Bear served 7 years as a Naval officer in the Special Operations community. He founded Born Primitive in his garage in 2014, the same year he earned his commission. Bear balanced being active duty while building what would become a global brand with zero outside funding. Prior to his service, Bear played Division-I football at Yale University and also competed at the CrossFit Games. Bear became hell bent on creating Born Primitive Tactical after seeing the shortfalls in the gear he was being issued as an operator, while also seeing many apparel brands in this industry that did not actually support those who serve.

Bruno retired in 2023 from a combined 40+ years of active duty and DOD government civilian service. His active-duty service was as a US Army Ranger, Special Forces operator, and Night Stalker flight lead. Bruno accumulated over eight years of combat/imminent danger service while on active duty. He then spent over a decade as a civilian with Naval Special Warfare Development Group in their operations directorate and as the director of urban training. Bruno was recruited by Born Primitive in late 2022 to develop our Tactical apparel and create a line best suited for law enforcement and global military units to better conduct their mission.

Kurt, a Navy veteran with over two decades of Special Operations service, retired  from the military in 2023. During his career, which includes 13 combat deployments, Kurt emerged as a versatile expert, straddling the realms of wilderness and warfare. His prowess as a sniper and reconnaissance team leader made him an aficionado of fieldcraft, equipping him with the know-how and resilience to excel in the harshest of environments. Kurt wasted no time in joining the Born Primitive Outdoor team as Director of Operations. He's brought his wealth of knowledge to the table, infusing it into the world of Backcountry hunting gear and is on a mission to enhance and innovate, ensuring that hunters have the best gear for their adventures.

Greg Retired from 20 years US Navy service as a SEAL in 2017. 16 years of his service was as a TIER1 operator at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He conducted 14 combat deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and several other missions worldwide.  Currently Greg owns a contracting service training Law Enforcement and DOD personnel and has started Brainwave Neuro Performance Center in Tucson, AZ. Using MeRT, noninvasive magnetic brain stimulation, Brainwave treats cognitive issues stemming from Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, Depression, Autism, addiction, sleep disorders as well as brain optimization and more. Read more →

Travis served for 20 years as a Navy SEAL at SEAL Teams 1 & 5 and the Navy’s tier one Special Mission Unit. He deployed on both combat and contingency operations in response to our nation's requirements throughout his career as an operator. Travis was instrumental in developing force on force training guidelines for all of Naval Special Warfare. Travis is continuing to serve as a civilian by consulting and training military and Law Enforcement special mission units across the country. Read more →

Blake enlisted in the United States Army in 2010 and completed Infantry and airborne training. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC with the 82nd Airborne Division. Blake deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was subsequently awarded the Military Purple Heart after sustaining life-threatening and life-changing injuries in combat. He spent two years learning to walk and talk again while finishing his contract with the military. After leaving the military, Blake joined the Fayetteville Police Department. He worked as a detective with the department's gun, gang, and cartel unit. Blake was selected as a member of his agency's SWAT team, where he participated in countless operations that included High Risk Search Warrants, High Risk Fugitive Apprehensions, Vehicle Assaults, Armed Barricaded individuals, Dignitary Protection, Riot Control, and Hostage Rescue. Primarily an assaulter, Blake was qualified as a Police Sniper and deployed as such on multiple operations.

Kyle retired from the Army in 2022 after 20 years of service and has been on the frontlines of every American kinetic conflict since 9/11—spending time in the Infantry and Special Forces. Kyle spent most of his military career as a Special Operator within the United States Special Operations Command. Of all his experiences in the Service, one of the most challenging days was reacting to a terrorist attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, on 20 November 2015. Responding to this attack and the lessons learned throughout his career helped him form his training company, Blu Bearing Solutions, whose primary mission is to train Law Enforcement and Private Citizens on an appropriate response to an Active Threat situation.

Joined the Navy in 2003 and deployed in support of OIF and OEF. Troy joined the Virginia Beach Police Department in 2012, and since 2015 has been a member of the department’s full time SWAT team. Troy has been on over 600 operations to include; active shooter, violent riots, high risk search warrants, armed criminal barricades, vehicle takedowns, maritime operations, executive protection details, sniper overwatch and is responsible the VBPD SWAT sniper school. In 2021, Troy founded Defender Series Training Group as a way to transfer knowledge to police officers, military and citizens.  Read more →