Former NRA President named by Wayne LaPierre to replace
retiring director Craig D. Sandler
(FAIRFAX, VA) - Former NRA President Kayne B. Robinson has been appointed Executive Director of the National Rifle Association’s General Operations Division. Robinson was named to the position by NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre to replace retiring director Craig D. Sandler, who has held the post since 1996.
“Kayne Robinson is perfectly suited to head our general operations, and I am pleased he has accepted the appointment,” LaPierre said. “He is an avid hunter, competitive shooter, former law enforcement officer, and legislative activist. As NRA President, his leadership was vital in our organization’s success. On behalf of NRA’s four million members, we are grateful for his continued leadership.”
A former New Hampshire law enforcement officer, Craig D. Sandler, officially retired as Executive Director of General Operations to return home to New Hampshire. "I will miss the challenges and our great staff,” Sandler said, “I am very proud of our success in expanding NRA programs. I believe that the more opportunities there are for people to responsibly and safely hunt, enjoy the shooting sports, and collect firearms, the more secure is our Second Amendment freedom.”
“For his tremendous service, he has earned the gratitude of the four million NRA members,” LaPierre said. “Today, more Americans shoot for recreation than ever before and the shooting sports are a mainstream part of the American scene. That is, in large part, due to the commitment and hard work of Craig Sandler and his staff in General Operations.”
Kayne Robinson served as NRA President for two years, until his term expired this past April. Prior to that, he served as NRA First Vice President for an unprecedented five years under then President Charlton Heston.
After four years in the Marine Corps, Robinson began a law enforcement career that spanned 33 years. As chief of detectives and assistant chief of police of the Des Moines, Iowa police department, he distinguished himself in leading most of the department’s front-line commands. Robinson is a past president of the Iowa Association of Chiefs of Police, an NRA-certified police firearms instructor, and repeat Iowa State Police pistol champion.
Robinson is an active hunter, taking big game in North America and Africa. For many years, he served as president of the Iowa Sportsmen’s Federation and has long been active in defending the Second Amendment and in fostering greater opportunities for shooters and hunters to enjoy their firearms freedom.
Robinson will work to expand NRA’s General Operations programs in hometowns and neighborhoods across America. Last year, 129,000 competitive shooters participated in 10,326 NRA-sanctioned tournaments, including 30 national championship matches. Since 1996, more than 1.2 million Americans have attended 7,121 Friends of NRA events around the country. These local events netted $71 million for The NRA Foundation.
-- www.nrahq.org --