Freedom Group Names Cleckner Manager of Government Relations
OutdoorHub 03.30.12
Freedom Group, Inc. (FGI) has named Ryan Cleckner as its manager of government relations. Cleckner comes to Freedom Group from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), where he managed government relations for the firearms industry. Cleckner, a former sniper team leader in the U.S. Army’s 1st Ranger Battalion, is a combat veteran with multiple deployments overseas. Following his service, Cleckner became a sniper instructor and competitive shooter. He has appeared numerous times on the History Channel’s “Top Shot” program as a featured expert, and he is currently finishing his law degree at Quinnipiac University as a dean’s scholar.
“Freedom Group is proud to have Ryan join our team in a leadership position,” said George Kollitides, acting chief executive officer and chairman of the FGI board. “Ryan’s a strategic and forward thinker whose background speaks for itself. As a dedicated professional with a strong foundation in firearms, government affairs and law, Ryan is a perfect fit for FGI. His experience and knowledge will help us as we continue to bring the highest quality products and services into the global marketplace – whether civilian, military or law enforcement.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Freedom Group team,” said Cleckner. “Being part of a great American company that includes such iconic brands as Remington is extraordinarily meaningful to me. I learned to shoot with a Remington in the Arizona desert, took my first elk with a Remington in the Kaibab Forest and carried a Remington in the mountains of Afghanistan. I understand the importance of what we do – we keep the shooting tradition alive, we put meat on sportsmen’s tables and we help protect our country.”
