Last Friday I received a phone call from Russ Oliver, the founder and (now former) President of Operator Suppressor Systems. I’ve known Russ for many years and it was great to hear from him. After we exchanged pleasantries, he asked if I would share a letter he had written, with SSD’s readers. I wasn’t sure what it was all about until I received a copy of this shocking news last night. He doesn’t pull any punches in his resignation but I cannot imagine that Russ Oliver came to this decision easily or rashly. It’s a major announcement that I am sure will result in some interesting effects across the suppressor market.
Russ looked at suppressor technology from a totally different direction, carrying this new concept’s fire for many years and making quite a splash at firearms industry events. Rather than the Maxim-style suppressors we are used to, Russ had a design that looked in cross-section like a jet engine turned inside out.
His departure from OSS makes me ponder what this means for the brand. Regardless, I wish Russ Olliver well in his new endeavor and continued success for the men and women of OSS. They sent him off right.
Friends and Patrons of OSS,
I cannot possibly articulate or properly convey the degree of gratitude the OSS team and myself have for the unwavering support we have received over the past few years. The resilience of everyone’s support, from operators, components, federal and local law enforcement, firearms manufacturers, fellow engineers and scientists, and patriotic gun users and enthusiasts nationwide has motivated our team’s relentless dedication in bringing flow through suppression from conception to reality. Together, I believe we have proven there is a new century of signature reduction possibilities that will in time, dominate weapon systems of the future. In that aspect, we have a Mission accomplished!
With this success has also come the apparent realities and evils of some particular corporate business philosophies. It is these philosophies, who unfortunately retain a majority ownership of OSS, which have forced my resignation as President of OSS and terminated my employment. As of February 18, 2016 I could no longer in good conscience be an executive or employee of the new OSS and immediately pursued and am currently pursuing the sale, at discount if necessary, of all of my interests/shares and ownership of OSS.
In complete contrast of multiple inferences falsely portrayed in a letter from the new OSS acting “President” and management posted on “the tactical wire.com” (in which I had no prior knowledge of nor were advised, consulted or quoted in regards too), I DO NOT support the new management direction of OSS in any way, nor do I believe it will be successful in the future to any degree that it would have been with its original team, purpose, concept and trajectory. The “success” spoken of in the new managements posted statement, is the direct result of exceptional personnel and their vision, capabilities, execution and dedication in combination with the financial support of several tremendously supportive and honorable minority owners.
The new OSS was built by and upon, but will not continue to flourish at the ignorant expense of exceptional men. Those men worked for and accomplished the impossible for purposes greater than themselves. The strength required to support the degree of dedication, sacrifice, and adversity that has been overcome in this endeavor can only come from true greater purpose and brotherhood, not personal wealth, greed or ego. The sum of the people who have willed OSS to success, has been and is the true strength and value of the company.
In addition to myself, over a dozen other primary and essential team members feel the same and have and will be leaving the company as soon as they are able. In my opinion, these personnel represent the whole of OSS’s sales (to include military, international, federal agencies, law enforcement and civilian sales), engineering, project management, testing/evaluation, and IT departments. These personnel represent exemplary experts from both military and civilian backgrounds to include, former military service ranks from CW 5 through Sgt. and civilian expertise from PhD of computer science through engineering.
Myself individually and as a group profoundly disagree and are unable to place our names and reputations upon the new managements business practices, treatment of employees, sales policies, product performance compromises, quality practices, priorities and production. In our opinion and interpretation, the “new” OSS Philosophies include among others; the military mentality will no longer be a part of OSS, a 20% return rate and ship now fix later philosophy is acceptable, and the weight of devices is the sole determining factor above ALL else moving forward. These new philosophies are the opposite of who we are as men and what we aspire to be, THE BEST!
Moving forward, my primary responsibility is to those individuals who have stood by me and through their examples made me who I am today, for which I am forever honored and grateful. In the initial interest of promoting these exceptional individuals, I have created a new company, the Organization of Strategic Sciences www.orgstrategicsciences.com and www.facebook.com/Organization-of-Strategic-Sciences-536453453204094.
Within the following days and weeks, resumes of these exceptional gentlemen who have already left or intend to leave OSS, will be posted as they become available. I would give or take a bullet for each of these men without hesitation and ask of any potential employer in and out of the firearms industry who reads this article, please consider them for upcoming or current positions you may have available.
As far as myself, I will also be available in a variety of limited capacities through strategic sciences for the next 362 days. After that time, industry can certainly expect me back with an unrestricted vengeance, wielding the passion, vision and creativity that the original OSS was founded under.
Years ago, some real physicists nicknamed me “the caveman physicist”, I wear that nickname with pride! There is no doubt a million more caveman physicists, like myself, are creating new technologies in their garages right now. I’m sure they will all say as I would, even caveman physicists know there is more than one way to apply physics and science to solve any given problem! Knowledge, perspective and creativity WILL always find a way.
With sincere thanks and appreciation to all who have supported myself and my team,
Russ Oliver
Founder and former President of OSS
