Pete Brownell Elected NRA President Following NRA Annual Meeting 2017

The NRA Board of Directors elected the next generation of leadership for the nation’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group, electing lifelong NRA Life Member Pete Brownell as President May 1, capping off the 146th NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta.

Brownell, whose entire life has been dedicated to the outdoors and shooting traditions, is the CEO of his family’s namesake business and firearms industry leader, Brownells, Inc. Under his leadership, Brownells experienced a ten-fold growth from a “niche-specific supplier” of gunsmithing tools to an international company offering firearms, parts, ammo and accessories to shooters, hunters, gunsmiths and retailers worldwide.


NRA President Pete Brownell (second from left)

His Iowa roots rich with shooting and hunting heritage combined with his family’s commitment to serve and uphold those traditions set the stage for Brownell to seek election to the NRA Board of Directors in 2010. Since then, he has served as chairman of the Membership Committee, and as a member of the Finance, Law Enforcement Assistance, Publications Policies, and Sport Shooting Committees. He was elected as the NRA’s Second Vice President in 2013, and elected as First Vice President in 2015. He succeeds Allan D. Cors to become the 64th President of the NRA.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve the 5 million members of the National Rifle Association of America. I am humbled to serve alongside Wayne LaPierre – the true heart and soul of this Association and to walk in the footsteps of my predecessors,” said Brownell. “I’m a proud NRA member from day one who grew up with a passion for guns, our rich hunting heritage, and a passion to strengthen our Second Amendment.” 

NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre

In addition to Brownell’s election, the NRA Board of Directors re-elected Wayne LaPierre as the NRA Executive Vice President. Under his trusted leadership, the NRA has grown to unprecedented levels, becoming the preeminent force in American politics and strengthening its position as the nation’s foremost defender of the Second Amendment. Upon his re-election, LaPierre reappointed Josh Powell to the position of Executive Director of NRA General Operations and Chris W. Cox to the position of Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. 


NRA First Vice President Richard Childress

NASCAR legend Richard Childress of Welcome, North Carolina, who most recently served as NRA Second Vice President, was elected First Vice President. Childress is Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, one of NASCAR’s most prolific and storied teams. Outside of his life-long passion for auto racing, Childress is an accomplished conservationist and activist for the protection of our natural resources, having supported groups including the Boone & Crockett Club, Ducks Unlimited, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

NRA Second Vice President Carolyn Meadows (center)

Carolyn D. Meadows of Marietta, Georgia, was elected Second Vice President. An active member of the NRA Board of Directors since 2003, Meadows is a political leader whose effective lobbying of Congress and Georgia legislators has been felt both locally and nationally. A passionate shooter and hunter, Meadows volunteers to provide gun safety courses for children and adults.

Additionally, Wilson H. Phillips, Jr., was re-elected by the NRA Board of Directors to serve as Treasurer, and John Frazer was re-elected Secretary. 

The recent elections came at the end of 2017’s NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits, the nation’s largest celebration of the Second Amendment, the shooting sports and American freedom. Following a massive victory in 2016 culminating with the successful election of NRA-endorsed President Donald J. Trump, the NRA celebrates the installment of an administration committed to protecting gun rights in America.


(Photo courtesy/myajc.com)

Under Brownell and LaPierre’s leadership, the NRA will continue to fight tirelessly to promote and improve the shooting sports across the country through its competition and recreational programs, develop and offer unparalleled training for gun owners of all skill levels and disciplines like NRA Carry Guard, and mobilize dedicated volunteers and supporters at the grassroots level in all 50 states.

The NRA will continue to build safer families, schools and communities through its award-winning outreach and education programs like the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program and National School Shield, work to defend time-honored outdoor and hunting traditions cherished by millions of Americans, and beat back the relentless assaults on the Second Amendment at all levels.

Just as it has done for 146 years, the NRA and its 5 million members will continue to fight for the Second Amendment because we are freedom's safest place.