadership team have accomplished that and more in just six years. AMMO has experienced explosive growth and is expected to continue in 2022 and beyond. The company has gone from an OTC stock to being listed on Nasdaq: POWW; the revenue in 2016 was $2 million and in 2022, AMMO’s annual revenue is projected to be $250 million. AMMO has quadrupled staff at its Scottsdale headquarters and Wisconsin manufacturing facility and is building a 160,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Manitowoc, Wisconsin scheduled to open July 2022. AMMO has built a comprehensive ammunition and brass case product line with more than 60 different products such as STREAK Visual Ammunition which, through its patented technology allows the shooter to visually see the bullets’ path toward its target, patented armor piercing and hard armor piercing incendiary ammunition, ballistic match multi-purpose and signature-on-target ammunition, each supporting the Company’s US and ally nations’ military and the law enforcement community. GUNBROKER.COM In 2021, AMMO acquired GunBroker.com for $240 million. GunBroker.com is an online marketplace matching buyer and seller together focused on the ammunition, firearms, accessories, and broader outdoors market. After transactions occur, the seller is responsible for shipping and the price is determined through site interaction. GunBroker.com then charges a service fee for supporting the transaction. The acquisition of GunBroker.com provided AMMO access to a business model with consistent cash flow, low operating costs, and industry leading margins. GunBroker.com promotes responsible gun ownership and offers its customers a safe, secure, and transparent venue to buy and sell guns online by strict adherence to gun ownership policies and regulations through licensed firearms dealers as transfer agents. ACTION PERFORMANCE COMPANIES Prior to starting AMMO, Wagenhals was the powerhouse marketer, product architect, promoter, and manufacturer in the world of motorsports as founder and CEO of Action Performance Companies, Inc. At Action, Wagenhals shaped the company’s success by negotiating long-term, exclusive licenses with motorsports’ most popular drivers and teams by using diverse distribution channels and creating innovative and strategic branding; and, by maintaining an outstanding reputation for creativity, quality, and authenticity. In just nine years, Wagenhals catapulted Action Performance from three employees working around a card table to more than $407 million in sales and over $45 million in profits. There was no one in the motorsports industry that was even close to what Wagenhals was creating with Action Performance Companies. Action Performance produced die-cast miniature race car replicas sold through a collectors' club, at racing venues, and through other mainstream distribution channels. Action also manufactured various racing souvenirs such as miniature replica drivers' helmets and sold racing-style clothing including t-shirts, leather jackets, and baseball caps for children, teens, and adults. The company's enormous growth came in the 1990s as interest in stock car racing skyrocketed in the U.S. There were few other companies serving this niche market and Action Performance took advantage of its marketing acumen and rode the wave of racing popularity by strategically buying other companies and continually exceeding unique marketing expectations. At the onset, Wagenhals clearly understood that for Action Performance Companies to get the significant funding it needed to be successful, he had to secure the rights to reproduce the most revered car in NASCAR -- driver Dale Earnhardt's black “number three.” Wagenhals sold his home, moved into a small apartment, and paid Mr. Earnhardt his last $300,000, his personal bank account was now depleted – a fearless, but strategic move by Wagenhals that paid off significantly in time. Wagenhals knew he now had a corner on what would be a booming market. By 1998, Action had positioned itself as one of the major toy makers in the United States. NASCAR toys were said to be the third bestselling item in the entire toy industry, and Action Performance had approximately 60 percent of the NASCAR market. Wagenhals successfully navigated Action Performance onto the NYSE and in 2005 he sold the company for more than $245 million. Awards, Accomplishments, and Accolades 2023 – Recipient of the NC Drag Racing Hall of Fame Pioneer Award 2022 – Phoenix Titan 100 Recipient 2021 – AMMO acquired GunBroker.com, the largest online marketplace dedicated to firearms, hunting, shooting and related products for $250 million 2011 – Named Professor of the Year for teaching a sports entrepreneurship course at the University of Arizona 2010 – Inducted into the Die-Cast Hall of Fame 2005 – Wagenhals sold Action Performance Companies for more than $245 million 1998 – Wagenhals successfully navigated Action Performance onto the NYSE 1998 – Action had positioned itself as one of the major toy makers in the United States. NASCAR toys were said to be the third bestselling item in the entire toy industry, and Action Performance had approximately 60 percent of the NASCAR market 1997 – Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Inc.– sponsors included Ernst & Young LLP, the Kauffman Foundation, the NASDAQ Stock Market, USA Today 1997 – 1998 Anheuser-Busch Entrepreneur in Residence Award from the University of Arizona College of Business and Public Administration 1996 – Wagenhals established a critical alliance with giant toymaker Hasbro in 1996. The two companies develop a line of highly popular and successful racing toys called Winner's Circle.
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Jared R. Smith, Director & Chief Executive Officer

Jared R. Smith became Chief Executive Officer in July 2023 and joined AMMO, Inc. in January 2023 as COO and President, bringing a wealth of management and C-Suite experience to the AMMO team. For the five years preceding joining AMMO, Jared was General Manager with Fiocchi of America, a global manufacturer of premium ammunition for competition, hunting and defense applications. During his tenure with Fiocchi, Jared initially served as the Director of Procurement and Supply Chain, and subsequently, the Vice President-International Strategy and Development. As Fiocchi’s GM, Jared maintained full P&L ownership and managed separate manufacturing operations while overseeing three acquisitions, and lead Fiocchi’s revenue growth in 3 short years from $95 million to more than $200 million.

