Smith
& Wesson Holding Corporation, parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp.,
named Retired Navy Commander David P. Holt as Vice President of Military
Programs. Holt will be responsible for all of Smith & Wesson's United States
military programs, business development, strategic direction, and resources.

 

Holt, 53,
has amassed more than 30 years of experience in key leadership positions in
both the private business sector and the United States Navy. Prior to retiring
from the Navy with the rank of Commander, Holt's 20-plus year naval career
included five flying tours including squadron command as well as four key
assignments in the Pentagon covering all facets of requirements, acquisition
and program planning, budgeting and execution.

 

Michael
F. Golden, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, said,
“David is a highly seasoned veteran who has built his knowledge of federal
government and military requirements, capabilities, and the procurement process
over an accomplished career that includes a number of leadership positions both
in the field and in the Pentagon. His first-hand knowledge and experience, as
well as his history working at the most senior levels in Washington, is an excellent fit with our
strategy to grow the federal government and military portions of our
business.”

 

Most
recently, Holt served as Vice President, Requirements Support for Whitney,
Bradley & Brown, Inc., a defense consulting firm that provides expertise in
war fighter support, acquisition support, and strategic planning for clients in
the Federal Government, Department of Defense and private industry. Holt's work
at Whitney, Bradley & Brown specialized in identifying and articulating
required capabilities under the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development
System (JCIDS). He was instrumental in developing capability and acquisition
roadmaps methodologies for the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine
Corps.

 

Holt
began his career with the United States Navy in 1981 and held numerous
leadership positions as he developed his expertise in Airborne Mine Warfare. In
1996, he became the Director of Airborne Mine Warfare Programs for the Chief of
Naval Operations (CNO) Staff in the Pentagon. In 2000, he assumed command of
the Airborne Mine
Countermeasures Weapon
Systems Training
School at the Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia.
His final assignment in the Navy was to serve as Helicopter Requirements
Officer for the CNO Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.
Over the course of his Naval career, he amassed over 3,300 career pilot flight
hours in the CH-53E and MH-53E helicopters, retiring in 2002 with the rank of
Commander.