Enhanced Focus
EOTECH’s mission is to develop products that deliver performance, durability, and reliability.
John Bailey started with EOTECH in 2003 when the company was an unknown brand and the holographic weapon sight was in its infancy. At that time, EOTECH partnered with Bushnell Optics and branded the first commercial holographic sights as a Bushnell to leverage its credibility and reach. As it grew in popularity, EOTECH continued this for the commercial market, but branched off using the EOTECH brand for military and LE versions. Throughout these years Bailey worked in customer service, sales, product development, and eventually marketing, positions in which he was able to see the company continue to grow. Today the EOTECH brand is one of the most recognizable brands in the firearms industry.
SHOT Business: What do you think are the biggest challenges our industry will face in the next five years?
John Bailey: Aside from the political challenges around our 2A freedom, I see it becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers to be innovative. Years ago, at SHOT Show I would walk the show and see so many new and exciting things. Now I don’t see it as often. This is a testament to how much progress has occurred, but I am concerned that there are fewer improvements and technologies entering the market—or at least at the rate we have seen in the past.
SB: What opportunities do you see?
JB: The growth and acceptance of optics on pistols is a big opportunity. We have focused efforts on developing optics for this market and are currently launching our EFLX CE closed-emitter pistol sight. In addition, through collaboration with our California-based sister company EVS, we see enormous opportunities in the development of digital night-vision solutions that can provide more features, benefits, and performance over current analog systems.
SB: When you get up in the morning, what gets you excited about working in the industry?
JB: I really enjoy seeing the look on people’s faces when they first use our products; you can see the lightbulb turn on and their eyes light up. You can also immediately see the excitement. For me, that never gets old. I also have the privilege of working with likeminded individuals. EOTECH has an incredible culture with employees who want to see the company and industry grow. I also get to work with many similar individuals outside the company—manufacturers, media, social media influencers, 2A groups, and more—hat all work for the same goals.
SB: How will you meet the expectations of your customers?
JB: Throughout the years, EOTECH has focused on developing products that meet or exceed the demands of the professional user. This focus on performance, durability, and reliability translates to the non-professional users who want these same benefits to protect themselves or their family. Through U.S. manufacturing and product testing no other competitor can match, we feel we often exceed customer expectations and will strive to continue to do so.
SB: In a very competitive world, how does EOTECH stay ahead of the pack?
JB: It is a very competitive industry, and we feel we stay ahead of the pack by finding and retaining the most talented engineers, quality and testing staff, and product managers to ensure we design and build the right products. We also try to identify trends early and develop products to satisfy that growing demand. We have also done a great job diversifying our product portfolio beyond just a holographic sight, to provide a suite of products that include night-vision/thermal, laser systems, pistol optics, and most recently, TAK services. This diversification provides one-stop shopping for LE agencies and military units around the globe.
SB: EOTECH is a leader in electro-optics technology, and its product lines include magnified scopes, micro red dots, night-vision and thermal systems, and on-gun laser devices. But it just entered the suppressor market. What does this new line consist of and why did you feel EOTECH needed to be in this rapidly evolving space?
JB: A long-standing goal of EOTECH is to “own the gun.” This means producing a plethora of products that help the firearm and user perform better. We have done that with optics—including CQB, long-range, night-vision, and IR. Most recently we added firearm capability with the new OGL On-Gun Laser system. Suppressors were an obvious next step and with the increased demand due to the removal of the tax stamp, we wanted to develop quality suppressors that improve and enhance a user’s shooting experience.
SB: EOTECH recently opened a new tech center located in Orofino, Idaho. How will this facility help EOTECH’s R&D efforts?
JB: In the electro-optics industry, robust R&D is critical. EOTECH has always had a major focus on R&D, but this new tech center strengthens our commitment. We have staffed this facility with exceptional resources and really bolstered both our new product development as well as the sustaining engineering required with current products.
SB: EOTECH recently acquired VK Integrated Systems (VKIS), a Tennessee-based developer of advanced weapon electronics and battlefield networking solutions. How does this acquisition align with EOTECH’s overall business strategy?
JB: Although it’s not optics on firearms, this acquisition enables EOTECH to improve the performance, awareness, and safety of our first responders. These products and services empower our law enforcement, special operations professionals, and responsible citizens with a decisive technological advantage and provide a seamlessly integrated ecosystem of high-performance sensors, software, and weapon accessories. eotechnic.com