Russell William “Rusty” Wallace, Jr.,

Russell William “Rusty” Wallace, Jr. has been a director of our company since June 2017. Mr. Wallace is the principal shareholder of the Rusty Wallace Automotive Group, a group of eight automotive dealerships located in Eastern Tennessee, and owns Rusty Wallace Racing, which has fielded entrees in the NASCAR Cup Series. Mr. Wallace competed in NASCAR races for more than 16 years and had 55 victories prior to his retirement in 2005. Mr. Wallace serves as an analyst for ABC and ESPN. He is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports, Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Richard Childress,

Richard Childress, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) began his operation in 1969 as a one-man team and has since grown RCR into one of the most-respected organizations in NASCAR, with close to 400 team members supporting full-time operations in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. Childress, his career and contributions to the sport of NASCAR were celebrated throughout the stock car racing community as he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017. He has also been honored by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame (2016), Motorsports Hall of Fame (2016), National..
Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (2012), International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2011) and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (2008). He is a past recipient of NASCAR's Buddy Shuman Award (2011), the NASCAR Humanitarian of the Year (2008), and the Sporting news Owner of the Year in 2001, 2006 and 2010. As a car owner, Childress has earned more than 200 victories in NASCAR's top-three national series, 16 championships, three Daytona 500 championships and three Brickyard 400 championships. Notably, six of Childress' championships were earned with his best friend, Dale Earnhardt, over a dominating eight­ year span (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994). Childress' family shares his love for motorsports. His grandsons, Austin and Ty Dillon, began racing under the RCR banner in the early 2000s and are both currently successful drivers in NASCAR's premiere series. Childress' son-in-law, Mike Dillon, was a former Xfinity Series driver in the mid-1990s and now serves as RCR's Senior Vice President of Business Operations. Away from the track, Childress is a businessman, philanthropist and conservationist - he loves wine, the outdoors and investing in America's youth. Childress spends his free time outdoors and has been an avid hunter and fisherman since he was a child. He currently supports many non-government organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk foundation and the Boone & Crocket Club. He also currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation and also holds a seat on the board of directors for Growth Energy. Childress also has a strong affinity for the U.S. military. Over the years, he has visited troops overseas in Iraq, Bosnia and Germany. He has honored thousands of veterans on his team's race cars over the years, and hosts hundreds of veterans for breakfast each month at his race shop. In recognition of his support for military personnel and initiatives, he was awarded the Helping A Hero Lee Greenwood Patriot Award in 2020. Along with his wife, Judy, they established the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma in conjunction with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in 2008 with a mission to fund research, education and advocacy to help improve the care and treatment of children with traumatic injuries. Childress is also the proprietor of Childress Vineyards in Lexington, N.C., as well as the Yadkin River Angus cattle ranch and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio.
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Jessica Lockett,

Ms. Lockett is a corporate and securities law attorney with a focus on representing public and private companies at various stages of development with corporate governance and securities regulations compliance matters, including Securities Act and Exchange Act reporting. Ms. Lockett also has experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, financing, fundraising activities, and going public transactions. Ms. Lockett earned her J.D., cum laude, from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2012 and received the CALI and Witkin Awards in Securities Regulations from Cal Western School of Law. Ms. Lockett graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a law minor. Ms. Lockett has been an attorney with Horwitz + Armstrong, a Professional law corporation since 2016, and operated her own legal practice prior to joining the firm. Ms. Lockett is an active member of the State Bar of California.

Steve F. Urvan,

Steve F. Urvan has been a director and employee of our company since April 2021. Mr. Urvan has been the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BitRail, a compliant payments infrastructure, since February of 2018. Mr. Urvan founded Gunbroker.com in 1999 and was the Chief Executive Officer until April of 2021 when the Company acquired the asset. Mr. Urvan has spent over 20 years as an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor with a passion for building and growing companies across various industries, but always with a focus of technology as a core or enabler. Mr. Urvan remains active in other companies that he founded including Outdoors.com Digital Media, an outdoor lifestyle website, App Cohesion, an e-commerce technology platform, and Gemini Southern, a merchant bank.

Christos Tsentas,

Christos Tsentas serves as a Partner of Albion River LLC, a private direct investment firm, with a focus on aerospace, defense and government related opportunities. Earlier, he served as an investment banker at KippsDeSanto & Co., an M&A advisory firm focused on the aerospace and defense markets. Mr. Tsentas has served on the board of directors of Magpul Industries Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of firearms accessories and outdoor lifestyle products. Mr. Tsentas holds a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

Wayne Walker,

Wayne Walker has served as President of Walker Nell Partners, Inc., an international business consulting firm since its founding in 2004. Earlier in his career, Mr. Walker served as Partner at ParenteBeard LLC, an accounting firm, from 2001 to 2004 and as Senior Legal Counsel at E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company from 1984 to 1998. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Wrap Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WRAP), a global public safety technology and services company, since 2018 and currently serves as chairman of the board, Petro Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTPI), a men’s health company, since 2020, AYRO, Inc. (NASDAQ: AYRO), a designer and producer of all-electric vehicles, since 2020 and Pitcairn Trust Company, a national advisor to family offices, since 2018. Mr. Walker holds a B. A. from Loyola University New Orleans and a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.

Randy Luth,

Randy Luth has been a driving force in the firearm industry for nearly 40 years and currently serves as the president of LUTH-AR, LLC, the company he founded in 2013 to create innovative products for the AR-15 market. LUTH-AR, LLC is a supplier and manufacturer of AR parts, handguards, grips and affordable accessories and components for AR-15 rifles. Previously, Mr. Luth founded DPMS & Panther Arms in 1986 and led the company to become one of the leading manufacturers in the world. Holding nine patents and numerous industry-leading innovations, DPMS & Panther Arms is regarded as one of the pioneers behind the growth and popularity of the AR-15 market.