The Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC) Announces New Directors

WASHINGTON -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition announces the appointments to its Board of Directors of Mr. Les de Asis, CEO, Benchmade Knife Company, and Ms. Tara Glover, Vice President of Public and Government Relations, TenCate, USA.

Mr. de Asis founded Benchmade in 1979 and has led the company’s growth into a global brand with products sought after in commercial and military markets. He brings to the WPRC a deep commitment to U.S. manufacturing and an understanding of the issues faced by small businesses and the defense industry.

Ms. Glover is the Washington voice of Royal TenCate, USA - a company creating “materials that make a difference™” in the protective apparel and armor spaces. Her government relations and communications experience and textile industry background will further advance WPRC’s strategic objectives.

“We welcome Les and Tara to the Board. Their experiences, leadership and commitment to our mission to support warfighter readiness will strengthen our unified industry voice and sustain our impact going forward,” said Luke Hillier, Chairman of the Board.

“I look forward to helping guide the WPRC at this critical time for our armed forces and the industry that supports them,” said Ms. Glover. “In spite of sequestration, the U.S. military must retain its lessons learned providing lifesaving equipment to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to maintain its readiness.”

“Government and industry must collaborate to ensure innovation and production capability is sustained for everything the warfighter wears and carries,” said. Mr. de Asis. “That is the goal of the WPRC’s Warfighter Equipment Acquisition Reform (WEAR) campaign.”

About the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC)

The WPRC is warfighter equipment industry leading manufacturers and service providers advocating for the individual and unit level equipment and clothing needs of the U.S. military. WPRC companies are a critical component of America’s industrial base that supports warfighter readiness. Coalition initiatives inform and develop policies and programs that ensure U.S. service members have superior gear now and in the future. WPRC members.