Patrick Giles is ready to get going. The newly named Wyoming State Shooting Complex CEO did not even officially start until Monday, Dec. 22, but he sat in at the joint powers board meeting Dec. 18 and had already gone out with board chair Glenn Ross and administrator Lee Sommer on a chukar hunt. 

The good news, Ross said, is he doesn’t just bring a wealth of experience in the firearms industry, he’s a good shot, dropping the first chukar of the hunt at 35 yards with a 28 gauge shotgun, while the others toted larger 12 gauge shotguns. 

“I’m glad to have someone leading the charge,” Ross said. 

Giles is an experienced firearms-industry executive, competitive shooter, and U.S. Army Reserve veteran. 

He previously worked at Gunwerks in Cody and most recently at Axenox Construction Solutions in Powell. 

“I’m very appreciative of the opportunity,” he said. “I have the benefit of a lot of experience in the firearms industry and in competitive shooting in various disciplines, where this has become a passion for me. Having worked in the firearms industry for a number of different companies, I’ve had the opportunity to lead a number of teams and efforts, big projects, small projects, new product development, and I’ve always welcomed new challenges and new opportunities. And this presents, I think, a capstone for my career.”

Ross said as he gets going he’ll start attending committee meetings and begin taking on some of the tasks board members have done since work began.