Bob Barr Elected NRA President, Doug Hamlin Elected As New Executive Vice President & CEO

NRA Board elects Bob Barr as new president and longtime NRA Publications Executive Director Doug Hamlin as new EVP and CEO.

by
posted on May 21, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Nra Blue1

The Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) have elected former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr as President of the NRA and Doug Hamlin as NRA Executive Vice President and CEO.

The meeting of the Board of Directors followed the 153rd NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits where more than 72,000 NRA members filled the halls of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, last week to check out the latest firearms, gear and accessories from close to 700 exhibitors. On Saturday, May 18, President Donald J. Trump delivered the keynote address at the NRA Leadership Forum in front of a capacity crowd, where he accepted the official endorsement from the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) for his re-election as President of the United States of America.

“I thank my colleagues for their support of my election as NRA President,” Bob Barr said. “I have been a fighter my whole life and I commit to boldly fight for our Second Amendment rights on behalf of the millions of NRA members. We need to grow our ranks, especially in this election year, and I pledge to focus my attention on doing just that.”

The NRA Board of Directors also elected Pennsylvania businessman William A. Bachenberg as NRA First Vice President and Mark E. Vaughan, president of the Oklahoma Rifle Association, as NRA Second Vice President.

Doug Hamlin
Doug Hamlin is the new Executive Vice President and CEO of the National Rifle Association of America.

 

NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Doug Hamlin recently served as executive director of NRA Publications. Prior to joining NRA in 2014, Mr. Hamlin had a long career in the publishing industry. For 14 years he served in numerous sales, marketing and management positions at the Petersen Publishing Company. He also was vice president and group publisher of Motor Trend magazine and served as the publisher of Guns & Ammo magazine. Mr. Hamlin served six years on active duty as a regular Marine Officer, including serving overseas with the Third Marine Division. In addition, he has been active in Veteran charitable causes.

“I am truly humbled to be elected by the NRA Board of Directors as the next Executive Vice President and CEO of the NRA,” Doug Hamlin said. “Our Association is at a decisive moment in our history, and the future of America and constitutional freedoms depends on the success of the NRA. I look forward to working with NRA staff to execute NRA’s gold standard programs and promote political and public policies that are in the best interest of our members and all gun owners.”

Following the election of Mr. Hamlin as NRA Executive Vice President, he re-appointed Randy Kozuch as the Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) and appointed Joseph P. De Bergalis, Jr., as the Executive Director of NRA General Operations.

The NRA Board of Directors also re-elected Sonya B. Rowling as NRA Treasurer and John C. Frazer as NRA Secretary. This year, the NRA membership overwhelmingly voted to create the position of NRA Chief Compliance Officer. Robert Mensinger was elected by the Board to serve in that position.

Learn more about the NRA at home.nra.org.

Latest

Legends Lynngipson NRA ATA 3
Legends Lynngipson NRA ATA 3

Legends: Lynn Gipson 1958–2026

Lynn Gipson, who led the Amateur Trapshooting Association for 14 years and was newly elected to the NRA Board of Directors, died April 18.

Lapua Renews as Official Ammunition Supplier of U.S. Biathlon Ahead of New Olympic Cycle

Lapua has renewed its partnership with U.S. Biathlon as the organization’s official ammunition supplier for the upcoming Olympic cycle.

ATA Grand American Returns to Sparta With a Full Event Lineup

The Amateur Trapshooting Association’s 127th Grand American runs July 29 through August 8 in Sparta, Illinois, with a tribute to the late Lynn Gipson.

Team Winchester and Team White Flyer Stack the Podium at 2026 World English

Team Winchester and Team White Flyer shooters earned multiple podiums at the 2026 World English Sporting Clays Championship.

From Milestones to Movement: Inside USPSA’s 2026 Blueprint

Alan Turner outlines USPSA’s 2026 priorities: club recruitment rewards, mobile app upgrades, junior memberships and championship planning.

Derrick Mein Secures Silver at ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Kazakhstan

Team Federal’s Mein took silver at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty after Turkey’s Tolga Tuncer set a world record to take gold.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.