At the National Rifle Association's 2024 Annual Meetings & Exhibits, the NRA Board of Directors elected Doug Hamlin, then executive director of NRA Publications, to serve as the organization's new CEO and executive vice president following the resignation of Wayne LaPierre. Hamlin has tackled the job with enthusiasm and vigor and is moving ahead with initiatives that will renew the National Rifle Association and set it on the right track for the future. His new role comes after a lifetime of service and dedication, first as a United States Marine and then as a longtime presence in the firearm industry.
"I'm a Midwesterner at heart. I'm from the great state of Michigan," NRA CEO & EVP Doug Hamlin said. "At a young age, I had high hopes to be a U.S. Marine, and I was fortunate to get that opportunity. I served on active duty for six years as an infantry officer, and I also was on recruiting duty."
Following his work as a Marine Corps recruiting officer, where he played an important role in officer selection, Hamlin set his sights on the firearm industry.
"At that time, I was introduced to the Petersen Publishing Company through friends who were working for the company in Michigan," Hamlin said. "And since I was based in Los Angeles, I was able to apply there and ended up going to work for Guns & Ammo magazine in the late '80s and had a wonderful 14-year run there."
Hamlin eventually moved up to work as the publisher of MotorTrend, the flagship publication of the Petersen Publishing Company. With the Internet taking off in the 1990s, Hamlin embraced the digital age and founded autoMedia Solutions, a private company dedicated to providing up-to-date automotive news and information to modern consumers.
"Ultimately, though, I was recruited to come to the National Rifle Association in 2014 as the executive director of Publications," Hamlin said. "And that has clearly been the highlight of my career up to this point."
As a divisional director at the National Rifle Association, Hamlin has worked with other leaders and staffers within the organization, giving him a keen familiarity with all elements of the NRA. Additionally, he recognizes the unique place the organization has within our country.
"The NRA has honorable history going back to 1871. We've had nine U.S. presidents as members," Hamlin said. "We've had Medal of Honor recipients as presidents of the organization. We continue to celebrate, culturally, our heritage."
In its more than 150-year history, the National Rifle Association has become the world's largest and most effective advocacy organization for firearm owners. Its widely recognizable brand and track record of success makes it an essential part of the firearm community.
"The return on the investment the members have made in the NRA is undeniable," Hamlin said. "The clout that we have on Capitol Hill, it comes from our membership. The NRA Institute for Legislative Action is the gold standard in political lobbying in Washington. They win."
Today, Hamlin has one goal: grow the National Rifle Association. The strength of the NRA has always been in its members, and with an increasing membership, plus increased participation from existing members, the organization will be an even more powerful advocate for the rights of firearm owners nationwide.
"There's no question that we've contributed to society, and we will continue to do so," Hamlin said. "We want you to go to NRA.org, join, get your friends to renew their memberships, donate to our organization, learn about the programs that are available, and support the organization. We need you to come home. We need you now more than ever before."
