Colt Defense LLC Announces Gerald R. Dinkel as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Colt Defense LLC announced today that the Board of Directors has appointed Gerald R. Dinkel as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Mr. Dinkel succeeds Lt. Gen. William M. Keys, USMC (ret.) who will remain on the Board of Directors, as Chairman, of Colt Defense LLC. General Keys has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Colt Defense LLC and Chairman of its Board of Directors since 2002, following a distinguished 34-year career in the United States Marine Corps. General Keys’ leadership throughout his tenure has resulted in Colt’s return to prominence as the worldwide leader in the military and law enforcement small arms industry. In addition to the extensive support provided by Colt Defense to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the global war on terrorism, General Keys’ vision to aggressively expand the Company into the international market and his recent unveiling of a unique, multi-caliber, modular carbine to meet the expressed needs of U.S. forces in combat leaves an indelible legacy and a Company well-poised for the future.

Mr. Dinkel’s broad defense industry experience and the high regard in which he is held within the global defense community make him an ideal choice to lead Colt Defense forward, building on its legendary 174 year history to create a stronger and more diversified defense systems company. A very customer-focused executive, he has a strong background in defense systems development, program and general management, international business and mergers & acquisitions. In August of 2009 he became President and Chief Executive Officer of White Electronic Designs Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed defense technology company later acquired by Microsemi Corporation. Prior to White, he was a Senior Advisor with Washington, DC-based Renaissance Strategic Advisors. From 2000 to 2007, he served as President & CEO of Cubic Corporation's defense segment, where he restructured the business and substantially grew revenue and profitability. Prior to joining Cubic, Mr. Dinkel had a long career at Westinghouse Electronic Systems where he played key roles in the development and deployment of major weapon systems, including the F-16 and AH-64D Longbow Apache. Mr. Dinkel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana.

About Colt Defense LLC

Colt Defense LLC, together with its subsidiaries, is one of the world's leading designers, developers and manufacturers of small arms weapons systems for individual soldiers and law enforcement personnel. The Company’s portfolio of products and services meets evolving military and law enforcement requirements around the world. Colt Defense LLC has supplied small arms weapons systems to the United States Government and other governments throughout the world for more than 160 years. Colt Canada Corporation is the Canadian government’s Center of Excellence for small arms and is the Canadian military’s sole supplier of the C7 rifle and C8 carbine. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain manufacturing facilities in West Hartford, Connecticut; Kitchener, Ontario; and Delhi, Louisiana. For more information on Colt Defense LLC and its subsidiaries log onto www.colt.com.