Building on its U.S. and off-shore manufacturing capabilities, Outdoor Research (OR) hired David Hein as General Manager, Military and Tactical.
Hein brings an extensive background working in the tactical, military and workwear markets. He will report to OR President Roger Barton and help drive the brand’s growth across those categories. Hein will work closely with OR’s Tactical team integral to its military business.
Hein joins OR from 5.11 Tactical, where he worked for 12 years. His roles there included VP and GM and Merchandising Operations. Before that, he spent more than a decade at Dickies.
“What drew me to Outdoor Research is the people, the brand and the product,” Hein said. “One of the things that’s unique about OR is that we’ve got two U.S. manufacturing facilities that employ hundreds of people making top-tier and highly technical products here in America. That is a big deal right now, and it represents a lot of opportunities. In our markets, there are very few companies that can manufacture products in-house in the U.S.”
Outdoor Research has operated in the government/tactical space for 30 years, building products for elite units of the U.S. military and the tactical consumer market.
Contributing to its increased onshore manufacturing capabilities, OR, over the last two years, has invested more than $5 million in improving its R+D capabilities focused on these markets, including opening a second onshore factory in El Monte, CA, while modernizing and upgrading its manufacturing operation at its headquarters in Seattle, WA.
“Over the past three years, Outdoor Research has made significant investments in the team members across the business that has resulted in driving record growth across all channels,” said Roger Barton, president, Outdoor Research. “I am excited by the opportunity to add David’s extensive leadership experience to the team and the potential additional growth opportunities for the brand.”
Photos courtesy Outdoor Research, David Hein
